ACTION FOR CHILDREN YOUNGSTERS GRADUATE AFTER TRAINING AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WITH RAINBOW ROOM INTERNATIONAL
After an intense eight-week programme, which included time spent with Rainbow Room International, combining theory, practical and work experience elements, a group of young people at Action for Children have graduated with a Level 1 Award: Introduction to Hairdressing and Barbering.
The Rainbow Room International and Action for Children partnership came about when Leigh Kerr, Academy Director at Rainbow Room International, was researching mental health training for the Rainbow Room International team.
At the time, Leigh wanted to find this training as a ‘just in case’ measure, but her plans were put to rest when the Covid global pandemic hit.
As salons returned to work in the aftermath of the first lockdown this type of training was more important than ever.
Around this time, Action for Children reached out to RRI as they were looking for Barbering training for their young people to give them life and work experience and at the same time also to improve their confidence and wellbeing.
The partnership was a match made in heaven.
In return for Rainbow Room International providing the youngsters with the Level 1 Award, the Action for Children team would provide Rainbow Room International’s Director’s, management and salon teams with training sessions focussed around First Aid for Mental Health and ‘Ask Tell Save a Life’ training.
Four ‘Ask Tell Save a Life’ training courses were provided to the Rainbow Room International team and there were eleven qualifications received by the team for First Aid for Mental Health.
To celebrate the success of the partnership and the youngsters, Action for Children arranged a Graduation Day at Glasgow’s award-winning seafood restaurant, The Finnieston.
The day started with teas, coffees and networking before Paul Carberry, Action for Children Director, said how delighted and proud he was with the Action for Children team for everything they had done to make the partnership a success.
He thanked the Rainbow Room International team for the invaluable training and support they had provided throughout the eight weeks.
Leigh Kerr discussed how the partnership was formed, how mental health training was something she always wanted to find for the Rainbow Room International team and how important it is for hairdressers, who speak to clients all day, to look after themselves and their own mental health.
The day then finished with a three-course lunch.
