Academy pupils training for youth club

Tanya McLaren

FORRES Academy pupils might have broken up for the holiday break, but one group are looking forward to the new term already, so they can put some valuable learning into practice.

Since last November, a group of S4

S5 pupils from the school have been taking part in youth work leadership training which has been delivered by the Community, Learning and Development, Forres Youth Work Team.

They are now fully trained to run their own P6

P7 youth club, which will be starting up again after the summer break.

The course included games training, child protection and first steps to youth work leadership training. The pupils got in touch with all the feeder primary schools and their new youth club for P6 and P7 was officially opened in March.

“The aim of the club has been to allow the pupils to get to know other pupils from all the feeder primary schools before the transition to Forres Academy.

The youngsters also get to know the senior pupils running the club and the youth workers supporting this new project, so they can  identify peer support and youth worker support for when they move to Forres Academy.

The senior pupils are now working towards an SQA in Leadership and a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award, to gain accreditation for the hard work they have put into the running of the club.

They will continue to volunteer from August onwards, with a new group of pupils.