Michelle Pearson with award
THE Trust’s Workforce Coordinator, Michelle Pearson, has received an award from the Prince’s Trust for her work and dedication to get young people into work at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
A scheme, set up by the Prince’s Trust and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, offers programmes across Lancashire to young people aged between 16-25 and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has backed the scheme in an effort to support and accommodate young people into a variety of roles.
Michelle said: “We received this prestigious award for the commitment and work that goes into supporting young people into appropriate roles in the hospital.
“I’m very proud to have received this award and I feel like I have made a difference. I’m very passionate about my work with young people to get them on the right path into employment.
“I help with developing their CVs and teach them how to use our recruitment system, and help some youngsters overcome confidence issues by providing them with support and guidance into employment.
“People who are not in education or employment are eligible to apply to the programme and information is provided from the job centre or through counselling services.
“The Prince’s Trust helps to support vulnerable young people get their lives back on track through support and providing equal opportunities.
“The programme is fantastic and everyone is treated with such respect. We are looking to expand on our work so far and provide more opportunities to the young people in our community.”
From medical students, university graduates to the unemployed, the Trust aims to provide equal opportunities to all.
The placements vary between clinical roles and in administration jobs. The aim is to provide people with the skills they require for employment.
Now a permanent member of staff, Luke Hall, has grown from strength to strength since joining the Prince’s Trust programme.
Luke said: “I signed up for the programme after spending half a year searching for jobs with no response from anywhere which started to damage my confidence.
“I wanted to work at the hospital after being offered work placement in various admin roles by Michelle Pearson.
“She kindly set everything up and during that time an apprenticeship within medical records came up which she recommended I apply for.
“The Prince’s Trust programme helped me by giving me many opportunities to grow in confidence and polish my transferrable skills.
“It is a huge success and I am grateful to be here thanks to the people at Prince’s Trust and Michelle for helping me take control of my life with this job.”