An initiative that helps pupils enhance their employment prospects supported students from two Epping Forest schools in their latest session last week.

The district’s largest emergency food agency 3Food4U are partners of charity Youth Employment Strategy YES, and have the same leadership in chair of trustees Pesh Kapasiawala.

Their aim is to motivate and encourage students to have an awareness of how to improve their employability skills. They do this by working with students from Years 9, 10, 11 with two conferences and mentoring Year 11 students.

Epping Forest Guardian: Students from West Hatch High School also gave the session a thumbs up.Students from West Hatch High School also gave the session a thumbs up. (Image: 3Food4U)

YES works with six secondary schools across Epping Forest - West Hatch High School, Epping St John's School, Roding Valley High School, Davenant Foundation School, Debden Park High School and King Harold Academy – and more than 3,000 students have been supported by the scheme to date.

3Food4U volunteers took part in last week’s World of Work Conference which supported students from West Hatch High School and Epping St John's School.

The motivating and inspiring session was initially delivered by DWP (Job Centre) and then by a host of businesses and public sector organisations including Foskett Marr Solicitors, NHS (Herts and West Essex), Epping Forest District Police, Essex Youth Service and Speakers for Schools amongst many others.

Epping Forest Guardian: Essex Police were one of the organisations at the event.Essex Police were one of the organisations at the event. (Image: 3Food4U)

Speakers included Emma, an apprentice audiologist from PAH, and Oliver, a recent school leaver from King Harold Academy, and IT apprentice who attended the YES programme four years ago where he meet his current employer, Jet Enterprises.

He said: “I had an option to study A Levels but after a few weeks of work experience I knew it was what I wanted to do.

“I kept emailing the company offering my help, and eventually they offered me an apprenticeship.

“I love it and would recommend it to anyone looking at their options.”

All the students received a completion certificate awarded by the Mayor of Epping Cllr Barbara Scrutton.

YES are currently looking for business sponsors and business presenters to support their ongoing Conferences with the schools.

3Food4U continues to urgently need long-life food donations.

These can be dropped of at any of its community surplus hubs, Balgores Estate Agents in Loughton and Ongar or call 01992 842642 to arrange a collection.

The hubs are open as follows:

  • Monday: Waltham Abbey - 13 Sun Street - 11.30am to 1pm
  • Tuesday: Loughton - Loughton Club, 8 Station Road - 11.30am to 1pm
  • Wednesday: Chigwell Row - All Saints Church Hall, Romford Road - 5pm to 6.30pm
  • Thursday: Ongar - Zinc Arts Centre, High Street - 1pm to 2.30pm
  • Friday: Waltham Abbey - 13, Sun Street - 11.30am to 1pm

For further details, visit 3food4u.org, email info.3food4u@gmail.com or call 01992 842642.