From X-Box to experience

Michael Langley. Sarah Charlesworth, Joshua Wheelhouse, Victoria Russell, Jake Morris, Lee Yarwood, Valentina Pestova, Lauren Fielding

A common link between the latest graduates of the Groundwork Prince’s Trust challenge is that before taking the course they each felt, by their own admission, that they faced limited life-chances. The reasons for this were many and included their domestic situation, illness and issues around anxiety, lack of confidence and little or no ambition.

All that changed when eight young people accepted the challenge to take stock of their lives, think about what they want to achieve and work towards the skills needed to move forward with their renewed ambitions.

Under the guidance of team leader Chris Grieve the team of local young people aged between 18 and 25 took part in life-skills training and work experience to prepare themselves for the world of work or a return to education.

Prior to joining the programme most had fallen into a routine of waking up late, playing video games, watching films all day and generally letting one day roll into the next.

After completing the course they have renewed confidence and new skills to allow them to move on to employment, further education, training or volunteering.

Jake Morris said: “Before the course I found it difficult to do simple things like catch the bus or meet people. Now I am out and about and even speaking in public. I could never have done this 12 weeks ago”.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing Community Partnership supported the programme through providing work experience and encouragement for the team. One of the tasks given to the team was to tidy and landscape a park area in Falinge.

"They also took local children from Greave and Falinge to the zoos at Blackpool and Chester. So confident were they that on one visit they were mistaken for zoo employees by the public.

An RBH spokesperson said: “Providing training and opportunities for people looking to change the course of their life is very important to RBH. Not only is it literally life-changing for the individual but it has a positive impact on our neighbourhoods and the life of our borough.”