YOUNGSTERS from across West Dunbartonshire are still receiving vital support to help find employment despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Street League is continuing to work with unemployed 16-29-year-olds in Clydebank and Dumbarton.

Graham Reid, 24, from Dumbarton is a progressions coordinator with the charity, and is based in West Dunbartonshire.

He told the Post: “The impact that the pandemic has had on the job market is well documented and is extremely difficult for young people especially.

“We are trying to overcome these issues by providing as many opportunities as possible for our participants to stand out amongst the crowd and be successful, through improving their skills, qualities and experience.”

Through teamwork and problem-solving activities, participants of Street League can develop life skills such as communication, leadership and confidence.

They also receive support with aspects such as CV creation, interview techniques and work experience.

Yvonne McGinley, 17, from Clydebank, currently attends Street League, and has been helped with her application for college.

She hopes to study hairdressing and find a part-time job in retail.

Yvonne said: “I left sixth year at St Peter the Apostle in March and my gran showed me Street League’s programme, so I applied for it.

“It’s really good to go to, I get help with applying for jobs and writing my CV.

“It has kept me busy during lockdown.”

Street League’s sessions are currently delivered at Goals on Great Western Road and Goalzone, at the Vale of Leven Industrial Estate.

Graham added: “Activities which we deliver at our sessions can be a mixture of theory based, such as workbooks and written tasks, and practical based, through sporting activities.

“We were fortunate enough to still work with young people during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic through online workshops, however we have returned to a 50/50 split of face-to-face and online delivery.”

The 24-year-old told the Post that he aims to have a positive impact on every participant involved.

He added: “We are in a situation in our role at Street League that we must understand and form close connections with our participants, in order to support them and their individual needs.

“Understanding some of the situations our young people are in or have been in previously gives me a little bit extra motivation to help them and guide them towards a positive destination.”

Contact Street League to get in touch about current programmes in West Dunbartonshire.