A PROJECT designed to improve life skills create opportunities for young parents in Clacks has been lauded by public health officials.

Clackmannanshire Young Parents Project improves the life chances of the parents and their children, by helping ensure that their immediate needs are addressed and that appropriate services are accessed to maintain stability at a very vulnerable time in their lives.

The project was started in 2011 by Clackmannanshire Council and helps parents or parents-to-be, aged 16-24, plan for their future through education or employment.

Figures from April 2015 to December 2018 showed from the 100 young parents who were involved, 27 entered into full-time further education, with one progressing onto university.

A further 50 gained a recognised qualification while 14 found employment.

Last week, Joe FitzPatrick, Scotland's minister for public health, sport and wellbeing, visited Forth Valley College (FVC) in Alloa to speak with some of those enrolled on the award-winning project.

He said: "I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak to individuals involved in the Young Parents Project about their experiences and the difference it has made to them.

"It's great to see that the project is successfully managing to support the young parents in gaining further education or employment."

The minister was met at the Alloa campus by the council's education spokesperson Cllr Graham Lindsay and FVC's vice-principal for learning and student experience Kenny MacInnes.

Cllr Graham Lindsay said: "I am delighted that Joe FitzPatrick was able to come to Clackmannanshire and see the highly valued work of the Young Parents Project in action.

"The YPP is working with some of our most vulnerable young people to help them move forward from a very challenging time to fulfil their potential and help themselves and their children live happy and successful lives."

Clackmannanshire Young Parents Project has been praised in the past for its impact, having been given a Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) award in 2017.

It offers friendly and practical support to help young parents plan towards the future they want, at a pace the individual is comfortable with and when the time is right for them.

The project also offers one to one guidance and support, assistance with further learning and employment, voluntary placements or training courses and help with tax credits, benefits and managing money, and childcare.