Volunteering is helping to open up opportunities

A programme funded by North Ayrshire Council is helping unemployed people change their lives through volunteering.

The Council is supporting Third Sector partner The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT), based in Saltcoats, to deliver an employability project called Positive Pathways.

This is a 12-week programme that helps those looking for employment to get back into the workplace.

This is done through:

• The STEPS to Excellence personal development programme
• One-to-one sessions with a life coach
• E-learning and CV writing support and
• Volunteering placements with local organisations.

STEPS to Excellence helps participants, over the course of a fortnight, to build their confidence and realise their potential.

Delivered by qualified facilitators, it uses a combination of interactive discussions, short videos and activities to motivate the long-term unemployed to find training and jobs, support people facing redundancy and boost community involvement through volunteering opportunities.

Those who complete STEPS to Excellence are offered eight-week Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework courses with Ayrshire College – an SCQF Level 4 Health and Wellbeing and SCQF Level 4 Elevate Employability Award.

Volunteering placements can also be explored to help people gain practical, hands-on experience.

Craig Mitchell, 26, from Stevenston, has enjoyed taking part in Positive Pathways and has been volunteering at the Salvation Army is Saltcoats.

He carries out duties including steaming clothes and sorting donations, and said: “Through TACT, I have been volunteering at the Salvation Army and it has really helped my confidence and my people skills.

“The programme has helped me in a lot of ways. It has helped me realise that I am capable of a lot more than I thought and it has helped me be very confident in who I am as a person.

“It has also helped me make connections with people I would never have met, and it has helped me make steps towards the future that a few years ago I never would have thought possible.”

Participant Declan Smith, 25, volunteered with TACT’s Kindness Krew project, which shares some kindness in the community and helps make people’s lives better with small changes like volunteers helping residents who need support with small domestic chores such as hanging curtains or weeding the garden.

He also became a Digital Support Buddy, helping residents to do things like set up new phones and tablets and become more confident using technology.

Declan, from Saltcoats, said: “Before starting with Positive Pathways, I had low self-esteem because I had a job that didn’t work out and it took a bit of my confidence away.

“Now, I feel like my confidence has grown thanks to taking part in group activities, gaining a college qualification and doing two months of paid employment with TACT. With help from the life coach, I have now gained part-time employment.”

The Council’s Employability Service delivers a range of support and opportunities - for adults of all ages and backgrounds - through its Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme.

The Council’s Employability Service delivers a range of support through its Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire programme.

Contracted partners delivering Your Next Move, Working North Ayrshire include We Work for Families and CEIS Ayrshire, who all contribute to delivering a wide range of support to help individuals prepare and progress into employment.

Follow the team on Facebook at Working North Ayrshire.

Published: 08 October 2025