The LoveLocalJobs Foundation CIC has launched its first employability themed outdoor pursuits adventure for sixteen lucky pupils from Brighton’s Dorothy Stringer High School. Sponsored and supported by The Straumann Group, students were given an opportunity to attend an outdoors pursuit centre, Dolawen, in Snowdonia. The five-day residential trip enabled students to get out of their comfort zones, experiencing hiking, gorge walking and weasling coordinated by E3 Adventures, and ultimately develop skills such as teamwork, leading and confidence which are essential for future employment.
Richard Baker, Deputy Head at Dorothy Stringer said “This trip has made a big impact on these children. They have made some good friendships and are much happier in school as a result. By all accounts it was a great success and we look forward to working with The LoveLocalJobs Foundation in the future to give more children such great experiences.”
In order to be a part of the trip, the students filled out an application and were then interviewed by representatives from The Straumann Group to provide them with a real insight into the process of how to get a job. The application process began in January and culminated with the outing 12th– 16thApril. Throughout the trip, the team intertwined outdoor activities and employability skills, in order to provide the students with the confidence and hope they can secure future employment.
Debbie Womersley, HR Director at Straumann UK said “The Straumann Group are delighted to support and partner with The LoveLocalJobs Foundation to provide essential support to our local community. As a local employer, we believe that our local schools and children need to be supported and developed at a grass roots level, to give them a taste of what to experience within the world of work. This initiative was designed to build confidence and expose these students to challenges, helping them build strategies to overcome them and build, the confidence that comes from success.”
Gary Peters, Founder of The LoveLocalJobs Foundation said: “We created the foundation to give every day local kids the opportunity to thrive, to give them the skills needed to reach their full potential – both in life and professionally. Every day kids, just like you and I, just like we were all those years ago. I remember being given the opportunity to do this exact trip over 25 years ago and I loved every single second. It taught me to really push myself, to fall, to get back up and to work as part of a team – and most importantly to laugh, I loved every second. I’m proud of being able to give this opportunity to the guys from Dorothy Stringer, the school I went to many moons ago and I’m looking forward to many more trips in the not too distant future.”
The LoveLocalJobs Foundation was launched by Harry Redknapp in October 2018 and strives to help raise the aspirations of local young people. The Foundations initiatives aim to better connect education with the world of work and to enhance employability and soft skills via a range of inspirational experiences. The Foundation draws on a network of amazing organisations who generously support activities which help young people to realise their full potential and provide them with a stronger pathway for a positive future. The partnership with Straumann to enable sixteen pupils to attend Dolawen is a prime example of the work that can be done to support young people who deserve the opportunities.
This trip is only made possible through the generous sponsorship by Straumann, the support of The LoveLocalJobs Foundation, activity facilitation by E3 Adventures and the engagement from the participating school, Dorothy Stringer.
For more information on these events and other LoveLocalJobs Foundation initiatives, please contact The LoveLocalJobs Foundation on 01273 651100 or email info@lovelocaljobs.com.