Well, I can hardly believe I am writing my final blog of 2017! What an incredible year we have had and a fantastic first term too. I will start with more good news today… another employment success, this time for Future Finders student Terry who has been employed as a trainee library assistant at Oldham Library for 30 hours per week. Terry attended a group interview last week and coped amazingly well, he beat off the competition and his hard work has paid off! Well done Terry. That takes our total to 4 paid jobs for our students since September, an incredible achievement for both our young people and our dedicated and hardworking job coaches. Thank you to you all and congratulations!

On Monday we had our Christmas dinner over at First Choice Homes. We booked out their large conference room and 45 of us went over for an amazing lunch prepared by The Atrium staff. Becki, Toni and Sammy did an amazing job preparing and serving serving over 100 Christmas dinners to our students and staff as well as staff over at First Choice Homes. Thank you so much girls! The dinner was FABULOUS!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many employers across Oldham who support our students day in and day out! Without you our projects wouldn’t exist – you support our students, treat them as equals, develop their skills and push them every day. Thank you for your support, your time and your belief in our young people. We look forward to introducing you all to your next interns in January.

Some of this week has been off time-table and we have been spending our time preparing for new jobs and placements in the New Year, so I don’t have my usual ‘Worker of the Week’ to announce. I can, however, give you an insight into a day in the life of Jessica, one of our Future Finders..

A day in the life of Jessica
Café Assistant, The Atrium Café

I arrive at The Atrium Café to start my shift at 9:30am. Here I am with Sammy, one of the cooks..

I enjoy serving the customers and taking orders, which helps with my money skills and confidence..

I helped to set the tables for the Pathways Christmas dinner..

Sometimes I help Toni on the café shop front by taking orders and helping to deliver dinners to customers and staff at First Choice Homes. I also like to make my own lunch whilst learning Food Hygiene skills. My job includes preparing a trolley run to sell snacks and refreshments for the staff at First Choice Homes..

Here are some lovely quotes from some of the staff at The Atrium:

Toni – ‘ Jess has come on so much and works so well using her own initiative. She is a pleasure to work with and has such an infectious laugh and smile, always offering good customer service’
Sammy –‘ Jess is very motivated and happy to help wherever needed. She has built her confidence up with the staff at The Atrium and also with First Choice Homes staff. Jess is always a pleasure to work with’

When I finish my successful placement at The Atrium at Christmas I will be moving on to a new placement at Age UK, Oldham where I have gained a placement at their Lunch Club in Chadderton starting in January!

The students on our IT pathway, Digit4ll have been incredibly busy filming and producing 5 different school shows and completing all the orders their enterprise has received ready for Christmas. They will be posting an update next week before they finish for the holidays on Tuesday to tell you all about it!

I would like to take a moment now to say a few words about one of my best buddies here at New Bridge who is retiring on Tuesday and that is the wonderful Judith Lamb.

I started at New Bridge over ten years ago as a Drama teacher and I was a co-form tutor with Mrs Lamb for a particularly tricky Year 8 class! We instantly hit it off and Judith has been a constant source of inspiration, support and friendship for the past ten years. Many of you will know Mrs Lamb as Head of School at New Bridge and she may have taught your children in the past, as for many years she was a teacher of ICT and Food Tech.

Judith has had such a positive impact on so many of our young people and she is also an incredible role model for staff. Nothing is ever too much trouble for her and she is always there with a listening ear and open arms through the good, the bad and the ugly! New Bridge will miss you Mrs Lamb, and we wish you every happiness in your retirement. Your family’s gain is our loss! Best wishes from us all.

I would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous new year. We look forward to welcoming the young people back on 3rd January. Have a good one!

Daniel
Director of Employment & Co Head of Site at Medtia Square

You can view our previous blog entries here

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