Apprentices step forward to support community project

11 Feb 2022 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

Northumberland County Council apprentices are volunteering this week to help revamp Bedlington Library making it a more welcoming space for the whole community.

As part of apprenticeship week, the council’s apprentices wanted to do something which gave back to a community in the county, and Bedlington Library provided the perfect project.
 
Zara Andrews, Library, Information and Archives apprentice, said: “It is really exciting to be on this project. I have had so many great opportunities whilst doing my apprenticeship so far, and to be able to give something back and use my skills to help others is great.”
 
The community of Bedlington including Leading Link, schools, NHS social prescribers and Northumberland Communities Together have all helped in shaping this project.
 
Four apprentices kicked off the project with a tidy up and fresh coat of paint. New carpeting will be laid in the coming weeks and a dedicated seating area for local residents, children and families to enjoy will follow making the library an even more welcoming space for the whole community to enjoy.
 
Councillor Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member with responsibility for corporate services, said: “It is great to see our apprentices volunteer their time to help a community project, and what a worthwhile project it is.
 
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the apprentices and the teams that have been involved in getting this off the ground.”
 
The work carried out by the apprentices is the start of a longer-term project which will see a dedicated children’s area and reading nook, a community worktable, comfortable seating areas and workstations – all of which the apprentices will help to install.
 
Schools, community groups and residents will be welcome to pop along and enjoy the library at their convenience.
 
Lorraine Bewick, Library Supervisor, said: “I am really looking forward to this project. It will be a great space for people to enjoy and the library will be able to support a wider range of events and activities. I can’t thank the apprentices enough for taking the time to make a real difference for the community here in Bedlington.”
 
This project ties in with the council’s wider Corporate Social Responsibility agenda. Led by Northumberland Communities Together it provides opportunities for all council employees including apprentices to support Northumberland’s communities.
 
Apprenticeships offer the chance for someone to learn new skills whilst they work. Northumberland County Council are currently recruiting over 60 apprentices in a variety of areas from highways maintenance to early years childcare. To view all vacancies head to nland.uk/NCCapprenticeships