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"Our task is not to put the greatness back into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already."

- John Buchan

why we do it

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Schools facing tough realities

For the most part, the youth of Scotland perform well in school.  But there are a number of young people whose prospects for employment or further education are significantly hampered by poor performance at school, and they find themselves leaving secondary education only to face a future with limited choices.  More than 13%* of Scottish 16-18 year olds last year found themselves in the NEET group (Not in Employment, Education or Training), and there is an identifiable section of Scotland's school children who are at risk of becoming NEET when they leave school.  Some schools, particularly in areas facing tough realities, find a higher proportion of children at risk, and the Scottish Executive has begun a number of initiatives and in an bid to address this issue.

Columba 1400's primary schools focus is with one of these initiatives, the Schools of Ambition. Many of the schools who are part of this programme have in the past faced dwindling attendance and drop out rates, but their involvement in Schools of Ambition has seen a marked turnaround in prospects for their young people. Through this programme, Columba has been working with head teachers, school groups of teachers and young people in troubled areas to elicit belief in their own greatness, potential, and role in shaping the Scotland of tomorrow.

Young people leaving care

Despite improving conditions, recent surveys have shown that outcomes for young people in care remain poor:

Around 12,000 children are ‘looked after or accommodated’ by Local Authorities in Scotland – just over 1% of children. Of these,

  • 29% had been in trouble with the police in the past 12 months
  • 22% had been in contact with special educational needs services
  • 34% had sought help because they had felt unhappy or worried.
  • 17% of 11-17 year olds had experienced sexual abuse or rape.
  • In 2004, 60% of looked after children got no qualifications above standard grade at foundation level compared with less than 5% of children not looked after.

Over 1000 young people in Scotland left care during 2005, and more than half of these care leavers fail to find employment, education or training in Scotland. In addition, one in six of 15 to 18 year olds leaving care have experienced a spell of homelessness and one in five experienced three or more accommodation moves.

So the problem facing society is two-fold - how can we reach out to these young people rather than abandon them to 'the state'? And how can support systems build on young people’s potential rather than reinforce dependence and negativity?

Our work with young people has highlighted particular issues in support for young people:

  • Fear about taking ‘risks’ or going the extra mile for the young people. 
  • Culture of dependency, mistrust and low expectations that can hamper creativity and new ways of working.
  • Sporadic contact with young people post-16 that is most often focused on responding to crises.
  • Low school attendance, and leaving school with little or no prospects for employment or further education.

What we're doing about it

Columba 1400 aims to address these issues by releasing the potential of these disaffected young care leavers during intensive Leadership Academy programmes on the Isle of Skye, followed up with ongoing support.  We are working in the school environment in partnership with the Scottish Executive and Local Authorities to improve students' self confidence and attitudes towards education.  Through our Columban Gathering activities, we are developing networks of Columban graduates to meet regularly and share their experiences, while creating a self sustaining support structure which can enable new possibilities

To date over 2000 participants – including care leavers, school groups, head teachers and support staff – have experienced Columba’s intensive Leadership Academies.  Outcome information shows a dramatic change in those young people - in school attendance, education, employment or training when followed up a year on, compared with their status before the academy.

External evaluations on the work of Columba 1400 have so far reported “evidence that the programmes have impacted significantly upon personal, social and ‘life’ skills... This includes areas such as re-engaging with families; having a more positive and clearer direction about the future (including transitions or sustaining transitions to employment, education and training and independent living); disengaging from negative forms of behaviour (including drugs and alcohol, particular peer groups, violent and angry behaviours)”.

Over the next few years, it is our goal to widen our reach, and help more young people utilise the Columban philosophy to realise the potential they have within them.  We are planning to expand our centre in Staffin, and to utilise the life experience of past graduates as volunteers to encourage more young people to acheive their goals.

As the impact of their time at Columba begins to show, past graduates have written to us, sharing their Columban experiences and how these have helped shape their lives and the lives of those around them.  Please feel free to explore these stories to get a deeper understanding of what Columba means to so many people.

Go to the Stories section