{"id":968,"date":"2015-07-05T10:00:29","date_gmt":"2015-07-05T10:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edwarddrummond.com\/?p=968"},"modified":"2021-12-06T11:52:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T11:52:52","slug":"community-apprentices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edwarddrummond.com\/community-apprentices\/","title":{"rendered":"Community apprentices."},"content":{"rendered":"
One of the leading executive and non-executive search firms in the UK has been richly rewarded for its ongoing community work; with one of the teams coached by Edward Drummond & Co \u2013 St Brendan\u2019s Sixth Form College \u2018Team Missile\u2019 \u2013 reaching the finals of the Envision Community Apprentice 2015<\/a>.<\/p>\n The awards ceremony marked the end of a rewarding journey for the many young people who, with the support and encouragement of their team coach, helped increase the level of awareness and empathy towards mental health issues in their community.<\/p>\n Loosely based on the popular BBC TV series, The Apprentice and Dragon\u2019s Den, the charity, Envision, aims to help young people make a difference in their local community while developing the leadership and management skills that will stand them in good stead when they enter the workplace.<\/p>\n Alice Young at Envision explains:<\/p>\n \u201cRather than profit, the teams of young people compete to make the biggest difference to their community. And, unlike The Apprentice and Dragon\u2019s Den on TV, the personality traits celebrated in the \u2018Envision community apprentice\u2019 include empathy, communication, resilience and problem solving.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u2018Team Missile\u2019 faced many challenges from the word go; with the workshops \u2013 designed to raise awareness of mental health and where to go for support \u2013 considered unsuitable for school-aged pupils.<\/p>\n Undeterred by the negative response, the youngsters proceeded to hold the workshops in their own school, Saint Brendan\u2019s Sixth Form College.<\/p>\n Questionnaires were completed at the start and finish of each session to measure the impact of the workshops and to track any change in perceptions. And, as importantly, an online petition was set-up to persuade key influencers and decision-makers to include mental health in the National Curriculum.<\/p>\n