An environmental project co-funded by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust has been nominated as the Partnership Project of the Year in the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards 2010.

The Gairdoch Initiative has created 12 modern apprenticeships in Amenity Horticulture for young people in former mining areas around Falkirk, Stirlingshire who were at risk of long-term unemployment.

The apprentices are working on a community-based project to transform Gairdoch Park in Carronshore from a local eyesore into a parkland amenity and wetland area.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s partners in the Gairdoch Initiative are the local community, Falkirk Council, Skills Development Scotland and Oatridge College.

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Nicky Wilson, Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said: “Helping people from former mining towns and villages into employment is one of our key priorities, so we were delighted to support the Gairdoch Initiative.

“It richly deserves to be considered as the Partnership of the Year for its innovative approach to creating these apprenticeships and the way all the partners have worked together to ensure the youngsters involved acquire real skills that will help them secure employment.”

Pamela Smith Falkirk Council’s Employment and Training Manager who nominated the project said: The Partnership has demonstrated flexibility, imagination, creativity and a clear action plan to enable all aspects within the project to be equally addressed.

“In a time of increasing youth unemployment reducing entry level opportunities this project has demonstrated new and innovative approaches to delivering opportunities through the Modern Apprenticeship Programme.

“The partnership has engaged with the Modern Apprenticeship Programme and helped contribute to building a skilled workforce for the future in a challenging financial and economic environment.”

(GK/KMcA)