KIBBLE’S SKILLS ACADEMY BUILDS BRIGHTER FUTURES

Headquartered in Renfrewshire, Kibble provides a wide range of services that support young people who have experienced adversity and trauma. Within Hillington Park, The Skills Academy and Puddle Lane Nursery both play key roles in helping the charity achieve its mission.

We caught up with Lisa Wardlaw, Head of The Skills Academy, to learn more about Kibble’s work and the vital difference that The Skills Academy makes in the lives of young people.

For those who may not have heard of Kibble before, how would you explain what the charity does today?

Kibble is one of the UK’s largest children’s charities that supports young people who have faced adversity and trauma. We empower young people through education, young workforce development, children’s residential houses, mental health services, fostering, adoption and more. Our aim is to give young people a chance at life.

At Hillington Park we operate one of our Skills Academy training centres and Puddle Lane, which is a children’s nursery for all families in Renfrewshire, Glasgow and beyond. It offers affordable, high-quality childcare to the wider community and is where children thrive as they learn through play.

Can you tell us when Kibble was originally founded and how it has evolved since then?

Kibble is one of Scotland’s oldest charities with origins in 1840. Miss Elizabeth Kibble, heiress to a large textile fortune, left a portion of her wealth to “found and endow in Paisley, an institution for the purpose of reclaiming youthful offenders against the laws”. For over a century, Kibble has evolved while maintaining its focus on empowering young people.

Kibble seeks to honour Elizabeth Kibble’s legacy by continuing to help young people overcome adversity and trauma. To meet this need, our range of services continues to evolve in line with the ever-changing needs of young people.

What types of services does Kibble offer to young people today?

Kibble exists to give young people a chance at life and aims to deliver the right support, at the right time. Our services span across children’s residential houses, education and young workforce development, secure care, mental health services, fostering, adoption and more.

Every service at Kibble is built around helping young people overcome challenges, gain qualifications, and step into independent adult life with the right tools and support.

Tell us more about The Skills Academy and what it does.

The Skills Academy is Kibble’s education and training centre with locations at Hillington Park and St Mirren Football Club’s stadium and training complex. It offers young people hands-on experience in areas like mechanics, horticulture, construction, joinery, painting and decorating, and hospitality. It’s a safe, encouraging environment where they can learn practical skills, work towards qualifications, and build confidence. We also run summer programmes and work placements, and partner with local businesses to create real-world opportunities.

Who are the young people you work with and support on a daily basis?

Many young people we support are care-experienced or have faced difficult circumstances early in life. At the Academy, a supportive team of adults encourage young people to be resilient and to believe in themselves. Our role is to provide the support and resources needed to help young people fulfil their potential.

Roughly how many young people benefit from The Skills Academy’s support each year?

It supports hundreds of young people each year. The overall objective at Kibble is to help as many young people as possible and the academy often introduces new programmes to increase enrolment and widen the breadth of topics and work placements.

Has that number changed in recent years?

Yes, it has grown steadily. Since opening, we’ve expanded the list of subjects and employer partnerships, which has allowed us to welcome more young people. We’ve also seen more schools engage with us, recognising the difference practical learning can make.

When did The Skills Academy open at Hillington Park?

The Skills Academy at Hillington Park officially opened in 2019. It has been great to grow into the space and build partnerships with other businesses across the estate.

How many staff work across the charity, and how many are based at Hillington Park?

Kibble has a large workforce across multiple services and several locations. At Hillington Park specifically, we have an education team of approximately 20 staff who deliver the Skills Academy’s programmes, supported by colleagues across the wider organisation.

Kibble has achieved so much over the years. Are there any particular moments or successes you’re especially proud of?

Kibble exists to transform lives and The Skills Academy makes a tangible difference in the lives of individual young people, supporting them to secure their first job, complete a qualification and gain the confidence to believe in themselves and set personal goals.

Kibble has a rich history and everyone who works here takes pride in the organisation’s ability to continually adapt while putting young people first.

What positive changes across the wider Hillington Park estate in recent years have you noticed?

Hillington Park has become a vibrant business hub. The mix of industries creates great potential for collaboration and there’s a real sense of investment in the estate. For our young people, being in the middle of that thriving environment is motivating and inspiring.

We know that many organisations choose Hillington for its location. Is that a key factor for Kibble too, and are there other reasons it works well for you?

Kibble’s Skills Academy is happy to be located close to Glasgow, with the wider transport network making it easier for young people and staff to access us. Beyond that, Hillington gives us the right mix of space, community, and opportunity. It’s an industrial estate with energy and activity all around, which makes it the perfect backdrop for a training centre focused on preparing young people for the world of work.