Almost 75 students from Hedleys Percy Hedley School, Hedleys Northern Counties School, Hedleys College and adults from their residential services took part in the event last week, which was organised by national charity Fair Train.
Work Experience Week is dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of high quality work experience and is a chance for organisations to showcase the positive work they are doing to help raise the quantity of high quality work experience placements.
Hedleys Employability, part of The Percy Hedley Foundation, works to increase employment opportunities for disabled people and they have already secured a number of placements across the region with some leading to permanent positions of employment.
The team organised a jam-packed week for students, who visited Beamish Museum, Tesco Sunderland and Newcastle College, while workshops also took place with The Mears Group, The Mayborn Group, The Riding for the Disabled Association, The Bunker and The Environment Agency.
From painting and decorating to DIY and plastering, students were given the chance to learn new skills and at Newcastle College’s Construction Academy, they gained hands on experience in a bricklaying workshop.
“Work Experience Week has recognised and highlighted hidden talents, skills and abilities of our students,” said Christine Shanks, Project Manager at Hedleys Employability.
“It has been a celebration of sharing work experience and working with our partner employers, who have opened up fantastic opportunities to our students and staff.
“We have been on a rollercoaster ride of learning, developing, transferring skills, and having fun whilst working. It has been an inspirational week of discovery for everyone involved.
“I would like to thank my team for their fantastic efforts in bringing the week together and to every employer for their amazing support.”
Hedleys Employability runs a number of placements with employers across the region, including Intu Metro Centre, Theatre Royal and Cestria Community Housing.