Local Youngsters Achieve their BTEC Work Skills Qualification and Raise Over £100 for National Charities

Young people on the Braintree College Youth East Programme have achieved their BTEC Work Skills qualification after completing a six week Enterprise Skills course that has given them practical experience that will help them into employment. On Wednesday 4 November the young people put their skills and knowledge into practice at a special Enterprise Day in Witham Town Centre, where they ran a stall to sell products they had made to members of the public. The stall, which included homemade chocolates and bath bombs, candles decorated by the learners, Christmas cards and a raffle, raised over £100 for the youngsters’ chosen charities Help for Heroes and Cancer Research UK.

There were positive comments from the learners who took part in the project, who agreed that the day went well. Lisa Whitworth said, “We thought it was good to sell all the things we made and get involved with others. It was really good raising money for charities and meeting new people was fun.”

Sue Turnbull, Programme Area Manager at Braintree College Witham Campus said, “The youngsters learned a range of valuable skills including effective communication, team work, planning and budgeting, making products, setting up a stall and selling products. They did their own market research on the types of products customers in Witham would buy and how much they would spend.”

Sue continued, “The Enterprise Skills course has been challenging and exciting for the youngsters and they have really jelled as a team; the course has given them skills and confidence to progress further and we are in discussion with each of the learners about the opportunities available to them, including progression into further learning or into an Apprenticeship programme. This project has been such a success that we would like some of the current Youth East team to mentor future groups of young learners. We would like to thank the Manager at The Grove Centre in Witham for supporting the College by providing the space for the stall free of charge. We would also like to thank local businesses Rag Tag & Bob Tail and Sandwich Express for donating small gifts and supporting this project.”

Young people not in education, training or employment who would like more information about the Enterprise Skills course can contact Emma Brown, Youth East Coordinator, at Braintree College Witham Campus on 01376 521411.