Marli joined the Council for work experience – read how she got on
Marli,15, is in Year 10 at Budmouth and last week she did work experience at Weymouth Town Council. From attending a community networking event to working in the beach control office and sitting in on event planning meetings, Marli describes her experiences below.
Day 1 “For the first day I was feeling nervous at the start, but they quickly passed and I felt more comfortable and the staff constantly treated me as one of them by involving me in conversations and making me aware of what was going on and everyone’s job role.
“I had a safety talk and was given a full tour of the building and made aware of the meeting points and fire exits around the building. This also helped me feel more comfortable in the office enabling me to meet everyone and know my way around.
“Next I went to the beach office where I was taught different job roles around the office and learnt how anything can happen at any moment. Some of the beach control jobs include selling, counting and sorting deck chairs for the public to hire, sorting out any problems which may occur on the seafront.
“I attended a meeting with Charlotte, the Community Development Officer about a networking event I would attend. We spoke about the plan for the day, what I will be doing and what I may get asked to do on the day. I really enjoyed my first day of work experience at Weymouth Town Council and even though I felt nervous at the start of the day, everyone I spoke to throughout the day made me feel part of the team.
- Networking event, Tuesday 9th July
“The Networking event at WOEC went really well this morning. I helped set up the hall with chairs and tables and also scattered some sheets of paper for an activity later on in the session. As the different organisations arrived I signed them in and greeted them with tea or coffee. As people left I received lots of positive feedback from guests, many thank yous and many questions as to when the next networking event was to happen. Overall the networking event went well and ran smoothly with lots of positive feedback.
“In a separate meeting with myself and the events team we discussed the Council’s organisation of events in the town. I was involved in making a step by step plan which the events team will use to ensure they get all the documents needed to go forwards with the event. Towards the end of the meeting I was asked what events people my age have enjoyed in the last year, this helped to create ideas for the council to organise summer events which the youth in our area enjoyed and were interested in.
- Beach office, Wednesday 10th July
“On Wednesday morning I started off in the beach office. I met cleaners, managers and cafe staff. It was a very busy day but a minor event then happened where a seagull on the beach needed help as it was thought to be injured. The team acted quickly with big smiles on their faces and completed the rescue job with many giggles from the public.
“In the afternoon I helped sort and order stock for the two cafes. Weymouth Town Council Resort staff use many walkie talkies, especially the beach office. This allows them to communicate with lifeguards, cafes, beach control staff and also each other if any assistance is needed. Even though my third day of work experience was very eventful, I learnt new skills such as staying calm in situations, organising stock and equipment. staff have been extremely supportive throughout my time on work experience and always constantly keeping me updated and involved.
- Armed Forces meeting, Thursday 11th July
“In this meeting we sat down and spoke about how the parade went earlier on in the year. I greeted the guests at the door and pointed out the route to the meeting room. Overall there were plenty of compliments towards the events team and the parade was shown to have gone exactly as planned or even better, and we talked about how to deal with any arising problems.
“In the afternoon I attended a walkaround of the newly opened park in Radipole, offering an insightful overview of the park’s features and future plans.
Conclusion
“Friday was my last day where I chance to write up my thoughts on the week. My work experience at Weymouth Town Council has been incredibly enriching and educational. Over the course of five days, I have gained invaluable insights into the events team and beach control. I have massively developed both my professional and personal skills.
“I had the opportunity to work on tasks such as event organising, learning about budgeting, networking events, a park walk about, and event management plans. This allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. This experience has enhanced my abilities in specific skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, resilience and has given me a clearer understanding of a possible pathway in my career.
“Overall, my time at Weymouth Town Council has not only equipped me with practical skills but also inspired me to consider pursuing further growth in this field in the future. I am grateful for the opportunity and confident that the experience and knowledge gained will significantly contribute to daily events and also future jobs.”
ENDS