An inspirational project has given a fresh start to a group of unemployed young people from North East Wales.
They were given the chance to experience working in the social care sector and learn new skills thanks to the Prince’s Trust and Wrexham-based Pendine Park care organisation.
Backed by Families First in Flintshire, the Working in Care course saw five young unemployed people gaining work experience and an insight into the care sector thanks to training from Pendine Park Care Organisation’s Smartcare Teaching Care Centre.
Christopher Dean, 21, of Shotton thoroughly enjoyed the two week placement at Pendine Park.
He said: “I have learned so much such as first aid skills, manual handling and how to safeguard vulnerable adults.
“Before coming on this course I didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to do, or could do, as a career but that has changed now and I really want to become a care practitioner.
“Everyone at Pendine Park has been fantastic and really helped us to learn a lot especially that older people should be treated with dignity and that we need to listen to what they want.”
Anthony Allan, 24, also of Shotton, trained as a chef and also as a retail sales assistant but after being on the course at Pendine Park, he now wants to work as a care practitioner.
He said: “I have struggled to find work and got a bit down about it. I couldn’t find anything that suited me or that I had the skills or experience for.
“Amazingly a lot of my family work as carer’s but I never thought it would be for me. But thanks to The Prince’s Trust and Pendine Park I know now what I want to do and that’s to become a care practitioner.
“It’s been a great opportunity and I’m so glad I came on the course.”
Chantelle Keenan, 18, of Connah’s Quay, is still looking for her first job.
She said: “I went to Deeside College and did a catering course but I’m still trying to find a job. The Job Centre told me about the Prince’s Trust and the course at Pendine Park and I’m really glad I came on the course.
“It’s been fantastic and the staff at Pendine Park has been so helpful. It is really nice to see older people smile and to know you have brought them some happiness. I’m now going to look at a career as a care practitioner too.”
According to Aberystwyth-based Catherine Seymour, a Prince’s Trust programme executive, the two week programme proved a big success.
She said: “The initial five young unemployed people who took advantage of the scheme have thoroughly enjoyed their time at Pendine Park care organisation.
“Those involved have had a 100% attendance rate and, quite frankly, none of them wanted the course to finish. We even had a few tears!
“We were looking for a way to introduce unemployed young people to the care sector and Pendine Park has such an excellent reputation we decided it would be the perfect partner agency.
“The course has been so successful we are looking to work together in the future, giving young people the skills, experience and an insight into working in the care sector.
“In fact the second course has already been arranged and will take place over three weeks rather than two in January.”
She added: “Quite often young people have the qualifications but not the workplace skills nor the relevant experience and as a result can’t get jobs. It’s a real catch 22 situation.
“By working, under supervision, alongside Pendine Park staff they have had an opportunity to gain some of the skills they need to make a decision about finding work in the social care arena.”
Pendine Park’s Enrichment Project Leader, Tracey Green, witnessed a massive change as the young people gained confidence over the two week placement.
She said: “They have come on in leaps and bounds as they gained experience. And the training they have had has been interactive as they have worked alongside care practitioners taking care of our residents and clients.
“It’s fair to say none of them wants to leave or the course to end. They have worked extremely hard and they are a credit to their generation and the Prince’s Trust.”
Trainer Joyce Williams was impressed with the young delegates’ attitude and eagerness to learn.
She said: “They certainly bought into Pendine Park’s ethos of attention to detail and why it’s the small things that matter as much as the big things.
“They have covered a broad spectrum of training during the fortnight from manual handling, first aid, infection control and even joined in with music workshops with residents.
“These are all skills that will help them find work in the future and most have expressed an interest in forging a career within the care industry which is wonderful.”
Rachel Gregory, 20, of Flint is still looking for her first job but has done some voluntary work as an admin assistant with Flintshire County Council.
She said: “I heard about the Prince’s Trust and the course they were running at Pendine Park. I like admin work but thought I’d give this course a try. I’m glad I did because it’s been brilliant.
“It’s been really interesting and I have learned a lot. I’m pretty sure I’d like to do care work now and that’s what I’m going to look towards doing. I have really enjoyed talking to older people on a one-to-one basis.”
Sophie Hunter, 20, of Connah’s Quay, also heard about the Prince’s Trust course at Pendine Park and was keen to take part.
She said: “I’ve done a health and social care course at Deeside College, which is now Coleg Cambria, and really enjoyed it. So when I heard about the Prince’s Trust and Pendine Park course I thought it was something that would benefit me.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt so much such as how to look after residents in the way they want to be looked after instead of how you might want to do things.
“I have been a carer for my nan and, after spending two weeks at Pendine Park, I can now see it would make a great career. I really want to work in social care and that’s what I’m going to do.”
For more information visit princes-trust.org.uk or ask for details at your local job centre.
