Cosgrove Care has partnered with Young Enterprise Scotland (YES) to launch the Employ Me Hub, a hands-on service to support young adults with learning disabilities find job opportunities, at Rouken Glen Park.

The new employability Hub provides customised classroom space and one to one support for young people with additional needs looking to gain work placements in the community or to work towards ASDAN and SVQ qualifications.

The creation of the Hub builds on the earlier collaboration between Cosgrove Care and YES  which led to the launch of the Employ Me programme in 2018, an enterprise-led initiative designed to get young people with learning disabilities, autism and additional needs into work, volunteering and training.

The Herald:

By creating a home for the programme at the YES centre at Rouken Glen, both charities hope to facilitate employment opportunities for around 40 young people, between the ages of 18 and 25, over the coming year.

One in 50 people are estimated as having a learning disability with over 23,186 people known to Scottish Local Authorities. Only 6% of people with learning disabilities are in paid employment, meaning a significant divide in terms of equality and life outcomes. This represents a huge untapped resource.

Dr Donny Lyons is the Vice Chairman of Cosgrove Care, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2020. He said. “There has never been a more important time to innovate, find solutions and help young people furthest from the labour market get the support they need to take up their place as equal citizens. We look forward to working with YES to grow and develop this work further.

“We are extremely grateful to our supporters including the Isabella Memorial Trust who have made this possible in our 60th anniversary year.”

The Herald:

Geoff Leask, chief executive at YES said. “One of the core values at Young Enterprise Scotland is collaboration. The growth of our partnership with Cosgrove Care is a natural and exciting progression which will enable more life and work skills to be developed for young people.”