Columba 1400, a social enterprise charity specialising in turning around the lives of young people from ‘tough reality’ backgrounds, is launching a scheme to recruit 20‘champions’ from the Scottish business community between now and the end of the year. The ‘Columban Champions’ will be launched on the evening of Wednesday 25 April at the offices of the law firm, Murray Beith Murray, in Glenfinlas Street, Edinburgh.

Founded in 1997 by leading international leadership consultant, Norman Drummond, former BBC National Governor for Scotland and Headmaster of Loretto School, Columba 1400 has already helped 5,000 young people from backgrounds of ‘tough realities’ to re-focus their lives in a positive manner through work and contributions to families and the wider community.

The charity operates two sites on Skye and Loch Lomond, where it holds a regular series of leadership academies. Malcolm Offord, a Columba 1400 Trustee and Chairman of the Badenoch Trust , explained: “These provide ‘inward bound’ courses which focus on uncovering the excellence these young people already have within them but may not be aware of. The environment they live in does not elicit their talent and a lack of confidence and aspiration often means that the they are unable to reach their full potential which is a terrible waste for them personally and also for society.”

Securing 20‘champions’ from the business community will enable the charity to increase the number of places at both leadership academies. Columba 1400 believes that, in addition to the funds provided, the entrepreneurial background and experience of those who become champions will also add tangible benefits to the scheme.

Mr Offord added: “Successful business people and entrepreneurs like to back winners and we can demonstrate that Columba 1400 provides a unique product which is both proven and successful.”

Carole Hope, partner at Murray Beith Murray said;" We are delighted to be supporting the launch of the Columban Champions scheme to enable the work of Columba 1400 reach out to more young people and their families and communities. "

In 2008, The Badenoch Trust commissioned New Philanthropy Capital to carry out an SROI (Social Return on Investment) analysis of Columba 1400’s main product (i.e. the Young People’s Leadership Academy) and this concluded that for every £1 invested in YPLA, the return in positive benefits for society was £2.50.

Statistics also show that just under three-quarters of the graduates from the leadership academies have, on completing their courses, been able to sustain themselves in work, further education or training and have been re-integrated with families with whom they were previously estranged.

The Scotsman

A “double dip” recession affecting Scotland seems unlikely after the Bank of Scotland’s Purchase Managers Index (PMI) for February showed both output and employment at private sector businesses increased at accelerated rates.

However it would be erroneous to infer from this that workers in the private sector were experiencing an upturn in their conditions of service. All the anecdotal evidence is that bosses have cut back on terms and conditions and that this will remain in place for some time.

Despite Bank of Scotland’s hopeful message, such is the clamour for jobs from those out of work that bosses do not have problems hiring labour on terms and conditions much reduced from four or five years ago; indeed, some seem quite prepared to let go even valued staff if it means a replacement on a lower cost basis.

Every employment grievance case is unique, yet there is an underlying theme to most of them at present: salaries and/or hours cut at the start of the downturn and never put back to their previous level; training courses and team-building sessions pared back or axed; and even low-cost perks which helped make a job palatable – free or reduced gym membership or luncheon vouchers – removed during the recession and never reinstated. As a result, our feedback shows increasing numbers of employees with pressures placed upon them that could be legally deemed unfair, and who have good reason to claim constructive dismissal. Only they don’t because of the current economic climate.

Some will be fortunate enough to have the backing of a trade union. Others, however, may feel they have no alternative but to take what their employers throw at them on the (understandable) premise that without the job there would be no mortgage, up to date clothes for the kids or annual holiday.

So for those in the latter category, now may be an opportune time to check the terms and conditions of their home contents insurance policy. Yes, the one that people take out primarily to compensate for the consequences of a chip pan fire, a burst pipe or a burglary.

Something of which policyholders are often unaware, however, is the fact that the home contents “umbrella” may include insurance cover related to legal services, which in most standard policies will include the costs incurred (usually up to £50,000) in taking a civil action against one’s employer or former employer. Many householders may be unaware that they have signed up for this protection.

Taking action against an employer is never an easy step but anyone in this situation would do well to seek clarification as to what categories of insurance cover their home contents policy actually provides, as this may include employment-related legal costs. Anyone who has not done so should seriously consider taking up this option when they renew their contents policy, even if the relationship with one’s employer is currently all sweetness and light!

• Dawn Robertson is head of Murray Beith Employment