My duties were to stuff envelopes with leaflets about the new houses on the markets or the price budgets that people wont on the mailing list, I went to view houses and learnt the way on how to sell a house the skills are rather say i.e. expand on the good points and disagree on the bad ones.

I also had to use my computer skills to make new details on the properties which included going into the price folder finding the house details photocopying it then put them into the colour printer, go into the computer file and find the pictures of the house and print. It comes out then you fold the details go in and put it into the filing cabinet for the public. I also had to fill them up and take the post down at the end of the day. I didn’t need any special clothing and there wasn’t really any safety issues.

I was more in the office than out viewing houses doing paper work but I enjoyed it.

Hannah Brunsdon - 2003

• Look after children using paint or other crafts materials.
• Produce a range of activities to make or play inside or in the park.
• Check all pe apparatus was safe to use during pe lessons.
• Hold hands and check for traffic when crossing the roads.
• Taking the register before we left for Bristol zoo and before we left Bristol zoo to come home.
• Before letting them leave I was allowed to let them leave I had to check who was picking them up.
• Throughout the week I had to wear a blue t-shirt with Hawkesbury playgroups logo on it.
• Help with snack time, check they had all washed their hands after going to the toilet.

Monday.

• I set up painting tables for their arts and crafts, which was to make spiders by painting an egg cup (box) in black paint.
• At 12:00 we cleared everything away apart from the tables and wiped them down.
• I then passed around fruits to both tables then passed mini pancakes to each child. After we would sit in two groups and listen to stories. After all the children would sing their goodbye song.

Tuesday.

• No playgroup on Tuesdays.

Wednesday.

• We went to Bristol zoo I helped check all the kids were on the bus before we left. For most of the day a little boy named Ziggy held my hand even though his mum was there! We arrived home at half one and I ended up taking Ziggy to the park! And a parent also asked me if I would be their son’s babysitter!

Thursday.

• On Thursday we completed our spiders and had lunch box session, which is when they stay for lunch instead of going home.
• While I was sat having lunch a little boy named kit fell asleep on my lap.

Friday.

• I took my dog Blue up because it was pet week and played in the play area with him then also had lunch box session and they all sang the goodbye song. I enjoyed it and would go back every time I could!!

Danielle Boulton - 2003

I was doing carpentry when I was out on site. I worked out on sight for the first 2 days with about 6 people. For the last 3 days I worked in the workshop.

I had to wear safety boots, eye protection when using machines and ear protection.

I got shown around the site and the workshop but I learnt by just watching other people.

Pete Beale - 2003

For work experience I was working at HSBC bank in Yate town centre. I was introduced to the other staff by Nicky, who was in charge of my work experience. I didn’t have any particular duties although I was asked to open the pay in envelopes almost everyday at least once. I was then asked to check the written name against the told name and made to sort the cheques, cash and mixture into separate piles. The only safety issue I had to use was to check through the spy hole in the door before going outside. I wasn’t told the door code or allowed on the computers there. The other precaution was to carry an alarm on you whenever you went out side into the public.

Monday:

• On Monday I opened many pay in envelopes and was introduced to the other staff. Monday is one of their busiest days.

Tuesday:

• On Tuesday I stayed outside with the other staff on their reception queuing up customers for the side interview room and not the cash desks.

Wednesday:

• On Wednesday, I had to sort out a very large pile of keys. I had to colour code them according o where there were needed and which draw or cupboard they opened. However, to start I was arranging company folders in alphabetical order.

Thursday:

• On this day I did research on HSBC’s competitors. Particularly mortgages. I had to present this on Friday. I was also found by Mr Rushton.

Friday:

• On the last day I did about 100 pay in envelopes and followed the manager around a bit. I followed him into and interview after doing my presentation. Also, over Thursday and Friday, I was sorting out information files on everything HSBC does.

Geraint Duck - 2003

The kennels and cattery takes in rescued animals and also looks after people’s pets for them when they go away on holiday. My day started at 8:30 and finished at 5:30.

Day 1: I went into the reception area to start work, which I thought would be very boring and easy stuff, seeing as it was my first day, but we got straight to work. There was another work experience girl there, Kate, who was 17, and an 18-year-old trainee called Kelly, so I wasn’t alone. Our first job was to walk all the dogs in the kennels, which took about half an hour. Then we had to clean the inside kennels. This took all morning, as first Kate had to scrub the floors with a brush and a bucket of chemicals, then I had to sweep the water out of the kennels with a sweeper. After we had done this, we then had to clean the outside kennels, which were 3 times as long as the inside ones! Then we had to walk the dogs which were down for extra walks and then make sure all the outside kennels were still clean.

Day 2: We started the day again by walking the dogs, and then cleaning all the kennels. This took until lunch time, so we were making good time today. After lunch I gave the dogs extra walks, then I got to see the cats! I had to clean them and I played with them too. I got to leave at 4:00.

Day 3: This was my best day. I walked the dogs and cleaned the kennels on the far side. After that I got to do all the health checks with Kelly. When a dog stays in the ‘hotel’, they get a health check every day. We have to check their eyes, ears, paws and nails, coat, teeth and gums and temperament. This was really fun, as we also got to play with the dogs. We had lunch and then finished the health checks, and then we went down to the cattery again. This time I had to clean them all out, and give all the cats a play session, then I was left to lock up the cattery, mop the floor, turn off the radio, and make sure all the cats were locked in.

Day 4: As usual I walked the dogs, and cleaned the inside kennels. Then I helped with some more health checks, and cleaned the outside kennels. This took about 3 quarters of the day, and after wards I cleaned the cats again and played with them.

