Connor samples a range of jobs during work placement at St Catherine’s

Painting fences, fixing carpets and cleaning the Summer House – it’s all in a day’s work for school pupil Connor Fish as he spends two weeks helping out at St Catherine’s Hospice.

The 15-year-old Walton-le-Dale High School student has been mucking in with the charity’s maintenance team as part of a work placement, doing jobs in the hospice building as well as its grounds and gardens.

Connor, a keen football player who lives in Walton-le-Dale, said: “I wanted to join the maintenance team for my work experience because I know they do a big range of jobs. It’s been good to get an idea of which jobs I like and which I don’t like so much!

“I’ve really enjoyed fixing things, and I cleared out the Summer House which was damaged in some flooding. I think they saved that job for me! It was fun though.”

He also helped out in the laundry room for a day, doing stock control, and assisted the team carrying out ‘reactive’ maintenance jobs such as repairs around the site.

Connor’s mum Nicola Smith works in the hospice’s onsite public café, The Mill, and the pair have volunteered at fundraising events, so he was very much aware of the charity before he signed up.

“It’s been a really good experience,” he added. “I like hands-on subjects at school like graphics and resistant materials, which is a combination of wood and metal tech, but I think I’d like to go into computers when I’m older.”

St Catherine’s maintenance manager Steve Webster praised Connor for his hard work.

“He’s been brilliant; a really big help. He’s adhered to all the safety rules and really got involved, and hand-on-heart I would recommend Connor and give him a good reference.

“We will miss Connor’s positive manner and ‘have a go’ attitude – his enthusiasm, smile and laughter has been abundant!

“He’s welcome back here any time.”

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