Public Services students Alberto Zamfir and Michelle Gallagher with Warrant Officer Class 2 Darren Pugh from The London Regiment at the Pan London Youth and Public Services Day.
Students discovered more about working in the Armed Forces and emergency services at a careers day they helped run at Alexandra Palace.
Around 20 Public Services students from the College of Haringey, Enfield and North London (CONEL) provided support at this year’s Pan London Youth and Public Services Day.
More than 2,000 school pupils in Years Seven to 13 from across the capital were invited to the event run by Haringey Police Community Boxing Club, which acts as the precursor to the Haringey Box Cup.
Students helped promote the event and provided assistance in setting up stands, acted as stewards and provided catering on the day.
They also had the chance to visit many of the stands hosted by organisations including the Army, Royal Navy, Air Cadets, Royal Military Police, The Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, London’s Air Ambulance, Saracens, Thames Water, VR Education Holdings, Swinley Bike Hub and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
Public Services student Toni Martin, 17, said: “My grandad used to be a firefighter and his dad before him, and I want to follow them. I like the different aspects of the job – you might attend a fire or rescue people from a car crash and help save their lives.”
Another student, Abdullah Hamid, 21, said: “I want to go on to university to study law or criminology because I want to become a police inspector. It’s been good to talk to some of the officers from the Met today about a police career.”
Students spent the past few months working with Haringey Police Community Boxing Club, The Metropolitan Police and the management of Alexandra Palace to organise the event.
Britto Matthew, 19, who is studying an HNC in Public Services, said: “It’s a huge event and been hard work, but it’s been worth it when you see all the kids getting inspired about careers in public services.”
Top Left, Joshua Butler and Jack Sousa Da Silva in police riot gear. Top Right, David Farimita aand Tanya-Maria Ivanova provide catering at the event. Bottom Left, Toni Martin talks to Watch Manager Marlon Clarke from London Fire Brigade. Bottom Right, Ellice Almeida tries out mountain biking with Swinley Bike Hub.
Public Services students at CONEL have been involved in helping run the event for the past three years with their contribution forming part of their course assessment.
Event Organiser Shawn Goodchild said: “We couldn’t put this on without the help of people volunteering their time, and the students from CONEL were no exception.
“They were professional and disciplined and a joy to work with and epitomised what is good about London youth and were a credit to their college. I cannot praise them enough.”
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