An arts programme in Barrhead has given local parents the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their creative flair and increase their employability skills while earning a valuable SQA qualification.
Impact Arts, a charity that specialises in using creative activities to engage with members of the community, has delivered its eight-week Impactful Parents programme to adult learners in Barrhead. Commissioned by Barrhead Housing Association, the programme uses art and creative writing to develop participants\u2019 skills. At the end of the course, participants achieved a SQA Award in Communication at level 3 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
Participants in the programme worked with an art tutor at twice weekly sessions in St Andrew\u2019s Church, where they explored using different media and techniques to create artwork, sculpture, creative writing, and poetry. The finished pieces were then exhibited at a celebratory showcase at the church.
Maggie Lilly, Opportunities Coordinator at Impact Arts, described the programme as having a real benefit for the participants, helping them build their confidence ahead of seeking employment opportunities or continuing their education at college.
Maggie said: \u2018For a number of our participants, English isn\u2019t their first language, so we spend a lot of time working with them to identify their ambitions; some are looking to apply for jobs, others want to be able to help their kids with their school work, others just want to be more confident talking with their friends and neighbours.\u2019
Maggie adds: \u2018The opportunity to achieve a SQA award in Communication is a big draw for our participants. For many of them, it\u2019s their first qualification that they\u2019ve earned, so it\u2019s a massive achievement. Many of the participants come to us with low confidence, not believing that they are capable of achieving a qualification, but over the time we spend together we can see them flourish; building new skills and fostering friendships. We\u2019re also here to help them with the next stage, helping them write their CV, and submit job applications and prepare for interviews.\u2019<\/p>\r\n