Latest news with #Corseford
The National
07-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Future of dedicated complex needs college secured for 2 years
The pilot scheme at Corseford College in Renfrewshire will receive up to £1.4 million to continue until 2027. SCOTLAND'S first dedicated college for students with complex and additional needs has been granted funding for another two years. The college offers opportunities to young people aged 18-25 whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream college and gives them the chance to carry on with education after leaving school. Since it launched in 2022 the pilot scheme has received more than £1m from the Scottish Government, which has helped give 35 students with complex and additional needs the chance to continue learning. READ MORE: My travels helped me explore the musical connection between Scotland and Poland Further education minister Graeme Dey said: 'Corseford College has delivered vital support to many young people with complex additional needs since its launch three years ago. 'This has been recognised in an independent evaluation of the model, which is why we are securing the College's future for another two years to ensure that its students can continue to be supported. 'We are keen to explore a sustainable approach for specialist provision going forward, and the continued pilot at Corseford will help inform this. 'The evaluation provided a number of important insights and recommendations which we will be reflecting on and will allow us to evolve the best possible model for the future. 'We are determined to support Scotland's young people with complex additional needs and disabilities. 'Last month, we published our first national strategy that ensures young disabled people can access the help they need as they transition to adulthood. Our continued funding for Corseford will support this work.' The Scottish Government said 41 young people will benefit from specialist support at the college in the 2025/26 academic year starting in August. Capability Scotland, which runs the college, welcomed news of the funding. Its chief executive Brian Logan, said: 'The Scottish Government's funding decision following the independent evaluation is a vital endorsement of Corseford College's pioneering approach to specialist post-school education. 'We would like to thank Minister Graeme Dey and his team for their co-operation and unwavering commitment in making this possible. 'This success reflects the dedication of the college's staff, whose work is transforming the lives of young people with complex needs. 'The funding secures Corseford College's future, but also marks a key step towards a national solution for those young people living with complex needs across the country.'
BBC News
12-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Teen with learning disabilities made to pay Corseford College costs
The mother of a young woman with a severe learning disability says her council is demanding £166 a month to support her daughter attending college. Lorna Greenaway says her 19-year-old daughter has a mental age of five and has been attending Scotland's only dedicated college for school leavers with complex needs for two Ayrshire Council, which pays for Gemma's care and support in relation to college, has instructed debt collectors to claw back thousands of pounds in costs, dating back to when she turned 18. The council said it followed a reassessment of what she was entitled to, but Gemma's mum believes her daughter should not have to pay to get an education. The Corseford College campus, based at Inchinnan in Renfrewshire, takes students with complex needs up to the age of 25 from local authorities across the west of education is paid for by the Scottish government but local authorities pay for care, support and transport. Final demand Students from seven other local authority areas do not pay anything to their council to attend Corseford but East Ayrshire wants Gemma to pay back £5,500 to cover the past two years as well as next told the BBC the charges were based on a reassessment of Gemma's disability last year, Gemma has been receiving invoices from her local authority in relation to her place at charges relate to "support" she receives in college plus transport costs but the council has not provided any detailed has also not explained why the charges date back to when Gemma turned 18 or why it has decided to charge when other councils do has now received a final demand from a debt recovery agency - who say they will only speak directly to her. But her mum says this isn't possible as Gemma's ability to communicate is around the level of a five year said "My understanding is that no student in Scotland pays for education."I think it's an injustice to these young individuals with disabilities that they have to pay for their education." Students attending Corseford can take part in vocational courses and qualifications, improve literacy and numeracy abilities, and learn vital IT skills. The site is run by the disability charity Capability Greenaway said Gemma's favourite part of the day was meeting her friends and art said there had been a clear improvement in Gemma in the two years she had attended courses McConnachie, head of Corseford College, said finances can prove a stumbling block for their said: "Different local authorities have different approaches to it."Some councils are very accommodating, they look at the opportunities at Corseford College as being a positive transition and destination to continue education. "Others see the college as being day care – which it's not." In a statement, East Ayrshire Council said: "There is no charge attributed for the college attendance. The attendance is not viewed as day care." The council said that if an individual requires transport to the college or additional support then this is said the costs could be taken from disability benefits, as long as they were above a certain Greenaway said she remained "stressed at the constant demands" to make payments, and she was concerned about setting a said: "I feel if I pay for Gemma, any other student that follows through from East Ayrshire to this college, they will have to pay as well."She added that the whole situation is "definitely" forcing her to reconsider her daughter's future education."It is getting to the stage that for Gemma to continue there, it's probably going to have to come from our source of income," she said.
