Member Article

Housing provider’s boost to hundreds of students

Support from a housing group has brought a boost to pupils’ confidence and the classroom with a major upgrade.

Bernicia, which provides over 8,000 homes across the North East, has teamed up with staff and pupils at Ashington High School to transform its former caretaker’s bungalow.

The refurbishment project has seen Bernicia apprentices transform the property’s kitchen and outdoor areas ready for the start of vocational classes.

Shirley Hindmarsh, foundation learning leader at Ashington High, said: “The work they’ve done has been fantastic while giving their apprentices on-the-job experience. What was an old bungalow has been kitted out to a high standard and will be used by pupils across the school for classes such as cookery and horticulture.”

The project is the latest partnership between the school and Bernicia which early this year sponsored a group of Year 9 pupils on the Be Programme.

Run by the social enterprise business Gentoo Group, the seven-week course aims to boost confidence, self-esteem and motivation.

Year 9 students, their families and teachers met with Bernicia and Gentoo staff at Hirst Welfare Centre for a celebration marking the end of the successful programme.

Trevor Swann, director of the Ashington Learning Partnership, which manages the High School alongside four other schools, said: “The support we’ve received from Bernicia has been hugely beneficial to our pupils from renovating a learning facility to providing apprenticeship opportunities.”

Jackie Johnson from Bernicia is responsible for apprentices and school activity through its runway programme.

She said: “The renovation project was an opportunity for our apprentices to ‘make the difference’ and we are proud of everyone who took part in this project as part of National Apprenticeship Week. We are committed to building futures and our Runway programme offers opportunities for young people to develop the range of skills they need to set off in their journey to employment. We have built up a fantastic relationship with local schools and supporting pupils with work experience as well as modernising school facilities is something we are passionate about.”

Michelle Meldrum, managing director of Gentoo Operations said: “Our Be Programme aims to engage individuals on a journey of self-discovery, individual strength, wellbeing, emotional resilience and learning curiosity. We were delighted to work with the young students, helping them to build confidence, self-esteem and motivation - skills that will help them to achieve their goals and aspirations, now and in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Round Table Solutions Ltd .