COMMUNITY TRADE HUB
The Community Trade Hub (CTH) is a grassroots social enterprise based in Buckhaven and Methil providing skills, employability, and vocational training in a unique and fun learning environment in Fife. We are one of two CITB-accredited training organisations in Fife.
We support young people between the ages of 13-24 facing multiple complex barriers to employment and further education to gain the confidence, life skills, practical training and experience they need to move forward into positive futures and career paths.
Over the past 4 years CTH has supported 2,945 young people in gaining qualifications, training, skills development, community-based work experience from 13 schools across Fife and hosted holiday camp activities, entertaining and educating an additional 288 young people.
PARTNERSHIP
As a social enterprise it is important for us not only to work closely with the youngsters but also with other local organisations and groups within our community. As an area of Scotland with one of the highest crime rates and disengagement with education, we think it is important to have a close working relationship with our local police force.
We have been awarded Policing Partner of the year in 2023, for all our awesome work! This not only benefits us as a business but it also encourages the pupils to improve and develop a more positive perspective and relationship with the officers. It has become evident to us that the first step to shaping youngsters into positively contributing adults of society, is to let them see those in authority as regular people beyond the uniform and perhaps negative associations that come with it.
There is a common connection that young people who are disengaged with school, often engage in anti-social behaviours. Our aim here is to not only close the attainment gap but to also contribute to decreasing crime and anti – social behaviour rates in our area. Although anti-social behaviour is still a prominent issue throughout Fife, and indeed the Levenmouth area, national statistics show that these rates have decreased in recent years.
ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
The number of Anti-Social Behaviour incidents recorded throughout Fife, saw a slight reduction between 2021/22 and 2022/23, from 24,350 to 22,961. This equated to 614.7 incidents per 10,000 population. However, over the past year the reduction in reported Anti-social behaviour complaints has reduced dramatically. Throughout 2023 to 2024, there were only 2,477 officially anti-social behaviour complaints filed throughout Fife.
Although showing a decrease from the two years where national lockdowns were implemented, reports remain at a higher level than pre-Covid reports. In Levenmouth alone rates of anti-social behaviour have predominantly fallen the last couple of years. Reports of Anti-social behaviour are now at an all time low, with a 4% decrease since 2022. Although the statistics are still above the council and national average, we are certainly on the right path to a safer and more peaceful community.
Each pupil that joins us here at The Community Trade Hub will learn new skills and advance their knowledge over the course of a 10 week programme. However, that does not mean that after a 10 week block our work is done! We work tirelessly throughout the school year welcoming new students into our learning environment away from mainstream education every 10 weeks.
Throughout the 2023 -2024 period we have received a phenomenal 600 pupil referrals from all the schools that we work with throughout fife. We currently work closely with 13 of the 18 secondary schools throughout Fife, which we feel is an enormous achievement and an even bigger responsibility!
From these 13 schools we have received more than 210 pupil referrals across all three curriculums, in just one year! From these 210 referrals we have helped our pupils to gain around 2,500 qualifications!
Since coming to CTH, it has given me the opportunity to learn new skills and identify a trade. I now have an apprenticeship in joinery with a local company.
My Ben loves coming to the hub on a Friday. The way you guys engage with them is great. You treat them with respect and it pays off.
Thank you Community Trade Hub Limited – the guidance, support and direction you offer is so valuable to our next generation. Proud Mum.
Nothing but good things to say about the trade hub, the skills I’ve learned from the short time I’ve been there so far , are things that will get me places in life and I’ll carry them with me through my soon to come career.
Absolutely amazing staff, so friendly and welcoming, anyone that wants to learn a skill or trade and meet some amazing people should invest some time with the hub.
Thank you to the great mentors and friends I’ve made along the way for keeping my head screwed on right and teaching me how to get places with life
Would like to say a massive thank you to Community Trade Hub Limited ….. my son started a placement a wee while back, learned lots of new skills and now starts his first proper job, an apprentice in construction with raeburn on Monday!!! If your bairns sitting about doing bugger all then send them down! You won’t be disappointed.
Such a brilliant place, Melissa had a fantastic two weeks at the hub, she had grown in confidence so much, thank you to the whole team for all you have done!
LEARNT SKILLS WHICH CAN AND WILL BENEFIT MY FUTURE CAREERS, HAD THE BEST TIME WITH THE MENTORS WHICH MAKES THE LEARNING BETTER AND MORE INTERESTING.
CTH’s young men and women came into to do the whole installation of our training kitchen from the laminate floor up. What a marvelous and professional job they did. They will all be a credit to anyone who is lucky enough to become their employers after their training is completed.