All Year 10 school pupils are required to sign up to Work Experience as part of their student development. Many of my friends found themselves taking orders in cafes, or cleaning in gyms, or running admin tasks for accountants. I’m worried that most of them saw the more impatient side of people in these experiences, as work is, by definition, an obligation that does not necessarily inspire.
For me, however, my time liaising with the patrons of Lidgett Methodist Community Cafe was an unforgettable pleasure. We hear a lot about how elderly residents feel disconnected from younger generations. Well, the same is true for me. If it weren’t for my grandparents, I’d never get to speak to anyone over the age of 65. The digital divide and changes in society have meant that a great gap has widened between people.
The Community Cafe does what it says on the tin. It is a place of community. I heard heartbreaking stories and was inspired by how friends rally to help people through tough times; I learned how to play Boccia