Day 5: My last day was really good, I cleaned the inside kennels, inside and out, and this got done very quickly. After lunch I helped with some more health checks and then did the extra walks. It was a very hectic day, as lots of animals were coming in and the kennels were full. We had to get the far side kennels all cleaned for the new dogs, and moved dogs from the main block to the far side. Then I did the extra walks for the dogs and helped in the cattery again, playing with all the cats and cleaning them out. I said goodbye to all my favourite cats, a white longhaired cat called Sammy and a Maine Coon cat called Bennie. Then I said goodbye to my favourite dogs, Oscar an Irish terrier and Shadow, a Boarder collie. Then I said goodbye to my special dog friend Ben who is a rescue dog.

E Lee - 2003

23rd June Monday

• I was up stairs with 0-2yr olds
• I was painting, singing and playing with the children all day.

24th June Tuesday

• Down stairs with 2-4 yr olds
• I read stories and played team games with them out in the garden.
• I learnt that the older children are more inpatient than younger ones.

25th June Wednesday

• I was up stairs with the 0-2yr olds.
• Nat and me cleaned out a mouldy send pit.
• I went down stairs after lunch because I liked it better. When I as down stairs I read a story and then someone read to me and I listened.

26th June Thursday

• I was down stairs
• I played out in the garden and did some string painting.
• I learnt that when one of the kids did a drawing or painting, you always write their name at the top left hand corner because it reminds them that, that’s the way you start reading a book.

27th June Friday

• I was down stairs
• We were just talking all day and playing with the kids. I bolt all the kinds a pack of sweets each and they made me a good bye card.

Stephanie Curry - 2003

I was working in the clinic area. Each day I had to clean the animal’s cages out and feed and give them water and clean the floor after. I also had to clean the ponds out twice. At the end of the day I had to clean the rest of the floors. The rubbish had to be taken out each day and the bedding had to be taken up to the cattery to be cleaned each day.

The training was very good, they showed me how everything worked, what to do and where everything was.

It was very hard work and it wasn’t very much hands-on with animals.

Sophie Hale

Responsibilities and duties: Throughout the week I went to three different houses and worked on the interior and exterior of the houses. mainly painted walls and windows. I also had to measure and cut materials. At work base I did small jobs around the site, not much fun but working at other locations was really good.

Health and safety clothing: The only special clothing I had to wear was a mask and goggles when stripping doors and windows.

Work experience was pretty good, gives you a good feel of the job. I learnt a lot of new skills. Being a builder was really good, I got to travel around a lot and meet lots of other new people. I would recommend working with a builder.

Joe Barnes - 2003

Responsibilities and Duties: Sorting out accounts and doing general accounts work. Visiting clients at various places to collect information needed to sort out any problems they have or their accounts. Photocopying documents and shredding confidential information that isn’t needed anymore.

Health and Safety Issues, special clothing: There was no special clothing needed. The only health and safety issues were that all computer wires must be kept out of the way to avoid tripping, and that when using the shredder, ties must be tucked in to shirts so that they don’t get shredded and cause any injuries.

Stew Hyam

Responsibilities & duties: Driving the maul, bailing, Demolition, Construction

Health & Safety issues, Special clothing: goggles for wearing when using disc saw, follow health and safety poster in shed

Daily diary: Start at 10:30am and finish at 3:30pm Overall my work experience brilliant and I really enjoyed it.

Aaron Knight

For my work experience I worked at lister petter in Dursley. I found my weeks work experience at lister petter fun and enjoyable I learnt a lot of new skills in the week. On my first day I was greeted by my boss for the week, he then showed me round the research and development factory were he said I would be working for the day. Then he introduced me to two of his staff who would be looking after me for the day, they were all very friendly and helped me learn a lot of skills on the first day we did some testing on one of there new engines and then in the afternoon I took pictures of an engine which they had had sent to the factory for them to fix, I then produced a file for this engine using the pictures I had previously taken earlier.

After I had finished my first day I couldn’t wait to get back the next day and do it all again. After only a day I felt that I knew a lot about the company and that I could learn a lot more through the experience of the rest of the week.

On the second day I was working in the development chambers, taking tests on a very old engine trying to develop it into a better engine for the future. This day was by far the noisiest day of my work experience and in the chamber itself I was required to wear earmuffs before entering it.

The third day I experienced at lister petter was split into two halves two give me a better variety of things that happen at lister petter.in the morning I worked in the standards room, working with a machine that checked for the standards of engine components, for me I felt this was the best day I experienced at lister petter and I enjoyed the standards room very much so. In the afternoon I worked in the tool shop, it was amazing to think that there was only two workers working in the tool shop and to see the amount of work that they alone got through in an afternoon, the tool shop was a very practical part of lister petter and I enjoyed working there because I felt it suited me very much.

On Thursday I worked in the graphics room and being as I do graphics at school I enjoyed this a lot and I was well suited for the tasks they set me. I was shown designs of engines on cad and after a brief demonstration I was asked to see if I could duplicate the designs shown to me. At times I found this task very difficult and challenging but my supervisor for that day in the graphics room was very helpful and gave me advice when I was stuck.

Then on Friday I was only made to work the morning because the staff at lister petter are giving the afternoon of, so for my last morning at lister petter I worked in the dispatch area of the company. This was a very hectic morning because each month the company are set a deadline of how many engines to make and send to other companies, and because it was the end of the month the staff in the dispatch area worked as hard as they possibly could to meet there deadlines. I felt that this experience helped me to realize at time hoe much pressure people can be under at work and I enjoyed it very much.

Ben Kingscote

Responsibilities and duties: Stack shelves; serve people; riddle bait; sort groundbait: sort store room/cellar etc

Worked 9.00-4.45 everyday. Week was hard at first but got easier as it went on. Not a very long lunch.

Joe Barrington-Webb