Welland Park Academy students graduate from 'Be the Change' educational programme

Students from Welland Park Academy have graduated from the inspirational Be the Change programme sponsored by Hastings Direct in partnership with LoveLocalJobs.com.

Year 9 pupils from local secondary school, Welland Park Academy, came together last week at the Holiday Inn to complete the educational programme following their workplace visit to Hastings Direct’s Leicester office last month. The students gained a valuable insight into the business world as they toured St George’s Way whilst hearing from various business mentors about their areas of expertise including Retail, Claims and Quality.

Completing the programme, the 114 students celebrated their journey with 27 volunteering business mentors from Hastings Direct, course leaders from humanutopia and Lovelocaljobs.com and teachers from their school.

As the students received certificates and Be the Change ribbons, they applauded each other and reflected on the past year. Many students stood in front of the gathered audience and revealed their feelings about moving forward with the skills they have learnt.

Jay Wootten, Community Relations Manager, Hastings Direct commented, “It was great to see the students from Bexhill Academy graduate from this year’s Be the Change course. To see the difference in their confidence levels and to hear them talk about the tools they’ve gained that will provide them with a positive future is simply amazing.”

Deborah Edwards, teacher at Welland Park Academy said; “I feel so privileged to have been on the journey this year with the Year 9 students through Be the Change. I’ve felt humbled by their courage and honesty. The students have listened, engaged and worked together. A huge thank you to all the business mentors and the Be the Change team.”

Jane Terry, teacher at Welland Park Academy added; “This has been an amazing experience for both pupils and staff. It has been inspiring and given students confidence and self-belief. Thank you to everyone at Be the Change for your good work and giving our students an opportunity to take part in this programme. I’m sure they will take something from this fantastic programme.”

Christina Fishlock, Lovelocaljob.com added; “We have been thrilled by the success of the Leicester Be the Change programme this year and it was incredible to see the positive changes made and the difference in so many of the students. Hastings Direct should be incredibly proud of the impact they have had on so many young people at Welland Park Academy.”

Graham Moore, Co-Founder of Be the Change and humanutopia said; “It has been a real privilege to work with Welland Park Academy, the students have been great ambassadors for the young people in the area. They have also been professionally supported by the caring and committed business volunteers from Hastings Direct who truly wish to make a difference to the lives and aspirations of the young students”.

Further information

Hastings Direct Communications Executive: Nicky Chapman
Tel: 01424 735735
E: pr@hastingsdirect.com

About Hastings Direct

Hastings Direct is a fast growing, agile, data and digitally focused general insurance provider to the UK market, with over 2.6 million live customer policies and employing over 3,100 colleagues at sites in Bexhill and Leicester. Hastings Direct has built its business by providing refreshingly straightforward customer service and products and offer car, bike, van and home insurance directly to the public.

Hastings Direct is a trading name of Hastings Insurance Services Limited, the UK trading subsidiary of Hastings Group Holdings plc, which also trades via “People’s Choice” and “insurePink”.

For more information about Hastings Direct and Hastings Group please visit https://www.hastingsdirect.com

About LoveLocalJobs.com & Be the Change

LoveLocalJobs.com has an award winning family of regional job boards in Sussex and Surrey. It works proactively to link businesses, universities, colleges and schools, public sector, charities and community groups and other organisations to create and promote local employment opportunities in the South East, whilst also providing much needed careers, information, advice and guidance to local businesses and job-seekers alike.

In 2015 LoveLocalJobs.com launched inspirational initiative Be the Change with the expertise of Graham Moore of humanutopia. Be the Change is an inspirational initiative for young people who may be disengaged with their education or lack confidence in their own abilities. The programme focuses on happiness, confidence, hope, relationships and employability and, through a series of conferences, workshops, 1:1 sessions and workplace visits, encourages students to identify their personal barriers to success, before helping them find ways of overcoming them.

Working in partnership with businesses, Be the Change helps open young people’s eyes to the world of work and the wealth of possibilities and career opportunities in their hometown and beyond. Be the Change provides the perfect opportunity for businesses to engage with their future workforce, building awareness of their employer brand amongst young people in their local area and providing an innovative way of providing fulfilling and meaningful personal development opportunities for their employees.

For more information, email BetheChange@LoveLocalJobs.com or visit http://promotions.lovelocaljobs.com/bethechange/