Primary School Benefits from Young People's Teamwork

7-7-2010

During the past two weeks young people from the Bracknell Prince’s Trust Team Programme have been working hard at Wildridings Primary School to decorate a new classroom and brighten up the school playground ready for the start of the new school year in September.

The Prince’s Trust Team Programme, which is delivered by Connexions Berkshire, is a unique personal, social and educational development programme. It is designed to help young people, aged 16 to 25, improve their skills and attitudes in order to be better equipped for the world of employment. The Team Programme brings together a diverse mix of young unemployed and employed people of widely ranging abilities, personal circumstances and backgrounds. It aims to re-engage young people, helping them to think about their futures and in many cases change their lives for the better.

The work at Wildridings School is part of the Community Project, which the young people complete during the 12 week Team Programme and contributes to the City & Guilds qualification they work towards in Personal Teamwork and Community Skills.

The group had to plan a project which would benefit their local community, this included researching ideas, selecting a suitable project and fundraising for equipment and resources.  The group of young people raised over £300, by washing cars at South Hill Park, selling Krispy Kreame doughnuts at local offices and taking part in a street collection in Bracknell Town Centre.

The Team members have re-decorated a classroom, so it is ready for the new term starting in September, painted an office, designed a mural, which will be on display to the children and brightened up a fence and gazebo in the school playground.

Now the Community Project has been completed, the young people will spend two weeks gaining valuable work experience at a placement and will also work with Connexions Personal Advisers to create their own CVs, undertake job searches and learn interview techniques.  The Team Programme will end in a celebration event, with the young people inviting family and friends to showcase what they have learnt and how they benefited from the experience.

For more information please visit your local Connexions Centre or contact Lee Teideman on 07747 760882, e-mail: leeteideman@connexions-berkshire.org.uk

To find out more about Connexions Berkshire call 0845 408 5001, email info@connexions-berkshire.org-uk or visit your local Connexions Centre.