History
RUTS was established in 1981, by a group of enthusiastic motorcycling youth workers to provide activity-based groupwork projects for young people. These projects used off-road motorcycling as an activity which took the interest of the young people involved and encouraged involvement, but at the same time provided opportunities for useful growth experiences, such as teamwork and taking instruction.
Present Day
Today, although the project has been expanded to around 18 staff and is integrated with the Curriculum for Excellence, the philosophy remains the same and motorcycles are still the main focus in working with the young people referred to us.
What we do at RUTS.
RUTS provides alternative curriculum education to young people through a practical programme of activities using motorcycles as a focus.
Our Aims
RUTS aims to equip young people with the confidence and skills required to achieve their highest potential and raise their aspirations.
RUTS aims to make a positive difference to young peoples lives and the communities they live in.
At RUTS we run learning programmes of motorcycle related activities for young people. These can be tailored to the needs of the client or agency.
We offer this in these various forms:
Intro to Mechanics at Newtongrange
The programme offers the participants the opportunity to learn about the service, maintenance and repair motorcycles and bicycles as well as riding state of the art mountain bikes on our own Pump Track and perhaps trying out one of our state of the art trials motorcycles offroad. Our Intro course is all about fun and challenge as well as being a nice lead in to our other courses. The Intro course runs for 1 day a week over 4 weeks on a Friday.
Time:
10.00am – 3.15pm for up to 8 participants.
Training for Work (T.F.W.) at Newtongrange
The programme offers all the fun and challenges mentioned above for up to 8 participants as well the opportunity to complete 2 National Units certificated by the SQA at Intermediate level 1 and 2 in:
Use and Care of Hand Tools and
Vehicle Servicing – Motorcycles.
The course runs for 3 days a week over 4 weeks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Time:
10.00am – 3.15pm.
We also run similar programmes in West Lothian from our mobile workshop.
Mobile Units
We have three mobile units all delivering the RUTS MotoLearn Award (3 Credits at SCQF Level 5) programme across Scotland. One unit is funded by The Big Lottery and it will travel within reasonable distance around Scotland to deliver our programmes. The other two mobiles are funded by Inspiring Scotland. Those funded by Inspiring Scotland are currently working round in schools or with community groups in Edinburgh, West Lothian, North Ayrshire and the Borders. Generally our MotoLearn programmes run 1 day week over 6 weeks for up to eight participants. Covering such subjects as Health & Safety, motorcycle mechanics, first aid, road safety, motorcycles and society as well as such issues as employability and progression routes to further learning. Trials riding is also part of the programme and RUTS has their own dedicated trials site which enables riders of all abilities to sample the cheapest kind of motor sport available.
Youth Transitions Service
The RUTS Youth Transition team, or YT's as we call them, support young people into adulthood and working life through our mega-cool Upgrade programme which provides not only impartial information, advice and guidance, but a full programme of useful SVQ's and other qualifications. The YT's also offers a range of additional support which help young people sustain these opportunities whether it is in further education, training or employment.
