Jim O’Donnell Cumbernauld College

1. Scottish National Rural Network Kelvin Valley Event Colzium House, Kilsyth Wednesday 12th May 2010 Jim O’DonnellCumbernauld College

2. Introduction • Concept & Background • Funding • Staff Development/Programme Delivery • Research and Evaluation • Quotes • Recognition of Achievement • Participant’s View • Legacy • Questions

3. Looked at initially improving services to young people in East Dunbartonshire Partnership Developed - main partners: Cumbernauld College and East Dunbartonshire Psychological Services Addressing MCMC Agenda Both organisations familiar with Pacific Institute Concept

4. Background The Pacific Institute (PI) was founded in Seattle in 1971 Uses powerful concepts aimed at getting individuals to understand their own potential and how to apply it PI developing a new product aimed at MCMC cohort and easing transition for young people Partnership contacted PI in Scotland to initiate discussions re project piloting PX2

5. Funding • EU Initiative for rural areas • Project part-funded via Kelvin Valley Leader • Leader: Joint initiative between NL Council and ED Council • Major commitment from initial partners • Partnership widened to incorporate: • East Dunbartonshire Psychological Service • Cumbernauld College • East Dunbartonshire Volunteer Centre • North Lanarkshire Volunteer Centre

6. Staff Development Initial Training in Pacific Institute methods via Investment In Excellence (4 Days): A powerful development experience that enables individuals to achieve much more of their potential, by changing their perception of what is possible, and then providing the skills to cause a change in what they actually accomplish. Then facilitator training in the PX2 Product (4.5 days) Certification incorporated (CPD)

7. Programme Delivery • Pilot PX2 with three groups of young people; • Group of Get Ready for Work Trainees at Kirkintilloch campus; • Eddie Kennedy (Cumbernauld College) Facilitating • Group of GRfW/Lifeskills trainees at Lennoxtown Initiative; • Charlotte Kidd (EPS) facilitator and Forward Training facilitator • Third group of trainees from Princes Trust • Eddie Kennedy and PT Co-ordinator • Participation in evaluation of project • Certification at end of programme.

8. Research and Evaluation • Development of PX2 - New programme • Replaces Breakthrough to Excellence/ Go For It! • Refined for a UK audience (Manchester & Wales) • Further trials in Ireland, England & Scotland • Based on cognitive & positive psychology • What is PX2? • 12 step programme aimed at 14-19 year olds • Helps the individual to understand how they think by challenging their attitudes and beliefs • Personal booklet; DVD; facilitated practical activities and group discussions encouraging personal reflection • Benefits in terms of young people’s gains: • Self-confidence; self-esteem ; setting achievable life goals; optimism ; self-efficacy ; locus of control ; general well being

9. Research • Opportunity to… • Raise awareness of range of EPS roles and functions with college staff • Practice based research • PX2 based on psychological principles-could EPS be involved? • Further develop partnership working (college and EPS) • Purpose of Evaluation • Strengthen the joint bid for funding from Kelvin Leader • Contribute to the evidence base for TPI programmes • Limited external evaluations of PX2 - but looks amazing

10. Evaluation

11. Strand 1 – Training The Trainers • Investment in Excellence Training • Questionnaires (n=13) • How they felt about the training; usefulness; improvement suggestions; recommendation to colleagues • Noticed themselves doing anything differently; new insights about themselves; using ideas and strategies

12. Strand 1 – Training The Trainers • Pathways 2 Extreme Success (PX2) • Questionnaires (n=11) • How they felt about the training; confidence in delivery; barriers to implementation; professional support required • Relevance to service’s work with young people; expected impact on young people

13. Strand 2 – Evaluation of PX2 Materials • Students (n=14) • Each individual STEP evaluation questionnaire • Interesting/useful; find most interesting; improvements • End of Programme Questionnaire • Interesting/useful; key concepts; applicability to life; goals; improvements; recommendations • Facilitated group discussion • Strengths; improvements; comparison to normal programme • Facilitator (n=1) • Reflective diary for each STEP PSPS and the Senior phase of Curriculum for Excellence: Supporting positive and sustained destinations for all young people

14. Strand 3 – Impact on GRfW Students • Two groups on different campuses • Intervention group (GRFW programme plus PX2 programme) • Comparison group (GRFW programme only) • Six Measures (use pre- and post- ) • The general self-efficacy scale; Life orientation test revised; Subjective happiness scale; Ego-resiliency scale; Dweck mindset scale; locus of control for children • Measuring – self efficacy, resilience, optimism, happiness with life, mindset, locus of control • Interview questions • Career aspirations & career expectations • Goals (how likely they think they will achieve them on scale 1-10) and how they will try and achieve them PX2 group post -what’s changed; noticed anything different; implementing strategies; approach to finding work changed; most important thing remembered

15. Quotes Changed the way you think about things. Nothing is impossible! I am more keen to get a job. Putting more energy into it I am getting up earlier. I don’t just want to sit in my bed. I will use it just about everyday in my life because you can see things you might not have noticed Do anything if you put your mind to it. Even looking for jobs on weekends. I work harder now, I talk more, I’ve got more confidence. I am going to use what I have learned in every area of my life. Overall I think it has changed me as a person in many good ways! I think it will help me get a job because it changes the way you think. Taking control of their futures was another success of the day as the whole group gave examples of how they were going to take control of their lives

16. Recognition of Achievement Presentation of Certificates of Achievement to GRfW group at the Kirkintilloch Campus. Attended by: Eddie Kennedy PX2 Facilitator Anne Brannan Pacific Institute Jean Ross Careers Scotland Carol Huggan Campus Manager

17. Participant’s view Nicky Newlands GRfW Trainee

18. Comment from Pacific Institute Anne Brannan quote “As lead facilitator for Pacific Institute, it is with great pride that I attend this award ceremony, held by Cumbernauld College for a group of young people who successfully completed the PX2 programme. To listen to the young people, share their hopes and ambitions for their futures, and experience first hand how a new facilitator (Eddie  Kennedy) has had such a positive impact on the group  is uplifting”

19. Legacy • Bank of trained people to deliver PX2 to the local area • Roll out of PX2 in main college campus • 3 groups to date trained in PX2 • Cumbernauld college - hub for Pacific Institute • SLIP (Sector Leading Innovative Practice) recommendation by HMIe • EDC post-school psychological service • Planning to identify groups (<16 years) who would benefit from PX2 • Disseminated worldwide (Mexico)