Reward for hard-working Redwood students

The young people from Redwood School with their certificates, along with Rochdale Council youth team and RBH Neighbourhood Housing Officer Nazia Zia

Students from Redwood Secondary School's sixth-form were treated to lunch and presented with certificates to thank them for their commitment to a ground-breaking work-experience programme.

The young people took part in the pilot work experience programme with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) and Rochdale Council's Youth Service.

The programme, funded by Short Breaks, has seen young people with disabilities deliver gardening and community projects across the Borough, providing a true work-place scenario for students to experience as part of their "Life Skills" curriculum, preparing them to be as independent as possible.

The students have helped out at the homes of a number of RBH tenants who seen the benefit of the extra support to help tidy up and transform their gardens.

RBH Neighbourhood Housing Officer, Nazia Zia, presented the young people with their certificates and thanked them for all their hard work. She said: "These young people have made a huge difference to the homes of our tenants, and we're delighted to be able to thank them and recognise their achievements. They are a real credit to their school and to the community, and I am sure that the skills and experience they have gained will serve them well."