Teens learn on the job with our Neighbourhood Wardens

The Year 10 students, all aged between 14 and 15, accompanied Neighbourhood Wardens as they conducted their day-to-day activities keeping council neighbourhoods safe and clean. It was a chance for the young people to experience a week of full-time work and learn lots of practical skills ranging from DIY, gardening and cleaning to office administration and customer services.

Senior Warden Russell Standing said the young people involved really benefitted from the experience. “It was great to welcome the students and to show them what being a Neighbourhood Wardens is all about,” Russell told us. “It’s a varied and sometimes challenging job, but it’s also hugely rewarding to know what a difference me and my team make to local communities. We’re here to assist tenants and residents and keep council neighbourhoods looking clean and feeling safe – no two days are ever the same! The students were able to get a real flavour of the diversity of the role during the week and I hope the experience will encourage many of them to consider a future career in housing.”

The work experience week was organised by the council’s careers team as a pilot project in partnership with local schools. As well as the opportunity to work alongside Neighbourhood Wardens in our housing team, other Year 10 students were invited to spend a week working in council departments including Central Library and the careers team. The project proved a huge success in enabling students to gain practical knowledge, explore potential career paths and develop essential skills for the future, and it is hoped to be repeated next year.

If you are (or know of) a young person interested in a career as a Neighbourhood Warden why not join our free Junior Neighbourhood Warden programme? The scheme offers fun, free activities to help promote citizenship and empower children and young people to make a positive impact in the city.