Prince's Trust 4XL
Involvement with the Prince's Trust XL programme has provided valuable opportunities to build good relationships with one particular group of young people some of whom can be challenging and occasionally quite anti-social. Working alongside two staff members, the 4XL group have been encouraged, cajoled and directed, through areas of the programme including personal, interpersonal and team skills, aspects of community work and a season of exploring enterprise and the world of business. Encouragingly, many of these young folks have revelled in the opportunities and challenges such a programme can offer, particularly enjoying the enterprise initiative which became "Phatman's Happy Hats". In simple terms the group were briefed on setting up a business, creating, marketing and selling a product or service, making a profit and winding the company down. "Phatman's Happy Hats" produced personalised hats for the Oban High School Christmas Dance season, in the end selling around 150 hats at a profit to pupils, staff and all-comers.
The life-lessons learned around team work, communication skills, self-confidence, taking appropriate financial risks and working with money generally, buying and selling, negotiating, meeting deadlines and so on, were very good. Through their XL work, the group were also invited to act as stewards at the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust Argyllshire Annual Gathering.
"We would like to give our thanks to Ewen Munro of H2O for his continued help and support which has been very much appreciated."
Janice O'Doherty - Princes Trust XL Advisor
"You should be very proud you have someone of Ewen's dedication and sheer quality; he has a real passion and drive to achieve his goal whatever it may be, a real trooper."
4XL pupils, Oban High School, writing to H2O