Recognition for East End lads build themselves a career
Two young Eastenders have won awards for their skills and efforts after turning their lives around with the help of a charity.
Mark McAllister, 20, from Dennistoun, and Gary Scott, 18, from Baillieston, won commendations in the Youthbuild Young Builder of the Year awards. The lads were helped into apprenticeships by a Youthbuild programme run by Action for Children Scotland.
Kevin O'Donnell, Kevin Leitch, Mark McAllister and Gary Scott with, centre, Nick Raynsford MP
from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Mark is in his first year of a joinery apprenticeship with McTaggart Construction and Gary started in January as an apprentice painter and decorator with the Bell Group.
The Action for Children Youthbuild programme involves detailed preparation for working on building sites followed by 26 weeks experience with full pay working for a firm.
How the young person performs will depend on whether or not they are offered an apprenticeship or full-time job.
Two other young people from Inverclyde who have received support from Action for Children were also honoured in a special ceremony at Westminster by Nick Raynsford MP, who sits on a number of housing and construction committees in Parliament.
Kevin Leitch, 19, who is now a third-year apprentice joiner with McTaggart Construction was highly commended, and Kevin O’Donnell, 18, who is employed with WH Malcolm in Inverclyde was commended. Both are from Greenock.
