Birmingham Leisure Centre's Helping Local Students

The Birmingham Community Leisure Trust is delighted to be supporting students from The Hive College on work placements that will help their transition into working life.

The Hive is a specialist college for students in Birmingham aged 19-25 who live with special educational needs and/or disabilities – it is The Hive’s objective to help equip students with work-specific skills that they can take forward into adulthood.

Reece, 22, who lives with autism and ADHD, has been placed into a role with the painting and decorating team which will take him to numerous sites across the city. He’s shadowing Hayley Robinson, who will teach him the basics of the trade. Hayley said: “He’s a delightful young man.

“When he comes into work, he introduces himself to everybody and the enthusiasm really shines from him. He’s so happy, so gentle, so kind, and he really has a passion for the work – everybody loves him.”

James, who lives with autism, has managed to bring his passion for all things Tennis into his new role at Billesley Tennis & Fitness Centre. He has received high praise from his colleagues for his attention to detail and for his work ethic.

Ruth Martin, Placements Coordinator at The Hive, said: “We know that our students learn best when 'doing'. So, if they want to get a job, the best way for them to learn about it, is by being in the workplace completing real work tasks.

“I was delighted when I was contacted to discuss the possibility of offering work placements to our students into Leisure Centres across Birmingham.

“Both students have come back buzzing about their experience so far and are learning so much about how to stay safe in the workplace, the type of behaviour and attitudes required to be successful and how to complete their tasks to a high standard.

“The staff have been extremely welcoming and encouraging and they have gone out of their way to make the students feel at home. I look forward to this relationship developing further over the coming months and seeing the impact of these opportunities on the successes of the students.”

Dawn Page, Deputy Partnership Manager for Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, said: “We love having students from The Hive with us across our centres. They’re proving to be fantastic members of the team and I look forward to seeing them go from strength to strength.

“The work that The Hive do is invaluable to disabled students across Birmingham and we’re delighted to provide an under-represented part of the community opportunities to build valuable work experience.”