Keira Abercrombie spent four weeks with Kingdom Support & Care as part of the Career Ready programme for young people approaching the end of their secondary education. The programme offers a mentor from the world of work, a four-week paid internship, a series of skills masterclasses and workplace visits. Career Ready provides young people with the support, experience and skills they need to kick-start a rewarding future.

KSC provides over 8,500 hours of high-quality personalised support each week that helps people live independently in their own homes, living the lives they choose for themselves and achieving their full potential. The organisation also offers a wide range of career opportunities.

Lochgelly High School student Keira Abercrombie completed her internship with the admin team at KSC and said: “Although I focussed mainly on the administrative side of work at KSC, I really enjoyed that no two days were ever the same. One day I’d be helping with paperwork, the next I was out visiting the different places where KSC work, meeting lots of people and seeing the work they do.”

Keira added: “I’d really recommend Career Ready to anyone. It’s a bit of a shock to the system because it’s really different to school, but you’re treated like an adult, and now I know what a real working environment feels like. I know what’s expected of me and how an office is supposed to function. When it comes to getting my first full time job, I’m confident that this experience will have helped me massively.”

Lee Herd, recruitment and staff development coordinator at Kingdom Support & Care, was Keira’s mentor throughout the placement.

She said: “Keira came late to the Career Ready Programme as she wasn’t completely sure about taking part. We had lots of really positive conversations and I’m delighted that, in the end, Keira agreed to do her internship with us at Kingdom Support & Care. I’m sure Keira won’t mind me saying that when she first started she was shy and a little anxious. But by the end of her four week placement, she flourished into a confident young lady who is an absolute joy to be around.

“For me, that’s one of the great things about Career Ready Internships. It gives young people the chance to earn, to learn, and to flourish in real-world work environments. It also gives us the chance to showcase the wide range of job roles that are available within the social care sector. We will definitely host more Career Ready Interns in the future.”