STIRLING COHORT 2026


JANUARY

20TH RAPLOCH


Today was a gentle introduction. We went over:


  • Group rules
  • Break expectations
  • What the course will cover

 

We also asked the group what they would like to gain from the course and what support they feel they need.

 

We then visited the Salvation Army, where staff spoke about their shop, how it operates as a non-profit, and how the money raised is reinvested into the community to support various people and services. They also offered to accept any baking we do this afternoon to distribute to people experiencing homelessness.


21ST RAPLOCH

We began by covering food hygiene, clean preparation areas, and cross-contamination, ensuring learners understood food safety requirements before starting practical work.

 

The group was then split into four teams and asked to:


  • Decide what they were going to bake
  • Plan ingredients
  • Write out the steps and method
  • Research ingredient prices

 

This supported planning, communication, and teamwork skills.

 

Practical Activity

We visited Sainsbury’s in groups to purchase ingredients, helping learners develop:


  • Budget awareness
  • Price comparison skills
  • Decision-making within financial limits

On return, learners prepared their workstations and began baking. Some outcomes were successful, while others were less so. This created a valuable learning moment, highlighting that overcomplicating tasks can be challenging and that skills improve through practice.

 

22ND RAPLOCH

Learners focused on employability, workplace readiness, and health and safety. They completed accredited online courses and successfully achieved recognised certificates, showing strong engagement, resilience, and motivation.

 

Certificates Achieved

 

Learners gained certificates in the following:

 

• CITB – Fire Safety Awareness in Construction and the Environment

 

• AUK – Hygiene

 

• COSHH Training

 

• Manual Handling

 

 

In addition, Liam completed extra CITB units:

 

• Fire Safety in Buildings

 

• Director’s Role in Health and Safety

 

23RD RAPLOCH


SFA modules on Child Protection and Mental Health


27th January 2026

Today’s ACTS session focused on SDS work with the young people. We explored My World of Work and completed questionnaires to help them identify their skills and strengths, supporting future CV writing. 


The group then completed a research task where they analysed an existing baked potato company, reviewing pricing and evaluating the website to understand business presentation and customer appeal. 


Following this, the young people developed their own baked potato business pitch ideas.


Each team created:

  • A business name and brand
  • A logo (using different software)
  • A clear USP (Unique Selling Point)
  • A best-seller product
  • A special deal priced as cheaply as possible

 Tomorrow Jamie will act as the judge.


Today, Eve took on the judging role, and the young people also created questions for Jamie and for the other teams. 


Throughout the session, the young people used and developed a range of skills, including:

  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Problem-solving and decision-making
  • Research and analytical skills
  • Creativity and digital skills
  • Time management and planning 

 

28th January 2026

Today’s session was absolutely fantastic.


 Jamie has confirmed that if we have another cohort in the future, he would be very happy to come back. He shared his career journey in depth, covering his experiences in the Army, employment and self-employment, fostering, and his ongoing work with a children’s charity in Kenya, which he remains heavily involved in. 


He also mentioned to Daniel and Liam that he has started a new project in Alloa: the Alloa Athletic WASP Community Regeneration Project, alongside involvement with Alloa Women’s Football Club. Jamie has said he would be happy to offer experience and possible opportunities linked to these projects.


Additionally, he shared that he is open to offering part-time work across different industries and will provide me with his personal email so that I can send young people’s CVs to him once they are completed.


During the session, Jamie covered a wide range of practical business skills, including packaging, visual presentation, using local produce, calculating costs, turnover, profit and loss, and managing expenditures. A key message was being adaptable and learning to work with what’s in front of you when situations change. 


He then facilitated a Q&A session, which was amazing. Jamie selected a winning “special” created by the young people, which he took away and may use in his business — he also mentioned tagging us on social media. The group then created and presented their specials, followed by a tasting session and feedback discussion. Jamie’s feedback was extremely positive and left the young people feeling inspired and motivated. 

