ARGYLL AND BUTE’S UNEMPLOYED BUILD FOR THE FUTURE

Unemployed people in the Oban and Lorn area are benefitting from a project to construct a scale model of a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry.

The two year project, which started on April 1 this year, is giving six months’ employment to approximately 30 local people who are out of work.

The group, overseen by Argyll and Bute Council’s Employability Team, is already well advanced in its bid to construct a 1:30 scale model of Caledonian MacBrayne’s ‘Isle of Mull’ ferry.

The impressive model is 3.3 metres (roughly 11 feet) long, and it is hoped it will have 21 moving parts once it is completed. Its finished weight will be some 300lbs.

The vessel, which will be fully radio-controlled, is being constructed in fibreglass and will be powered by two engines with an output of 250-300 Watts - similar to that of two Sinclair C5 motors.

Once completed, the boat will be handed over to Caledonian MacBrayne who will use it at Trade Shows and other high profile events.

The project is being part-funded by the European Social Fund.

It also involves a local primary school, as the P4 pupils of Taynuilt Primary have designed its logo.

The logo is currently being embroidered onto polo shirts, which will be distributed to those directly involved in the project.

Taynuilt Primary is also putting together calendars for both 2010 and 2011. In addition, the Employability Team is also sending the class down to the Glasgow Transport Museum to look at the history of the island ferries.

Caledonian MacBrayne has supplied the project with a set of scale drawings and endless technical advice.

The ferry operator has also given the children who took part in the logo competition a day out on the ferry with a visit to the Bridge deck to meet the Master.

The Team will shortly be erecting a progress board in Caledonian MacBrayne’s Passenger Terminal in Oban, which will chart the progress of the model along with the participating partners.

One of those working on the project is 25 year old Peter MacLean, who has been unemployed for 18 months.

“It’s been a really exciting experience, and I’ve learnt some amazing new skills and techniques,” he said.

“Working on this project from the drawing stage has given me a lot of self satisfaction and self belief. It’s great to see something of this size come to life from a piece of paper, and I’m looking forward to learning further skills as the project progresses”.

Councillor Robert Macintyre, Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson for Economy, Environment and Rural Affairs, said: “The Employability Team is renowned for its innovative, exciting approaches to helping meet the challenge of unemployment, and this project is a great example of that.

“The model already looks as if it is being constructed by professionals, and I know the Team is delighted by the way it is progressing.

“I congratulate those people who have been involved so far, who have demonstrated great skill and commitment, and everyone is looking forward to seeing the model progress towards completion over the next year or so.”