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Elliott completed a week's work experience with Groundwork in July 2010. One of Elliott's tasks during his week with us was to complete a diary, detailing his working week in order to promote work experience opportunities at Groundwork. Read on about Elliott's week with Groundwork below!
Perhaps work is not as I had originally imagined. My idea of “work” had been based around fictional TV shows and films. When I entered this Groundwork office, I was expecting to find workers sitting on top of desks and leaning against water coolers whilst drinking coffee, eating pastries and talking about the latest office romance. However, my idea of “work” is far from the reality. Luckily for me, the reality of “work” is not so bad, well at least at Groundwork.
Day 1
As I entered the office I was instantly greeted by smiling faces and happy “good mornings”. Workers made a great effort to make me feel welcome by offering me tea and coffee left, right and centre. All they need now is a certain big mouse in a suit and Groundwork Hertfordshire would be the happiest place on earth.
After receiving my very important induction, I was assigned my first mission by my personal mentor for the week; the very cheerful Tillie Offord. My task was to create a diary of my week, which included taking pictures of the different projects I took part in, a relatively easy and enjoyable request. My next task was when I was able to truly appreciate the wrath of working 9 till 5! I was introduced to Graham Phillips and Jayne Pullen in the Landscape Team, who set me the task of copying, what seemed like almost endless amounts of projects, from a note pad into a spreadsheet, a task that I continued to attempt for almost 5 hours. When I was finally released from my duties, I went straight home to sleep after what seemed the longest day of my life so far. I say so far, because to my displeasure, I would be getting home at half past 5 every day for the duration of the week. I will certainly enjoy my week here at Groundwork, but no doubt it will be one of the most tiring weeks of my life.
Day 2
After a cruel awakening at 7am, I am shuffled into the car and was dropped off at work for my second day. Promptly after arriving, I was whisked away with Sherry Robinson to help with a Green Aiders project. Green Aiders is a volunteering project which sees volunteers helping vulnerable, elderly people with the upkeep of their gardens.
THE HEDGE WHEN WE ARRIVED...
I think this task was a personal highlight of my week because I was introduced to the HEDGE TRIMMER! A gardening weapon that is exactly the same as a chainsaw, but for some reason is not a chainsaw. For the next few hours, I continued to chop away anything that the hedge trimmer would get through, and after a good day's work, myself and Sherry headed back to base camp.
...AND AFTER AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE HEDGE TRIMMER!
Day 3
I had to arrive extra early today because I was heading out with Julia Watts to a site in Hitchin, to look at a potential landscape project, in this case a park. When we arrived we were greeted by several people who were interested in the project, including local council members. For the duration of the morning we took a light stroll around the park discussing what could be improved to make the park more enjoyable for visitors.
BANCROFT PARK, HITCHIN
After returning from the park, I immediately went out again, this time with Nicola Murphy and Jayne Pullen. We were headed to a park which was currently experiencing the second and final phase of a transformation into a new play area. Nicola explained to me how the park had been designed and built and now easier accessibility was being developed. She then went on to say that we were there to check the safety of the park and how the development was coming along. This was a very fun afternoon as all three of us were able to try out the newly created park, which included a slide, a rope swing and a climbing frame.
A PIECE OF NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT IN CONSTRUCTION AT THE RIDGEWAY, HERTFORD
I returned to the office later that day to find that Tillie had set me the task of collating all the information from this year’s project tour evaluations. I had to input all the responses received from guests on the project tour, and then create graphs and charts showing the number of people who liked particular parts of the day and so on. Granted, this wasn't the most entertaining task, but this was work experience and I expected to be doing some form of work and not just messing about in play areas!
Day 4
Thursday morning started off rather slowly, working on my diary for the majority of the morning, and the dreadful weather didn’t help. However, my day was quite literally brightened up when Tillie and I ventured out to assist a photo shoot. As part of our task we had to try out all the new playground equipment whilst having our photos taken, another highlight of my fun-filled week!
GROUNDWORK'S NEXT TOP MODEL IN ACTION!
Just for a change, when I returned I went straight out again! This adventure however was with Megan Taylor Rose assisting her at a school Grow Global club. Groundwork runs Grow Global clubs in three schools each year, teaching children about growing fruit and vegetables and eating a more healthy, balance diet. After a series of fun and games, the children designed their own healthy smoothies which, with their assistance, we would help to make. I was even able to make my own smoothie which consisted of blueberries, apple and banana, and it was very very yummy!
Day 5
On the morning of my final day I was assisting Becky Naman with preparations for the Groundwork VegFest project. I was asked to design cards which would be given to each of the schools involved and could be placed with the vegetables that they had grown and would be entering into the compeition. After an hour or two of cutting and folding vegetable place cards I tucked into what was one of the best lunches I had ever had; a ham sandwich with a side order of wotsits!
I then spent my final afternoon creating this diary and webpage for you to read. My week here at Groundwork has been a great one; I have met some absolutely wonderful people, all of whom have made me feel extremely welcome and have made my stay here even more pleasant.
I have had the chance to experience what working is really like and this experience has, without a doubt, given me a wider look on the world of work.
