The History of Cothrom

After a lot of hard work on the part of both volunteers and staff members of the Development Agencies, Cothrom was successful in obtaining Funding from Western Isles Enterprise, and New Opportunities for Women (NOW), a European Social Fund initiative which Cothrom could access by virtue of it being situated in an Objective 1 area, for a two year pilot project.  Western Isles Islands Council agreed to give Cothrom the lease of Stoneybridge Schoolhouse, which was empty and in need of repair.  With the help of grants from various other bodies and assistance from volunteers the premises were renovated to their current standard.

Due to the amount of funding, and the restrictive size of the premises it was agreed that three courses, instead of the five originally proposed would be run in 1992 and 1993.  During those first two years Cothrom provided training for 17 Students in Sewing and Tailoring, Business Administration and Childcare. 

Cothrom as well as being a training provider had a wider Community Development remit in terms of its Aims and Objectives.  As a result it became a forum for discussion of wider community initiatives and in particular those that could bring jobs and money into the area.

1994

In October of 1994 the Western Isles Information Technology Initiative, funded by Western Isles Enterprise, the Council and WISL LEADER, made its first major breakthrough by securing a contract with a major publishing Company to edit material form Professional Journals index it and enter it in to a Computer Data Base.  Cothrom had premises and equipment that allowed the training and the contract work to be started while the formalities of setting up a Tele Working Company were sorted out and other premises identified. 

The tele-working Company was set up as Lasair and moved to premises in Balivanich in Benbecula where it now trades independently of Cothrom.

1995

In 1995 Cothrom again obtained funds from Western Isles Enterprise and the European Social Fund to run another Textiles course for 10 Students

1996-97

In 1996 Cothrom received grant assistance to replace its Computer equipment as Administration and Computer training were very much in demand and its equipment was outdated.  In order to accommodate the new training workshop nearby so that it was possible to keep these facilities operational for night classes and future training.

In 1996 and 1997 funding for two training programmes was received from Western Isles Enterprise and the European Social Fund.  In 1996 two courses were run, one in Office Technology and one in Business Administration and Financial Skills.  In 1997 the Office Technology Course was run again along with an SVQ in Accounting – Level 2.  Funding was also obtained to offer computer training to local business on their own premises.  Since 1998 Cothrom has received funding from ESFI WIE to run SVQs in Information Technology and Business Administration.

1997-99

In 1998 Cothrom received funding from the National Lottery Charities Board to develop a pilot programme in Adult Basic Education.  In 1999 a further 3 years funding allowed the development of the project with the opening of two new centres, in Liniclate and Barra.

The third training strand that has been developing since 1998 is the Early Years care and Education programme, which is funded by Childcare Partnership, CnES and WIE.  This training, at SVQ levels II & III, accesses students who wish to work in a Child care setting.

Cothrom has also been running Skillseekers Initial Training in partnership with the MOD since February 1997.  Initial Training, now re-branded as the Get Ready for Work Scheme, is designed to give school leavers who are unsure of their preferred career choice, the opportunity to obtain training in a variety of different occupational sector for a six month period, raised through functions and night classes.

Cothrom has achieved the Scottish Quality Management System standard, which is a condition of receiving funding for training.  The system has to constantly be reviewed and updated.  In addition Cothrom has been an Investor in People since 1999.

2000

The year 2000 saw the opening of Unit 1 in the Further Education College in Liniclate.  An adult basic education project started in the unit, and the Childcare staff moved their base and the classes to the site.  Computing training continued as usual with another raft of funding from WIE and ESF.

2001

The Barra office came into existence in 2001, initially in the old Hydro Shop in Castlebay.  The service was greeted with enthusiasm by the community and other agencies alike and very quickly became an integral part of life on the island.  The computing courses had grown very popular in Uist and due to lack of space at Stoneybridge ran from the Lews Castle College Lochboisdale Unit.  This was also the year that Directors started to seriously discuss the problem of premises and looked at options for expansion and development.  Staff and student numbers started to grow rapidly with the increased number of courses being offered.

1990

Cothrom came into being in late 1990 when a group of women involved in organising a pre-school playgroup began meeting informally to discuss their working lives and consider ways of changing their situation.  It was apparent that in Uist there was a lack of opportunity for women to obtain quality paid employment due to the fact that they had no access to a College or Training Centre in which to learn new skills or up-date skills they already had and so give them the confidence to re-enter the work-force once their children were at school.  Some members of the group were looking for training in the use of new technology, others in craftwork, sewing and tailoring, childcare, interior decoration or media skills.

