South Ayrshire Council has developed the New Arrivals Education Hub to provide a holistic, multi-agency programme of education, health, wellbeing, employability and progression opportunities for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC).
The project was developed in response to a gap in locally available accredited education. Previously, young people could face significant barriers to accessing suitable full-time provision without relocating outside South Ayrshire. The Education Hub aims to address this by bringing together a range of specialist services in one supportive and inclusive setting.
A partnership approach
The programme has been developed through a collaborative, multi-agency approach, with partners working together to create a balanced timetable that responds to the needs of young people.
Contributors include Social Work, Thriving Communities Community ESOL, Employability and Skills, and NHS School Nursing, with each service bringing its own specialist provision.
The aim is not simply to provide education, but to create a programme that supports the whole young person—including their health, wellbeing, confidence, employability and longer-term progression.
Creating opportunities within South Ayrshire
It is not uncommon for New Arrivals to consider moving to larger cities to access suitable education. The Education Hub provides an alternative, enabling young people to access a range of opportunities while remaining connected to their community.
This is important at a time when there are significant pressures on housing and lengthy waiting lists for ESOL provision in city colleges.
By providing SQA-accredited qualifications locally, the Education Hub helps to reduce barriers. Young people can access education without the need to relocate, benefit from smaller classes and receive individualised support, while developing skills across educational, vocational and personal development areas.
The model therefore provides an opportunity for young people to learn, develop and progress while establishing themselves within South Ayrshire.
Education, wellbeing and positive destinations
The Education Hub is designed around a holistic approach to promote inclusion, stability, independence and a sense of belonging.
The provision is delivered from a classroom within Ayr College, allowing young people to benefit from a college environment and access opportunities for social inclusion and interaction with peers across the wider campus.
For young people who have experienced significant disruption before arriving in Scotland, having a consistent place to learn, develop relationships and access support can provide an important foundation for future progression and positive destinations.
What does the Education Hub provide?
The current programme includes:
- Full-time SQA-accredited ESOL at National 2/3 level
- An eight-week intensive pre-ESOL programme on arrival in South Ayrshire.
- SQA National 4 Numeracy / National 5 Applications of Mathematics
- SQA National 4 Introduction to Photography
- Accredited ESOL IT
- Employability and Skills input
- NHS School Nursing, Health and Wellbeing education.
- Barnardo’s Ubuntu Youth Voice Network, influencing policy and decision-makers
Building a positive future
The Education Hub represents a different way of supporting young people: bringing services together around the individual rather than the young person navigating multiple systems alone.
Most importantly, creating an opportunity for young people to learn, belong and build their future within South Ayrshire.
