Lanarkshire teen gets chance for employment thanks to Youth Action Fund

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Lanarkshire teenager is one of hundreds of disadvantaged young people from across Scotland who have benefited from £2.4million raised by The Distillers’ Charity for its Youth Action Fund.The scale and impact of the work was revealed in a report being launched at an event in Edinburgh attended by leading figures from the Scotch Whisky industry.One of the young people who has benefited is 17-year-old Gareth Wright, who received support from Stepping Up, a support programme for young people with learning disabilities which has helped him build his confidence and prepare him for work experience and further education.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Stepping Up is provided in Scotland by ENABLE Works, a specialist employability service working across 28 local authorities.Gareth, from Shotts, first encountered Stepping Up at his school, Caldervale in Airdrie, at a time when he was struggling with his confidence and uncertain about his future.“I was literally slumped in my chair and confused about what was happening,” he said. “I was stuck.”The 17-year-old said his experience at school was also affected by autism.He continued: “It affects my cognitive skills, my communication skills, and concentration.“At my old school, I was labelled a troublemaker who didn’t know what he was doing.