Community-Based Work Experience

Thornbeck has secured a new community-based work experience link with Redhills: Durham Miners Hall. A learner at Thornbeck has a passion for history, particularly mining, the work experience link provides an opportunity for Evan to share his knowledge in relation to history, whilst developing his employability skills. Evan is attending weekly and has participated in a range of activities including:

• Helping set up for events
• Welcoming visitors
• Tour Guide Companion role
• Researching and developing resources
• Researching and designing content for a ‘Coal Tourist Map’ of the North East and then the UK – all coal-related destinations that a visitor can plan to visit. This will then be edited and professionally published, crediting Evan in the finished publication. 
• Developing an illustrated mining Glossary to break down coal mining terminology to make it more accessible for people that are new to the history. This is also planned to be published, crediting Evan in the finished publication.
• Researching and developing some FAQs e.g. Why were pits numbered? What happened to the spoil heaps? What is a drift mine? Why is Redhills important? Etc. 
• Attending a professional meeting to plan future school visits contributing his ideas of how these can be made more accessible for children and vulnerable adults with a variety of needs

Attending community based work experience has supported the development of Evan’s employability, communication and functional skills whilst promoting community inclusion