Young people graduate and Inspire with their journeys

26 July 2019

This week we are shining the light on our Prince’s Trust Team programme. The young people on our Prince’s Trust Team programme’s across the county have been graduating from our 12-week course this week. We have five team’s which have just finished including Sudbury, Lowestoft, Colchester, Therford, Felixstowe, and Ipswich. The Prince’s Trust Team programme aims to build confidence, skills for life and work and support young people onto positive next steps in work, education or training.

They started the programme by spending a week away on an action-packed activity residential trip in Norfolk. This gave them a chance to break away from their current situation and realise their individual strengths within their team. The group took part in lots of activities including canoeing, crate stacking, low ropes and much more!

They are also required to plan, raise fund and complete a project of their choice that will benefit their local community. This provides a great platform for our young people to build new skills including leadership, communication and a great project and experience to add to their CVs.

Over in Lowestoft our young people worked hard on their project at the Involve Active Center. They cleared, sorted and re-arranged their storage container which is now ready for service users to pick up materials for activities. As well as sorting out the container the young people have also helped to tidy up the garden area at the center. They worked hard to de-weed areas of the garden as well as painting fences to prepare for sensory boards to be added to the garden, they also painted two exterior walls to help brighten up the area. There may only of been five members of the team working on the project but they have made such a big difference and we are so proud of what they have achieved!

In Felixstowe, our young people have been renovating the garden area at the Oaks Nursery in Felixstowe, this project has helped to create a positive and welcoming environment for the children of the nursery to enjoy and play in. The young people painted fences, benches and climbing frames. The group also took on the task of trimming bushes and hedges around the garden. One of their main ideas which they watched come to life was creating an allotment for the children to use.

They also took on two weeks work experience with local employers to build their experience and a ‘work skills week’ where the team focused on enhancing their CVs, taking part in mock interviews and much more with many local businesses visiting the programme to support those involved. Local employers included PakeField Riding School, Signace Colchester, Glade Primary School and many more.

The last week of the programme involves a graduation presentation to family, friends, local employers who have supported the programme and charity supporters! Many of the young people involved express that they really do not look forward to this part, however, when it comes around, they speak confidently about what they’ve learned and how far they have come.

Our Prince’s Trust Team programme is a great way for 16-25-year-olds to build confidence, gain new skills and find their next step in employment, education or training. Made up of different activities including a Community Project all which help to build skills and plan for next steps.

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If you are interested in enrolling in one of our programmes or know a young person that may benefit from this 12-week experience, we have courses starting all across Suffolk this September. Please contact our Team Leaders:

• Ipswich starting 23rd September 2019 Contact: [email protected]
• Clacton starting 23rd September 2019 Contact: [email protected]
• Thetford starting 30th September 2019 Contact: [email protected]
• Haverhill starting 30th September 2019 Contact: [email protected]
• Leiston starting 30th September 2019 Contact: [email protected]
• Lowestoft starting 30th September 2019 Contact: [email protected]