Literacy news
Words for Work pilot approaches its end with success
17 Jun 2010
The Words for Work pilot is drawing to an end with the last workshop on Tuesday 22 June. There is continuing enthusiasm and positive feedback from all participants, pupils and business volunteers alike.
One pupil says, “it doesn’t feel like school: you’re interacting with people you wouldn’t normally. We talk about different subjects, different matters in life, how to communicate with people that might be different from you. We’ve definitely gained more confidence with communication skills”.
After the initial four workshops pupils were ready to meet the business volunteers. Each team had prepared a presentation about communication, which they gave to the whole group. Volunteers were allocated to teams and they immediately watched back videos of the presentations and discussed them against a checklist. By the end of the first workshop two very nervous groups of people were integrated, talking and feeling much more relaxed.
Since then the teams have worked together to investigate communication in the workplace. Everyone has enjoyed a whirlwind of photography, role play, games, even speed interviewing. One business volunteer said, “it’s motivational workwise... I come out of this buzzing.”
With workshop five out of six drawing near, at the moment pupils and volunteers are busy working together on their creative products about communication. The pupils found the planning process quite challenging but it is paying off now as the workshops draw to an end and they are organised and on target. Teams will showcase their products at the end event at the Lost Theatre on 5 July.
Sally Melvin, the Words for Work project 
manager, says “I’m really impressed with the way that the young people and the business volunteers are working as teams to achieve their planned goals. The young people have exceeded my expectations both creatively and in their engagement in the project as a whole. The variety of ideas they have generated means that each team is producing a unique product to showcase. We’ve got everything from branded team t-shirts to a Ready Steady Cook recipe for successful communication. The business volunteers did a fantastic job supporting their teams through the planning process, which was an invaluable experience for them. In return the young people are teaching the volunteers a few things about ICT.
"Everyone is visibly more confident about themselves and their ability to communicate effectively. It is fantastic to observe the young people, working in teams, using the communication skills they’ve learnt during the workshops.”
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