A former Scotland rugby international is using the skills she developed on the pitch to support care-experienced children and young people in Paisley.
Mairi McDonald, 28, represented Scotland 23 times before moving from professional sport into childcare.
She now works with young people in one of Kibble’s residential houses at its Paisley campus.
Mairi began her new career as a Trainee Child and Youth Care Worker after deciding she wanted to focus on helping young people.
She is sharing her experience as Kibble prepares to hold a Careers Fair at St Mirren Football Club on Wednesday 16th September.
The event will give people an opportunity to learn about entry-level positions and other roles available with the charity.
Child and Youth Care Workers support young people who have experienced adversity or trauma. They help them with everyday life while building their confidence, skills and independence.
Mairi studied Sports Development at university before playing rugby professionally. She also enjoyed mentoring younger players during her sporting career.
Mairi said: “I’d always enjoyed working with younger players and being someone they could look up to, but I started to realise that what I found most rewarding was the relationship you build with young people and knowing that you can make a difference to their day.
“I wanted a career where I could have that kind of impact every day, not just through sport, and working with young people felt like a really natural fit for me.”
Her role includes supporting daily routines, preparing meals, encouraging independence and planning activities. She is also there when a young person needs someone to talk to.
Mairi said: “The best part of the job is definitely the young people. You get to know their personalities, what makes them laugh, what they enjoy and what they’re interested in, and you become part of their lives.
“It’s the little things that stay with you. Taking one of the young people to Largs for a day out, playing football together in the garden or seeing them achieve something they’ve been working towards. They might seem like small moments, but they can mean so much.”
Mairi said the role can be challenging, particularly when young people are struggling, but helping to make a difference makes it worthwhile.
She said: “There are definitely difficult days, and sometimes you have to be patient and just be there for someone when they’re struggling. But when you see a young person’s mood change because you’ve spent some time with them, or you help them through something they’re finding difficult, that is incredibly rewarding.
“You’re building relationships, giving them someone they can trust and hopefully helping them to see what they’re capable of. I feel like I’m working for something bigger than myself. Knowing that the work you do can help change a young person’s life makes every day worthwhile.”
Mairi believes the resilience, teamwork, communication and relationship-building skills she developed through professional sport have helped her in her new career.
Speaking about entry-level roles, she said: “You don’t need to have worked in care before for Kibble’s Career Start Training Programme. A lot of the skills you develop in other jobs and in life can be really valuable, whether that’s communication, patience, teamwork or simply being someone who listens.
“If you want a job where you can build genuine relationships and know that what you do matters, I’d definitely encourage people to find out more about working with young people. It’s challenging at times, but the rewards are huge.”
Kibble is recruiting experienced Child and Youth Care Workers as well as people looking to change careers.
Staff work alongside social workers, psychologists, teachers and other professionals. They support young people with daily life, education, activities and developing independence.
Mark Macmillan, chief executive of Kibble, said: “Mairi’s journey demonstrates that a career in care can be a natural next step for people from many different professional backgrounds.
“The skills she developed through professional sport, including teamwork, resilience, communication and relationship-building, are all incredibly valuable when working with young people.
“We want people to understand that you don’t need to have followed a traditional route into care to make a difference. What matters is having the right qualities, a genuine commitment to young people and a willingness to learn.
“Our Careers Fair at St Mirren Football Club is an opportunity for people to come and speak to our team, hear directly about the roles available and find out how we can support them to build a rewarding career with Kibble.”
Photo: Kibble CEO Mark McMillan
Photo Credit: Kibble
Kibble offers early and back shifts, dedicated night shifts and job-share opportunities.
Employees can also access its Further Study Programme to gain qualifications relevant to their roles and progress within the organisation.
Kibble provides specialist services for children and young people aged up to 26 who have experienced adversity or trauma.
The Careers Fair will run from 11am until 3pm at St Mirren Football Club’s Marbill Coaches Stadium on Wednesday 16th September.
Visitors can speak to the Kibble team about current vacancies, training and career opportunities.
Further information is available at www.kibble.org.