Ten year 9 students from Staindrop Business and Enterprise College recently participated in a ‘Leading in The Community Challenge’ at Freeman’s Quay Leisure Centre in Durham City. 

The activity, organised as part of Durham County Council’s Learning the Business partnership with the school and facilitated by Neighbourhood Services at Freeman’s Quay and Durham Education Business Partnership aims to introduce the students to the world of work and to give them the opportunity to experience first hand what it’s like to organise the October half term school holiday programme at the centre. 

Paul Usher, Leisure Officer for Neighbourhood Services and staff from Durham Education Business Partnership developed the idea to give students the opportunity to take part in a ‘real work’ task, which would allow them to develop essential skills needed for working life and to experience and apply learning in a completely new way.  Students needed to plan, develop, budget and confirm planned activities using a range of skills. 

Megan Stephenson, a student from the School said ‘This this was a great experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. It helped me understand how to work in a business world which will help me in the future”. 

For more information about this programme please contact Cheryl Stirk on 01325 375973 or at cheryl.stirk@durham.gov.uk.

• It’s free to register and be involved
• Visits only take 2 hours in October  

Visit our Schools week is being run by organisations from the world of education and employment brought together by the Education and Employers Taskforce, an independent charity.  For more information visit www.visitourschools.org.

NEDay Crafts are running an children’s arts and craft workshop at The Workplace, Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe on Tuesday 31st August 10am- 2pm.

www.nedaycrafts.

Activities include pebble painting and mask making.

Suitable for children 2-12 Years old.

£2 PER CHILD, FREE FOR UNDER 2 YEARS

DISCOUNT FOR GROUPS

Contact Vicky Lloyd on (01325) 241415 or 07729483992 or

email : nedaycrafts@ntlworld.com 

                                                                   www.nedaycrafts.co.uk

Teacher Paul Tucker oversaw proceedings as the students became Young Entrepreneurs forming companies, buying supplies and then competing against each other to sell their ducks for the most money. Business volunteers from IPS and A&C Turner Engineering Ltd supported the event, offering their knowledge and experience to the students on designing, marketing and manufacturing their products.

The aim of the activity is to learn about some of the issues involved in running a business.  It also encourages teamwork, co-operation, negotiation, decision making and problem solving. 

Co-ordinator of the event Kathryn Henderson from Durham Education Business Partnership hailed the event a success with many students pitching their budding business ideas in an attempt to win the challenge.

Over 100 Health & Social Care students from five schools across County Durham & Darlington attended a ‘Life Stages’ workshop today for an interactive experience of how professionals offer health and social care provision throughout our lifetimes.  

The event, organised by the Learning Development Team at The Work Place offered a variety of hands-on carousel based workshops delivered by health professionals covering active lifestyles, breastfeeding, podiatry, occupational therapy and telehealthcare.  

Organisations that supported this event included County Durham & Darlington Primary Care Trust, Durham County Council,

County Durham & Darlington Community Health Services and Durham Education Business Partnership. 

The aim of the event for the students from The Education Village, Branksome Comprehensive School,

Staindrop School Business & Enterprise College, St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Peterlee and

Darlington College of Technology

was to investigate changing care needs at different stages of life, and gain practical experience for their Health & Social Care course.  

Students took part in hands on activities with the health professionals, including experiencing what it feels like to be elderly and a physical activity workshop to promote healthy lifestyles.

 Feedback from both students and teachers was very positive and included the following from a practitioner from Darlington College of Technology ‘A really enjoyable experience for our students and we’ve made future links for work experience placements which is fantastic’!

For more information about the activities provided at

The Work Place please contact Kirsty Coates on 01325 3759983.

Over 80 Key Stage Four Health & Social Care students from schools across the region attended an ‘Investigating Healthcare’ workshop event at The Work Place, a purpose built vocational learning centre in Newton Aycliffe, on 28 January. 

Health professionals from a range of areas delivered a carousel of interactive workshops to students covering mental health, podiatry, occupational therapy, emergency care and tele-healthcare. 

Students took part in hands on activities with the health professionals, including experiencing what it feels like to be disabled, responding to an emergency and performing CPR. 

Feedback from both students and teachers was very positive; comments from some of the attendees included: 

“An excellent day…really inspiring and a change from the classroom” (Teesdale School teacher) 

“It was realistic and hands on!” (Seaham School of Technology student)

Organisations who kindly supported the event were: MIND, Durham County Council, Medical Services (North East), Co. Durham & Darlington Primary Care Trust, Teesside University, Co. Durham & Darlington Community Health Services and Durham Education Business Partnership. 

Schools in attendance were: The Education Village, Seaham School of Technology, Teesdale School, Durham Johnston Comprehensive and Sacred Heart High School. 

For more information on learning opportunities at The Work Place please contact Sarah Worsnop or Angela Wilkinson on 01325 375983.

Are you a member of the North East Chamber of Commerce?

If so, The Work Place is hosting a networking lunch on Wednesday 27 May 2009. Come along for a spot of lunch and make the most of the opportunity to meet new customers, share business knowledge and enjoy the facilities The Work Place has to offer!