1992-93

To obtain funding Cothrom had to be set up as a legally constituted group.  In 1992, Cothrom became a Community Enterprise set up as a Company Limited by Guarantee with Charitable Status.  It has a local membership who elects a Board of Directors, from the local community, at the Annual General Meeting.

2002

In July 2002 Cothrom was branded a Learn Direct Centre.  2002 also marked the 10-year anniversary of the inception of Cothrom as a Training Provider.  Staff, directors, students past and present celebrated this event with a vibrant, colourful evening of singing, dancing and formal speeches.  It provided the chance to look back at the past and plan for the future.

In 2002 the SVQ Information Technology offered twelve student places, six on the level II course and six on the newly introduced level III programme.  Early Years Care and Education students had the chance for the first time to advance to the Level IV qualification.  This eighteen-month course proved to be a great challenge for students and staff alike. 

Ten students enrolled on the Professional Development Award for Classroom Assistants, the course was so popular that there was an immediate waiting list of students.

Also in this year, five Adult Learning Volunteer Tutors were trained to work in the community.  This service enables adults who are unable to attend any of the centres to access training in their own homes.  Cothrom became owners of the community website uistonline.com, a one-stop-shop for tourist and visitor information, and a resource for the local community.

Alan Graham, Reyma Campbell Hickey, Mary MacInnes, Hamish Fraser, Flora Thompson, Neil MacDonald, Barbara MacDonald, Tiag MacInnes and Avril Campbell

Since 2002 the organisation has been involved in a process of feasibility for a new custom-built training centre.  The building will house state of the art training rooms, an administration block, all day nursery care and a skills workshop.  Plans are progressing to ensure that the funding is available and the land is being purchased from South Uist Estates.

2003

In 2003 the Cothrom website was launched, www.cothrom.net provides the latest information on courses and other developments at Cothrom.

2004

In 2004 ESF funding was replaced by Equal funding, which is based on a partnership approach, Cothrom is part of the Highlands and Islands Hi Hopes group along with Voluntary Action Lewis and other mainland organisations.  This fund will provide the means to develop a furniture recycling social enterprise based at Bornish Shop to meet the training and work experience needs of the ‘hard to place’ students.

The Lochboisdale Centre came under Cothrom management in April 2004, being transferred from Lews Castle College.  This centre has been used to hold business training sessions, Adult Learning and Community/Evening classes.  WIE support the operation of this centre.

In 2004 Cothrom accepted a management role for the Women@Work (now Connect) programme acting as the employer and sitting on the Management Committee.

2005

The success of the organisation continued in 2005 with £1,080,834 committed to the new Community Learning and Development Centre in Ormiclate, South Uist.  Throughout the four training centres 238 students accessed the service, some to complete qualifications others simply improving their skills.  The SVQ in Information Technology was offered for the first time from the Barra Centre.  The sources of funding continued to expand, INCREASE and EQUAL jointly funding the development of Cothrom Re-store and the Scottish Executive Literacy and Numeracy funding and BNSF providing the financial support for the Adult Learning project.

In 2005 Cothrom hosted a delegation from the World Youth Congress in partnership with East Camp and the Balivanich Youth Group.  This resulted in the gifting of a Peace Pole in four languages, which is now displayed in Daliburgh School.

2006

Cothrom Re-store opened its shop and workshop in Bornish South Uist in April 2006.  This facility provides practical work training for students who restore and recycle furniture that has been donated by the community.  This furniture is then sold in the shop at very reasonable prices.  A van provides a delivery service and upholstery is also available.

2007

The Cothrom Adult Learners Forum was developed in January 2007 and was set up to allow the students to have their say about how the service is developed and run.  Every student has the chance to become a member and influence the direction of Cothrom, by offering new ideas and working with staff to improve the service.

In September 2007 Directors and Staff were delighted to take ownership of a new custom built Learning Centre at Ormiclate.  The main centre now provides for al the Uist students with the Barra Office continuing as usual.  The building houses training rooms, skills workshop, meeting and administration space and a full time Gaelic Nursery.

Present

At present the organisation currently offers Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) in Social Services (Children & Young People), Business & Administration, Hospitality Services, Hospitality Supervision & Leadership, Customer Service, Team Leading and Management and a range of courses and experiences through the Modern Apprentice and Employability Fund programmes. 

A special feature of Cothrom’s work is the Adult Basic Skills programme, which provides a stepping-stone for adults who wish to return to education or find employment. Although most of this work is delivered in the centres, a network of peripatetic tutors has been established to assist people in their homes.