CORE students take part in Villa Park Community Project

CORE Education Trust students have been practising the CORE value of Collaboration this week, teaming up with The Aston Villa Foundation to renovate a disused suite in the Doug Ellis Stand at Villa Park.

The David Targett Suite was previously used as a community venue, boasting radio and TV studios, a classroom, and a gym. However, after years of being left empty and unused, the renovations will allow it to be adapted into a multi-purpose educational area for students in the local community.

Aided by the Aston Villa Football Club’s Supporting Our Own initiative, students teamed up with home improvement retailer Wickes and non-for-profit DIY volunteering organisation Volunteer It Yourself to refurbish the suite. Volunteer It Yourself provided mentors to teach our students the skills they needed to bring the space back to life.

Manager of Foundation and Community Partnerships Andy Taylor said: “The David Targett Suite was once a hive of activity and it’s a great shame that it has been left idle. The Suite’s facilities mean it has great potential to become a venue that will aid the learning of young people from across Birmingham in a variety of different fields – from media to cooking.”

The work the students have undertaken this week provides them with new opportunities, as the space they’ve renovated will be open to them to utilise to strengthen their future employability.

CORE Education Trust founder and CEO Adrian Packer CBE said: “By working with The Aston Villa Foundation, Wickes and Volunteer It Yourself, we’re providing our students with the opportunity to collaborate outside of the classroom, developing their skills and improving their future employability.”

 “The students are working within their community to renovate space that will be available to them and other young people. They’re learning to respect their community whilst gaining new skills. We are delighted to be part of such an innovative project.”

 

CORE Education Trust are incredibly proud of the passion, determination, and effort that their students have put in during their time at Villa Park.