College students get hands-on work experience with St Catherine’s Hospice

A group of enthusiastic students from Runshaw College have been lending a hand around various departments at St Catherine’s Hospice, thanks to a successful partnership with the Leyland college and the Lostock Hall charity.

From supporting patients in the inpatient unit and Day Therapy, to working in reception, the gift shop, and the charity’s onsite Mill café, students who are enrolled on the ‘Skilled for my Future’ course have experienced how varied working at a hospice can be.

Tutor Angela Spicer said: “The course is all about helping students to think about what career paths they might like to follow, and to encourage them to get hands-on experience and engage with their communities.

“Coming to St Catherine’s and The Mill has been a perfect opportunity for them to try their hands at different things. The students were given tasks to suit their individual strengths and interests.”

Rebecca Ainsworth, 18, from Chorley, worked with the hospice’s trading and communications departments during her visits, and was also shown round the inpatient unit, Day Therapy, and The Mill café.

She said: “I’ve really enjoyed my work experience, especially working in the gift shop in reception. I’ve enjoyed meeting people and stocking the shelves.

“The hospice is a very different environment from what I imaged. I expected it to be more like a hospital; it’s such a friendly and positive place.”

Lynn Kelly, director of knowledge exchange services at St Catherine’s, said: “Having students come here regularly to carry out work experience benefits the charity as well as the college – the students are volunteering their time to help support a worthy cause and help out in various hospice departments, and they’re also learning and developing new skills which will be great for their CVs and future employment prospects.

“We’re looking forward to working with Runshaw College more throughout 2017.”

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