“It’s really rewarding being able to give back to the community”, said Inthusha – one of a team of Ealing Council apprentices who recently spent the day volunteering at Hanwell Zoo.
The council’s apprenticeship scheme enables people to gain new skills, and they can now add preparing a new home for the animals to their experiences.
A number of apprentices took part in the volunteering day from across the council.
‘Opportunities to learn new skills’
Inthusha Mathirooban from Northolt has been a partnership support apprentice for more than a year. She works with external stakeholders to help young people get jobs and create apprenticeship opportunities.
“When I applied for an apprenticeship, I didn’t expect to get so many opportunities to learn new skills,” Inthusha said.
“Once my apprenticeship is finished, I would like to continue working at Ealing Council and build connections in different teams, learn what they do, and get involved in new projects.”
‘It’s nice to experience something new’
Lik Tang, originally from Hong Kong but a resident in Ealing Broadway, has been working as a school attendance apprentice since earlier this year. He helps with administrative tasks to ensure the daily functions of his team run smoothly.
“Volunteering is a great chance to meet different people and experience different activities,” he said.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to do gardening in Hong Kong as apartments are common, so it’s nice to experience something new.
“I recommend that others get involved in an apprenticeship and benefit from gaining a range of skills and experiences by the end. I’m in a great team and my manager takes the time to teach me things. Next, I would like to get an administrative job in the education sector at Ealing Council or with another local authority.”
After the apprentices donated their time, they were taken on a tour of the zoo, where they learned about of the conservation efforts happening in the borough, such as looking after flamingos, capybaras and lemurs.
The apprentices will have more opportunities to volunteer and give back to the community in the future. In February next year, they will be volunteering during National Apprenticeship Week.
‘Learn new skills both in and outside of the workplace’
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “It’s wonderful to see our apprentices getting stuck into volunteering and gaining new experiences they may not have otherwise had the opportunity to take part in.
“Inthusha and Lik’s experiences are great examples of why more people should get involved in our apprenticeship programme, where they can learn new skills both in and outside of the workplace.”
Become an apprentice
An apprenticeship is a great opportunity to earn while you learn, you will gain practical work experience whilst also achieving valuable professional skills. Apprenticeships give people an entry way into a career, and are great for those who prefer a ‘hands on’ experience of learning.
You can be any age above 16 with any level of experience to do an apprenticeship. You can also get support to complete English and maths functional skills. If you are considering your career options and are interested in becoming an apprentice, reach out to our apprenticeships team today.
Visit the council’s website to find out more or email apprenticeships@ealing.gov.uk to speak to the team.
