Wayland students get ready for work

Student at Wayland Acadmey have run a coffee morning at the Christian Community Centre, as part of their Ready for Work course. From left, Thomas Cockman serves Jan Godfrey a cup of tea. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © Archant Norfolk 2014)

Pupils from Wayland Academy served up drinks and cakes yesterday to the Watton community as part of a scheme to get pupils prepared for employment.

Wayland Ready For Work, a new programme organised by the Wayland Partnership with City College Norwich, aims to give year 10 and 11 pupils what they need to get a job.

From team work to market research, over 10 weeks the eight pupils saw their confidence grow as they got one step closer to working life.

Iain Cockburn set up the scheme and said it is geared to building a bridge between the pupils and employers in the local area.

He said: 'There seems to be little or no connection between kids coming out from school and the employers.

'What we have done in the last 10 weeks has been successful and the kids have enjoyed it.'

The project is funded by City College but Mr Cockburn said he is looking for a private sponsor to be part of the programme next time.

He said the company would then get a fully-trained and skilled student out of the programme which they could then employ.

The pupil's tutor, also from the college, Josh Hallam, 24, said confidence was a key area which he had seen grow with the pupils.

Jennifer Collins, in year 10, agreed and said her desire to become a chef had been given a real boos from the training.

She said the health and safety training as well as learning about customer service had encouraged her to talk to other people and become more sociable.

The day was organised for Deryn Blackwell, the former Academy student who has been in Bristol since February last year after a series of bone marrow transplants.

£100 was raised for his charity, Do Everything.

To connect with the Ready For Work programme follow them on Twitter @WaylandRforW