Former Vice Chancellor of the Open University and Head of BBC World Service, Peter Horrocks CBE, recently volunteered in a Career WorkOut session at The Hazeley Academy.

“I have always found it very rewarding to discuss with young people about their future possibilities. I am also involved with a couple of schools that Worktree supports and doing the careers conversations is a good way to get to know some pupils.

“I felt very encouraged about the curiosity and enthusiasm of the Hazeley Academy students I met. It was a rewarding experience to help them grow in confidence.  That gave me a warm feeling all over!

“I have attended a number of events where volunteers interact with school students. When I was at the BBC I helped drive the annual BBC News School Report day. And I have been involved with Robert Peston’s “Speakers for Schools” and also Founders4Schools. All of these groups do excellent work trying to inspire large numbers of young people into believing in themselves.

But Worktree’s Career WorkOut session is the most effective I have seen in engaging large numbers of students. By making the session interactive and the lead needing to come from the pupil’s questions, Worktree creates the best circumstances for all students to get involved. Most of the other formats and school events I have been to tend to gravitate towards the most forward of the young people. That often means that those that need the most support get the least.

“I especially liked the way the Worktree facilitator introduced a new skill/task for each round (First job. Stress. Use of mobiles etc). That clearly helped give the students a framework and encouraged some to ask questions when they had found it tricky in the first round.

“I’ve got in touch with as many friends and colleagues in MK that I can think of and asked them to get involved. It makes a change for them from getting an email from me asking for charity sponsorship. All they have to of is give up an hour and get a massive amount back. I’m pleased to say that lots of them are signing up.”