A POPULAR project that’s helped thousands of young people gain skills in motor mechanics has reached a landmark year.

The well-loved Three Towns Motor Project last week celebrated its 21st birthday at a special event hosted in its vehicle maintenance garage in Ardrossan.

Over its 21 years in operation, the Three Towns Motor Project team – lead by Damian Taylor from North Ayrshire Council’s Youth Services - has welcomed over 5,000 young people into their facility and helped them gain a variety of skills, including SQA qualifications in basic motor mechanics.

One very special member of the team, Fergus Fulton, has been involved with the project right from its humble beginnings in 1995.

As a Mechanic Instructor, he has played a pivotal role in the project’s success, overseeing its evolution into a wide-ranging programme that’s now available to young people from all across North Ayrshire.

His passion and dedication was commended at the celebratory event which was attended by local councillors as well as Youth Services staff and many of the people who have trained at the Three Towns Motor Project.

They marked the occasion by gathering for a barbecue and some birthday cake and heard all about the project’s achievements over the years – specifically how it’s enhanced the lives of many young people.

As well as highlighting the history of the programme, the event also demonstrated its future direction.

More recently the facility has been used as a gathering place for a whole range of youth projects including Streetwise, a peer education drama delivered in partnership with Police Scotland, which highlights safety issues to young people.

It was also the birthplace of the ‘Little Mousey’ book which was created by Shannon Morrison, a Youth Work Modern Apprentice.

The book, which aims to provide support to children exposed to domestic abuse, was recently launched and is now available in all local primary schools and libraries.

Thanks to the innovative approach taken by the project’s staff, the venue is fast becoming a ‘one-stop-shop’ for youth initiatives.

Councillor Marie Burns, Cabinet Member for Economy and Communities, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the birthday of the Three Towns Motor Project.

“It’s a service which many people in North Ayrshire have fond memories of and that’s thanks to its dedicated staff.

“Over its 21 years the project has provided valuable, life-enhancing skills to thousands of local young people and today was about recognising and celebrating their achievements.

“We look forward to seeing how much the project evolves over the coming years, to continue to provide our youngsters with fantastic opportunities.”