Testing trials of fitness, daring and interview skills were all passed by six candidates on the latest Bedford College Prince’s Trust Team 2 group.
College Team Leaders Mark Williams and Matt Tyldesley joined forces with Beds Police secondee Dan Cooper to put the squad through their paces.
The young people from Bedfordshire and beyond, some of whom have never stayed away from home, were sent to the Peak District where they did caving, abseiling and rock climbing. The tucker trials involved them all preparing and serving real meals whilst on the week-long trip.
Next up was a fund-raising and community project for the King’s Arms Night Shelter in Clarendon Street where they decorated the property and the garden. This included persuading a generous local company to give them a new kitchen cooker.
When it came to work placements they were supported by Barclaycard, Northants who hosted them on coaching sessions on CV writing, interviews and the basics of setting up a business.
In the final weeks of the challenge they supported the Bedford Homeless Partnership Soup Fest in Bedford, persuading the Harpur Centre to give them an empty shop to use for promoting the activity.
At a presentation night at the Trinity Theatre in Bromham Road, part of The Bedford College Group estate, Warrant Officer Michelle Smith handed over their certificates. She had welcomed the group to an exclusive search and rescue exercise at the Joint Forces Command Chicksands in Central Beds. She the super six: “You have achieved so much in 12 weeks, take that experience and use it in your next move in life and remember how far you have come.”
Ian Pryce CBE CEO and Principal of The Bedford College Group said:
Staff at Tresham College have run Prince’s Trust Team courses successfully for years helping hundreds of young people to get on the right path to further education and employment. To see that being replicated here in Bedford with our first and now second Team demonstrates how by being bigger, we as a group are getting better at sharing best practice.
Mark Williams thanked Barclaycard, Brewers Decorator Centre, Travis Perkins, Signs Express, Cottage Bakery and all the families and friends who helped the team members.
NEXT: Team 3 will be starting on Monday 28th January 2019 at the Bedford College Learning Centre, 88 High Street. Contact Mark on (01234) 291361 mwilliams@bedford.ac.uk
