Hitz kids get down and dirty

By Mark Stevens

Youngsters on the Exeter Hitz programme were able to get down and dirty thanks to a new partnership struck up with the Embercombe Building Company Limited.

Moving out of their traditional Sandy Park base for the activity in the tranquil setting of Haldon Forest, the Hitz youngsters combined learning about traditional trades, whilst learning about the value of recycling old buildings.

Tutors teamed up with Phil Ireland and his team at Embercombe to produce a series of activities that saw the group apply class-based maths tuition to real life on a building site.

Facets of their course included working our ratios and bricks per square metre, as well as teamwork and discipline within the work place.

Hitz Co-Ordinator, Thomas Viljoen, was delighted with the work carried out, stating: “For many of our young people, this sort of experience may not have been available to them had it not been for the kindness shown by the Embercombe Building Company.

“They took it upon themselves to provide transport and food for our young people, as well as giving them a detailed insight into the every-day work they carry out within the local community.

“As an exercise, it was a huge ‘win-win’ for everyone and already Embercombe have said they would be keen to welcome the Hitz Programme back in the future – and help sow the seeds for what we hope will drive these young people into full-time apprenticeships.”