Students Celebrate Passing Volunteering Course

Young people from Wrexham are gaining confidence and qualifications from a bespoke volunteering course thanks to the help of a local social enterprise.

Empower – Be the Change has been working with students from St Christopher’s School, who have recently completed the first ‘Volunteer to Employment’ course.

The 14 students celebrating their achievements have completed up to 300 hours of voluntary work between them and Wrexham Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, was invited to the school to present certificates to the Level 3 Sports Leaders who have successfully completed the ILM Level 2 Award in Effective Team Member Skills.

The ‘Volunteer to Employment’ programme aims to help individuals gain key employability skills and experience through accredited training, mentoring and volunteering.

Once the pupils were presented with their certificates, Lesley Griffiths AM said: “After previously visiting the school and meeting with the students, I can appreciate how hard they’ve all worked and it is clear the course has had a lasting, positive effect.”

“The volunteering opportunities created with the support for Empower have helped the students benefit from new experiences, gain confidence and develop new skills they will keep for the rest of their lives.”

“Completing 300 hours of volunteering is a fantastic achievement. Well done once again to all involved and I wish you all the very best for the future.”

Empower – Be the Change was founded by local resident, Jo Clay and success at St Christopher’s School has encouraged her to focus on alternative programmes and opportunities.

The social enterprise has teamed up with the National Trust and is currently in the running to secure funding via Tesco’s local community grant scheme ‘Bags of Help’.

Local residents have up until 31 August to vote for Empower when visiting Tesco in Wrexham. Your votes can help secure £4,500 to help 15 unemployed people gain accredited training, receive mentoring support and take up volunteer placements with the National Trust in Erddig and Chirk.

To vote for Empower and help secure £4,500, people can:

• Visit Tesco in Wrexham up to 31st August 2017.
• Ask for voting coins for the Bags of Help programme.
• Place your voting coins in Empower’s box near to the store entrance.
• Minimum spend is £0.01 and people are eligible to vote every time they visit the store.

The funding will support 15 unemployed people to complete accredited training, receive mentoring support and take up volunteer placements with the National Trust in Erddig and Chirk.

More information about Empower – Be the Change can be found on the website www.empower-bethechange.org

Top: Lesley Griffiths AM alongside students from St Christopher’s School, Course Leader Mr Glyn Jones and Jo Clay, founder of Empower – Be the Change.