Painting and decorating students from Chesterfield College have been busy giving a local foodbank a new look this week, at the same time as getting vital work experience.
Developing skills and giving back to the community
During the project, the students are using the skills they have learnt in the classroom to decorate the centre, which offers a vital service for local residents in the heart of the community. Importantly, working on real projects like this gives students vital work experience and highlights the difference their skills can make.
Over several days, teams of students from different levels of study are working on the project. They are preparing the walls and painting in the main room, kitchen and in storage areas of the community hub. The teams are assigned tasks for the day and have to adapt to working in different environments outside of the classroom
Vital work experience
Level 1 student Olivia Davies, who was gaffer for the day, was working on glossing skirting boards when we visited. She told us:
“There is a lot we need to do and everyone has a task to do today. It is good to get this experience because we have to think differently than when we are in the classroom. We have to learn more about working to deadlines and think about how the area will be used for example.”
Matt Anderson, Painting and decorating tutor said:
“It is massively important to give the students valuable on site experience. On top of the skills they are developing in the classroom they need to know what the world of work is all about. They need to learn about time keeping and getting used to a working day, liaising with customers and learning about the right tools for the job. It gives them valuable experience out of a simulated environment where they need to produce a good finish and meet a deadline.”
