Work Placement Partnership Goes From Strength to Strength

A partnership between Bury Hospice and Bury College that offers work placements to students with additional learning needs, is going from strength to strength.

Bury Hospice first welcomed the college students at the Furniture Showroom, Radcliffe, in October 2024.

This proved to be a huge success, and both the hospice and college are building upon the partnership with a new group of students currently in place.

Alexandra Artley, Furniture Shop Supervisor at Bury Hospice, said: “This is really good because the students assist with lifting, building furniture, and interacting with customers. They want to do things; they want to help.”

Bury College supports the Foundation Studies pupils with employability skills, including CV writing and public speaking training, which helps prepare them for the workplace and builds confidence.

Work placement student, Ewan Pilling-Lines, 19, said: “I enjoy getting on with the staff and helping customers and I also enjoy the physical part of it as well – all the moving and taking things apart.”

“The staff and volunteers are very helpful and encouraging. I now have more experience and I know how to work in a warehouse environment.”

“People should definitely come to the warehouse and look for their furniture because it’s at lower cost prices, with all proceeds going towards charity; so vulnerable people will get needed help.”

The Foundation Studies staff team has said that the pupils on the warehouse work placement have increased in confidence, and have benefitted from gaining real life work skills that cannot be replicated in the college environment.

Tammy Davies, Supported Internship Tutor, at Bury College, said: “The students have enjoyed being outside of the college setting because they get a great sense of job satisfaction and feel like they’ve done something good by helping Bury Hospice. They also like the camaraderie.

“The placements have increased their confidence, and now a couple of our students want to become regular volunteers because they feel it’s worthwhile, and they now have a reference for future employability.”

“They like doing a physical job; they feel like they’ve done a day’s work.”

Ewan has now signed up to become a volunteer at Bury Hospice, outside of his work placement.

Bury Hospice is proud to be an inclusive employer which partners with organisations that can provide volunteers and workplace students from all walks of life, to take on suitable supportive roles.

Bury College has provided a lot of support with this over the years.

Last November, Bury Hospice was delighted to receive the Honorary Reward at the annual Bury College Graduation Ceremony, for its partnership of supporting young people and adult learners in gaining valuable work and life experiences.

Joanne Johnson, Volunteer Services Coordinator at Bury Hospice, said: “The first three students we had absolutely loved their work placements at the Furniture Showroom.”

“The college workers are a pleasure to have around; they breathe fresh life into the place and serve as more active hands.”

“We hope more students will get involved with other departments across the hospice.”

If you aged 18 or over and would like to volunteer or begin a work placement at Bury Hospice, please get in touch. Email Joanne Johnson: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call: 0161 543 9671.

For more information, visit https://www.buryhospice.org.uk/volunteering.