Nine apprentices from The Community Housing Group, including a number from Oakleaf Commercial Services and Oakleaf Grounds Services took part in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge to become “Apprentice Team of the Year”. The challenge tested their abilities to work as a team, demonstrate leadership skills and develop and manage a community project.
During National Apprenticeship Week in March 2014, the team undertook a project to refurbish a green space, to create an outdoor classroom for St Mary’s School in Kidderminster within 5 days. This was phase 1 of the project, phase 2 will see further improvements, and the creation of a sensory garden.
Despite some torrential downpours, by the end of the week, they had achieved their objective and provided the school with a valuable learning resource.
Rod Goold, Deputy Head Teacher at the school praised the apprentice team for their efforts and the impact they had on pupils during their time at the school.
“The Garden Quad project at St Mary's, has been a delight to watch grow and develop. The pupils of the school were thrilled to listen to the experiences of the apprentices; within their assembly presentation. They were even more engrossed when they had the opportunity to interview the apprentices and watch them work, out on the garden itself. It is highly rewarding to have the opportunity to use this partnership as a vehicle to inspire our pupils in to considering what they themselves, would like to achieve in later life. The project truly holds to our school values of 'Dream, Believe and Achieve'”
Kathleen Sandford, an apprentice with Vestia Training kept a blog during the week and provided regular photographs and updates to share with colleagues across the Group.
She commented, “We are really proud of the work we have done, and hope it benefits the pupils within school and their future career choices. We are excited for the next stage to start and to see the overall project completed”.
Although the team didn’t make it through to the final of the Brathay Apprenticeship Challenge this year, they are looking forward to trying again next year
