Five of the seven young people involved in leading this local project are current students at Warrington & Vale Royal College, who are studying health & social care, foundation learning and supported internship courses. As strong believers in ‘careers not courses’, the college works closely with every student to develop both sector-specific and vital employability skills, incorporating a wide range of industry experiences within their study programme. With future career aspirations lying in the health or social care sectors for these five students, being involved in this project as their college placement has not only enabled them to contextualise their classroom studies in real-life environments, but also supported their understanding of the wider roles in research and policy that they could choose to progress into after their course.
Josh Clements, second-year Level 3 Health & Social Care student at the college, has secured employment as a mental health support worker and hopes to study BSc Educational Psychology at Edge Hill University next year. Reflecting on the project, the former St Gregory’s Catholic High School pupil said: “I am so glad that I said yes to this amazing opportunity. I have been able to spend more time with my peers, understand them better, and know that the experience I have gained in planning and research will be invaluable in both my degree and career.”
Joshua’s classmate and previous Great Sankey High School pupil, Matthew Johnson, shares similar views of the experience, saying: “Thanks to the project, I’ve forged strong connections with professionals in the sector, which will hopefully set me apart when applying for jobs in the future. It’s been incredible to share the voices of our peers, and hopefully spark change for local young people.”
Warrington & Vale Royal College is exceptionally proud of its students for wholly embodying the college’s mission of championing change for the local community, and congratulates them on their boundless efforts to truly make a difference. Laura Rietdyk-Johnson, whose role is Youth Voice Lead at Youth Focus North West, commented: “Working alongside the group has been a true privilege. I’m incredibly proud of what they have achieved and hope that their research can make a long-term impact for young people in Warrington.”
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