For the third year running BBA students have shown an interest in building relations with the local community through work experience; namely in the sphere of support for refugees and asylum seekers. The charity in question is Mesopotamia – based in Old Basford and set up by its founder Rachel Miller – which offers a varied and far reaching service to its users both locally and much further afield. Even as far as refugee sites worldwide that are frequently mentioned in the news. Our students made such an impression on Ms Miller that she said ‘the work experience group were simply just brilliant’ and that she ‘couldn’t have asked for better students’.
Our six students in year 10, opted to take on different roles, from administrative, to operating at the till in the shop area, sorting in the warehouse, organising deliveries and helping to rekindle value to items that then sold or will sell for significant amounts of money. This will go far in reaching the beneficiaries of the charity and therefore bringing real financial value to the activity of the organisation which translates into thousands of pounds! For example, a small group of our students took an interest hunting down valuable trainers donated to the shop – which actually resulted in uncovering a prized pair. This interest then led to meticulously spending hours cleaning trainers, taking photos and uncovering online auctioneers to make as much money as possible from single, discarded items. The profit will go a long way in covering costs for foodbanks over an extended period of time.
Other examples include real commitment from students in setting the office up which entailed sorting through paperwork and filing reports. They discussed accounts, GDPR, stepping up to taking calls and becoming an assertive presence in this administrative setting. On the shop floor gaming units were set up around the building which have since sold and raised hundreds of pounds while toys were arranged for display to raise money, but also to donate to underprivileged children.
Beyond the work that they carried out, the students have been described as displaying ‘exceptional behaviour at all times’. They remained ‘focused, polite and kind’ at all times and pulled together as a strong, equal team looking out for each other across the week. Volunteers and customers at the charity commented on how polite they were and a real credit to their parents and Bluecoat Beechdale Academy.
In fact as an academy we are all very proud of the contributions they have made and the enthusiasm they have shown in making a difference to so many families through their hard work, creativity and problem solving skills. We are also thrilled they have shone in sharing the ‘BBA Way’ beyond school and in the public sphere by being ‘kind, resilient, curious and positive’ and have brought to the fore a true sense of empathy and all that we stand for as a School of Sanctuary.
A few have expressed the wish to return to Mesopotamia as volunteers in the future and Ms Miller has assured us that she would be very happy to welcome them in once again. Opportunities may even open up through a ‘Volunteer Day’ at Mesopotamia where the work experience students may once again be able to show their talents and dedication towards such a worthy cause.