Prince's Trust student Schelah Luvieki is helping to brighten up the walls of Sir James Barrie Primary School in Vauxhall.

A group of young people from Lambeth College’s Prince’s Trust Programme - CG Level 1 Certificate have been back to primary school during the spring term, this time taking with them dustsheets, rollers, emulsion paint, and the intention of some seriously hard graft!

The students are currently taking part in a 12-week programme based on personal and social development, work placements and serving the community. As part of their project they are required to work as a team to find a deserving, community-based service or enterprise that could benefit from their help.  This time they chose the Sir James Barrie Primary School in Vauxhall and offered to paint the walls of two rooms badly in need of brightening up.

The team of 12 students spent two weeks in the school taking it in turns to prepare and paint the walls and skirting boards, window frames and doors. Those who weren’t painting took part in classroom activities with the school children and their teachers.

On a Roll: Prince's Trust students - Prince Agyei, Rhyss Cunningham, Ziene Moore and Schelah Luvieki hard at work at the Sir James Barrie Primary School.

Student Schelah Luvieki, 16 from Kennington, particularly enjoyed the experience. She said: “We were required as a team to go out and find somewhere in our community we could offer our help and services to. Based on their requirements we then had to raise the funds to pay for materials and tools and then we had to organise ourselves and plan the actual work. It’s been great fun and I think I’ve grown in confidence since being on this course. I’ve also learnt to be more independent and handle responsibility better.”

Their tutor, Louise McNestrie, prepared the students for the challenge and monitored their progress on a daily basis. She said: “The team community challenge is always very popular and this one had some amazing results. The team raised over £600 to pay for the project and also got some fantastic experience in working as classroom assistants. The teachers and children have enjoyed having the team around. Everyone has benefited.”

If you are a young person between 16 and 19 years of age and would like to gain confidence and improve your chances of finding a job or gaining a qualification then the Prince’s Trust Programme could be right up your street. Give it a go – it could be the start of something great!