Wolverhampton secondary school teaching students life skills through supporting local community

The pupils working are paid in vouchers.

Author: Katie JonesPublished 15th Dec 2023

Students from Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy in Wolverhampton are helping people to shop smart this Christmas by selling quality items at affordable prices.

The ‘Show Us Ya Change’ student-run shop has been open to the public at the school since Monday and closes today.

All proceeds made will go back into the Academy to support students and members of its community.

Students are paid for their work in vouchers to teach them what it's like in the working world.

The shop is one outpost of the school’s Thrive programme (others include a barber shop, car wash, food bank, boxing and charity work).

We're told the majority of students thrive in the Thrive programme - where community-led initiatives are fused together to give students everyday skills they can use to succeed in the future.

Show Us Ya Change shop manager and Year 10 student, Keelan Carrier, said, "We miss school and Thrive in the holidays - it makes us feel safe and included and worthwhile."

Callum's also been working with the student team and told us it's teaching them a valuable lesson:

"We're trying to give back to the community by selling clothes at cheap prices."

"It's very valuable, with the vouchers, fair enough we might spend them on PlayStation, we might buy a game. We'll forget about the game.

But this, I feel like we're going to remember it - it's really taught us a good lesson."

Staff at the school have told us, this week is vital in preparing students for the working world and going forward.

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