Trust aims to raise teenagers’ aspirations

INTERNS from St Chad’s High School in Runcorn have been working at Halton Housing Trust to gain a greater understanding of life in the workplace.

The Trust is working in partnership with St Chad’s as part of the Career Academies UK project, which aims to raise the aspirations of 16 to 19-year-olds with the support of local businesses.

“We formed a partnership with the first school that offered this opportunity for young people because we feel it is important to invest and develop the workforce of the future,” said Karen Lopez, Learning and Development Officer at Halton Housing Trust.

“The interns who are working with us are making a valuable contribution and have enjoyed the experience so far.”

Four A-level students spent two weeks at the end of their school term working with different departments at the Trust, which owns and manages more than 6,000 homes across Runcorn and Widnes.

Jack Farrington, Jordan Lester, Callum Storey and Natalia Szemat will return for two further weeks experience during the summer holidays when they will again help in a range of departments including choice based lettings, finance and performance, customer involvement, construction services and communications.

Joining them on work experience with the Trust will be 15-year-olds Patrick Paulszek, who is also a pupil at St Chad’s, and Jonny Lopez, who attends Upholland High School in Orrell.

“I found this experience a very useful tool that I could use in later life in many different ways,” said intern Jordan Lester. “I have gained confidence in myself as well as skills in different software.”