Mary Reid

Off to Dysart School yesterday for my very first engagement, and an excellent start given my focus on young people.

Dysart is our school for children with severe learning diffficulties.  I called in to see the older students last year when they were launching their Young Enterprise scheme selling hand made products online.

This time they were celebrating two weeks of work experience. As well as saying 'well done' (two thumbs up) to the young people it was also a chance to thank the five or six employers who had taken on the responsibility of introducing them to work.  The students had been given a good range of tasks from photocopying to replenishing stock and cleaning.

Then on to my first proper diary meeting with the staff from the Mayor's Office.  Lots of invitations to look at, and some awkward clashes to resolve.  If we do say 'no' to some local events it is always with the hope that the organisation will come back with another date that we can do.  Invitations from inside the Borough always take precedence over outside bodies.