Lakehouse helps inspire Hackney young people

23 May 2012

Lakehouse is playing a key role in opening doors for Hackney’s young people. Through its involvement with Inspire! Lakehouse is enabling young people to gain access to a world of choices and opportunities that may otherwise remain out of reach.

Rebecca Nadarajah, Project Skills Coordinator for the Hackney National Skills Academy for Construction, has been working closely with the Hackney Education Business Partnership to source students from local schools and colleges, and provide them with work experience placements within Lakehouse’s Hackney Team. Students from New Regents College have worked on site at Sebastian House, where they have learned about the Decent Homes work which is being carried out just down the road from their college.

Rebecca volunteered to attend a ‘Get Ready for Work Experience’ workshop at the college to speak to construction students who had been offered placements. The students were provided with useful information, including tips on interview techniques, and Rebecca then carried out telephone interviews to help develop their employability skills.

Hackney residents Charlie Pitcher and Tolga Mursa, both 16 years old, are undertaking a City and Guilds Level 1 in Basic Construction Skills. Site Manager Kim Christie and Resident Liaison Officer Jane Milner have provided supervision, and arranged for them to shadow a range of subcontractors.

Kim and Jane were very impressed with the students and commented: “Charlie and Tolga have done a great job during their time with us. We have watched them develop new skills and gain a great insight into the construction industry. They have shown up every day, on time, and have been keen to learn. We are really impressed with their maturity and positive attitude.”

Charlie said “I loved every bit of the placement, I liked being on a building site and I really want to work in construction”.