Students gain employment skills with volunteers

Hodge Hill College students receive on Give & Gain Day.

Eleven volunteers from the Cadbury World site in Bournville have spent the day sharing their skills and expertise with Hodge Hill College students as part of Give & Gain Day.

Organised by Business in the Community, Give & Gain Day is an annual event and the only national employee volunteer day in the UK. It encourages businesses across the country to volunteer with a range of different organisations including youth clubs, primary schools and charities.

On Friday 15th May, Cadbury World volunteers gave up their time to organise a skills event for 250 year seven pupils. The day consisted of pupils participating in a range of activities, including completing an obstacle course, using equipment to cross a ‘river’, blanket volleyball and a construction relay – all to help build on skills needed for employment.

Mohammed Sultan, director of IAG at Hodge Hill Sports and Enterprise College, said: “Working with schools enables businesses like Cadbury World to address the skills shortage, therefore we are grateful that volunteers teamed up with Hodge Hill College to deliver employability skills through a Give and Gain Day.

“All the students really got involved and had fun and as a result, pupils have gained vital skills needed in order to enhance their career prospects such as communication, teamwork, enterprise, emotional intelligence and problem solving.”

Michelle Darragh, community champion at Cadbury World, added: “Give & Gain Day is a great opportunity to champion the talent, skill and energy found in business and the role it can play in helping communities prosper.

“All the activities we chose were based on the curriculum needs of the school. It was a great day which allowed the students to have fun while learning. We’re looking forward to being involved again next year.”