Welcoming Work Experience Students to Nourish Hub

Working with local schools is an amazing way to engage young people with the work that is being conducted at Nourish Hub. At the start of July, we collaborated with two London secondary schools (Westminster Academy and Kensington Aldridge Academy) to host two work experience students.

Isabel, a year 10 student from Westminster Academy, started at the Hub on 1st July. Work experience is a fantastic way for students to experience how a working environment operates, and Isabel was keen to jump in and get going. Bringing experience in hospitality with her, Isabel was great at the front-of-house, engaging with our service users and ensuring that their needs were met throughout their visit. As well as front-facing work, Isabel was very supportive creating social media content, developing recipes with NourishEd team and assisting on some of the Hub’s cookery sessions.

Following her week, Isabel shared that “I am extremely impressed by the efficiency, compassion and commitment that every employee and volunteer here have shown and am grateful for this experience, from which I have gained knowledge, new skills and competencies that I will be able to use in my adult life.”

In the second week we welcome Nika, year 10 student from Kensington Aldrige Academy. Nika chose to do her work experience at the hub and got involved in a variety of activities. Nika supported staff and volunteers at the Irish Cultural Centre with catering for the Cost-of-Living Conference, created amazing flower displays for the community space, took part in meetings, Community Breakfast and Adults Cookery course. She engaged with the community and supported with awareness raising and promotion of our services.

Nika is relatively new to living in the UK and slightly shy at first but had a great support network around her from school staff to family members, many of which came to visit her at the Hub. Nika was able to have a very positive work experience with the staff and volunteers at the Hub exploring her first adventure of this kind in the UK.

Nika blossomed in confidence throughout her week of work experience; although challenges communicating as English is not her first language Nika had a very positive work experience, the first of this kind in the UK.

Andreea Rizea, Nourish Hub’s Deputy Manager and Helen Fielding, Education and Events Coordinator were the lead members of staff working with Isabel and Nika, “We are extremely proud of both Isabel and Nika and we feel that they have both brought enthusiasm and dedication to our team during those two weeks. Their willingness to dive into tasks, eagerness to help and their personalities only demonstrate they have bright futures ahead!”