Hankinson Offer Work Experience to Students from a Specialist College and Donate Their Time to Help Transform Day Care Centre. Back

Date published: July 1, 2021

Hankinson North West office are working on behalf of Unitas on their thermal improvement scheme in Bentilee, Stoke on Trent.

Part of Hankinson Giving Back and Head - Start, we worked in collaboration with Unitas, Free Spirt Day Centre and New Friars College we were able to provide work experience to 8 trade students.

New Friars College is a specialist College for young people aged 16- 25 with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities. The college provides outstanding education, care, support, and a highly differentiated programme of study for the students which allow their learners to develop skills which will help them prepare for adulthood, access the wider community, develop independent living skills, and move into further education or employment. They offer a holistic learning environment with specially trained staff and resources to best support the needs of their young people.

They continue to “Transform the Lives of Young Innovation, Partnership and Celebration”. Their vision is to be a first-class provider of academic, personal, and social achievement; where the college teamwork in partnership with their learners and their families to ensure they receive outstanding education and care. A centre of excellence for learning, preparation for adulthood and research.

Free spirits is a charity organisation that benefits from the generosity of volunteers, companies and finance raised from fundraising. Autonet, Wincanton and Motor Clinic are just some of the companies that contribute towards the development of the service. Free Spirit Day Care based in Abbey Hulton, Stoke on Trent provides personalised support for adults with various needs and abilities including specialist support for individuals with high (complex) support needs. Staff are trained in meeting individuals needs including PEG feeding and the administration of rescue medication. The Day Centre has facilities to carry out personal care including tracking hoist.

Our North West team offered to carry out pre paint repair and external redecoration work at Free Spirt, this was part of work experience week, during this time we provided opportunities for students to carry out some of the work.

Thanks to our supplier AMC Asbestos Removals, two of their operatives Jamie and Tom travelled from Hull to safely remove some asbestos, AMC kindly donated their operatives time and covered their disposal costs as a contribution to the project which was greatly appreciated.

Head of Operations, Andy Besford, carried out pre paint repair work, Operations Manager Keith Dowling, Contract Managers, Mike Forshaw, and Carl Hampton carried out the external decoration.

Site Supervisor, Mike Potter worked alongside the students showing them how to paint the external doors alongside one of our own apprentices, students George and Armarn were keen to show off their skills. Well done all, great week had by the students and thank you to everyone who volunteered their time.