Celebrating 30 years of people

Ann is part of BRAG’s Youth and Community Development Team and loves her job. Ann has worked for BRAG since 1998. This was not her first experience of BRAG, however as she was a student with BRAG in 1994 – 1995.

After being out of the job market for a few years due to having her kids Ann decided it was time to get back into the job market but knew she would have to update her IT skills and experience. Ann saw an advertisement in the local paper looking to recruit Trainees for a new Administration Programme starting at BRAG, applied for the course and was successful in achieving a place. The course was run in Partnership with BRAG and Glenrothes College so after the 26-week course ended Ann then applied for an HNC in Administration & Information management at Glenrothes College and in year 2 went onto completing an HND in the same course.

Near the end of her course, Ann saw an advertisement for a temporary position as a Trainee Administrator with BRAG and decided to apply as she felt that this would allow her to give something back to the Organisation and help others to benefit like she had. She was successful in securing the post on what had been a short 3-month contract. Still in post one year later she then added to her workload by assisting the New Deal Team Client Liaison Officers with their administration caseload. Ann later progressed to the role of a Client Liaison Officer and held this post for quite a few years thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of the role and even more so she enjoyed helping the Clients as she felt they were people just like her.

In her time at BRAG Ann has also been a Recruitment Consultant, has helped deliver Employability Sessions and has gained a City and Guilds Assessor qualifications assesses students in the workplace. Ann was always involved in working with the 16 and over age group but when her Manager Kirsten first arrived, her own background had been working with a younger age group. Ann then found that her own adaptability worked well for her as the team started working with High School aged children and young people. Kirsten and Ann then jointly developed the Greenpower F24 project at BRAG which teaches STEM (Science, technology, Engineering and Mechanical) skills through the building, designing and racing of a Greenpower F24 full size single seater racing car. After securing big lottery funding for 3 years the F24 club was formed and the girls worked with the Bragin Fifers who were a team of local young people to develop their race team helping them with various fundraising events so that they could take part in the American F24 race in Alabama also staying at the NASA space Camp.

Speaking of this Ann Said “F24 has been the best project I’ve ever worked on, seeing the kids on the race day was fantastic, racing the cars that they had built as a team.” On her change to working with the youths Ann added: “Working with young people makes me feel like I am making a difference.” Ann and Kirsten now work with delivering the F24 project in High Schools across Fife and work with various Community Police Officers in Fife delivering the F24 programme too. The projects have been very worthwhile with some young people who had been excluded from school at the start of the Police/School program then being able to return to mainstream education after their taking part. One member of Bragin Fifers and one member from the police program have now gone on to manage Formula 24 Fife, a newly constituted group that was set up after the F24 clubs ended. Formula 24 Fife now has 3 teams with one, Fife Lightnin having just returned from Alabama where they were award winners. Ann has also been involved in the Fife Greenpower Goblin race event for the Primary Schools held at Cowdenbeath Racewall where over 24 primary schools teams competed from across Fife. Find out more about our Youth and community team here

Our picture shows Ann receiving her 20 years outstanding contribution award at BRAG’s recent 30 year celebration and AGM.