The impact was clear, as the young people were keen to start working on their CVs this afternoon — which we have now begun.


The ASDAN sections we covered were: 

• Section 3: Challenges 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 

• Section 4: Challenges 3 and 7 

We also planned our trip to college tomorrow and generated a list of questions for the visit. The group worked incredibly hard, and I am really proud of them. 



29th January 2026

Forth Valley College – Falkirk

  • Full-cohort tour of the campus and facilities
  • Gained real insight into:
  • Different courses on offer
  • How those courses link to actual career pathways (not just qualifications)

Key learning from the day

 ðŸ”¹ Meta Skills 

This was a big one. Meta skills are becoming the next level beyond traditional core skills — things like:

  • Adaptability
  • Creativity
  • Problem-solving
  • Communication
  • Self-management

 They’re increasingly what employers look for when you’re:

  • Selling yourself
  • Writing a CV
  • Interviewing
  • Moving between industries as things change

 ðŸ”¹ Innovation as a Career Driver 

Innovation was framed as the next step in career choices — not just what job you do, but how you think and evolve within it. 

🔹 CITB Joinery PDA – Modern Apprenticeship 

Clear pathways into industry through:

  • Practical learning
  • Paid experience
  • Recognised qualifications A strong example of how education and industry are aligning more closely.

🔹 Industry Shift: Gas & Oil → Sustainable Alternatives 

Really important insight:

  • Traditional industries are changing fast
  • Movement towards plant-based materials and bio-chemicals
  • Re-use and sustainability are no longer “nice extras” — they’re becoming the standard


30TH RAPLOCH


Worked from home on the Motor Skill Learning Coaching Certificate Level 1


FEBRUARY

It has been a fantastic and productive few weeks for the group, with a strong focus on employability, confidence building, and real-world industry exposure.

 

We welcomed a representative from the Royal Air Force who delivered an inspiring presentation and Q&A session. Learners researched RAF careers, salaries, apprenticeships, and transferable skills as part of their ASDAN Employability portfolio. They developed comparison charts, reflected on their own personal skills with written evidence, and prepared structured questions for the guest speaker.

 

The young people engaged confidently and respectfully during the Q&A, demonstrating real growth in communication skills, self-awareness, and professional conduct. It was particularly encouraging to see them recognising how their existing skills can transfer across different industries.

 

We also had our first session at Creative Stirling, where learners began a content creation course and toured local artist spaces, including a visit to Stirling Community Radio to understand how broadcasting works. This was a brilliant opportunity for creativity, confidence building, and industry insight.

 

Additionally, we visited Forth Valley College, where learners received a tour and experienced the hospitality facilities, with lunch prepared by students. This linked directly into our session on customer service, where learners reflected on professional standards, evaluated service quality, and discussed the importance of adaptability and contingency planning.

 

Across the week, we have seen clear progression in:

 

Confidence and verbal communication

  •  Teamwork and collaboration
  •  Independent research skills
  •  Reflective thinking and self-evaluation
  •  Professional behaviour in real-world environments


We are incredibly proud of how much the young people are growing in confidence and maturity. They are beginning to express themselves more clearly, ask thoughtful questions, and engage positively with industry professionals. The shift in aspiration and self-belief has been particularly noticeable.



MARCH

3RD RAPLOCH Creative Stirling

4TH RAPLOCH Job Centre Fair

5TH RAPLOCH Engine She

6TH RAPLOCH SSF

10TH RAPLOCH Stirling High School

11TH RAPLOCH Stirling Castle afternoon and Kooth in the morning

12TH RAPLOCH Battle of Bannockburn 

13TH MAYFIELD - 1ST AID

17TH RAPLOCH - Money Ready

18TH RAPLOCH - Jane Taylor Apprenticeships

19TH RAPLOCH

20TH RAPLOCH Review, reflection, feedback, certificates and pizza