Project Description

Industry/Sector: Public Sector 

Partner Programme: Career Ready  

Activity Type: Mentoring   

Businesses involved: Fife Council  

In June 2025, DYW Fife formally launched its DYW Ambassador Programme, a strategic initiative aimed at empowering young people across the region to champion employability, leadership, and skills for life, learning, and work within their school communities. 

This new initiative aligns with the wider DYW mission of preparing young people for the world of work, with ambassadors playing a key role in promoting opportunities, bridging gaps between pupils and employers, and inspiring their peers.
 

The Launch Event
 

The official launch took place on Thursday, 19th June at St Andrews RC High School in Kirkcaldy, where 68 pupils from eight secondary schools—Beath, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Lochgelly, St Andrews RC, Queen Anne, Viewforth, and Waid—came together for a full day of interactive training and leadership development. 

The day introduced participants to the four key pillars of DYW Fife’s strategy: 

Work Experience 

Volunteering 

Entrepreneurship 

Leadership 

Through engaging workshops, pupils explored brand awareness, marketing, team-building, and action planning. These sessions equipped them with the knowledge and tools to take on the ambassador role confidently and creatively within their own schools. 

Partner Involvement: Fife Voluntary Action

A key contributor to the day was Fife Voluntary Action, with Pamela Bennett delivering a practical session on the Saltire Awards. Her workshop educated young people on how to log volunteering hours, gain official recognition, and understand the broader value of giving back to their communities. 

 Pamela’s insights highlighted how volunteering not only supports the local area but also helps young people gain valuable life experiences and transferable skills—reinforcing the core goals of the DYW initiative.

Ambassadors in Action 

 Following the launch, ambassadors are expected to take on leadership roles within their schools, planning and delivering events, promoting career-related opportunities, and serving as role models. With support from their DYW School Coordinators, these young leaders will: 

Engage peers in employability initiatives 

Support wider pupil voice activities 

Enhance their CVs and personal statements

Connect with local employers and educators 

This programme provides young people with genuine responsibility, allowing them to shape the delivery of DYW in their schools and create long-term impact.

Feedback from Participants
 

Feedback from both staff and pupils underscored the value of the event: 

“The ambassador day was a valuable starting point for developing the DYW Ambassador role at Beath, particularly the action planning session.” 

— Lorraine Thomson, DYW Coordinator, Beath High School 

“The day was enjoyable. Being at the event with ambassadors from other schools was great for my confidence. I really liked coming up with ideas that will take place in my school.” 

— S5 Pupil, Waid Academy  

“Exciting! I liked how informative the day was and how it was split into three interactive workshops.” 

— S5 Pupil, Dunfermline High School