More than 40 students were given tips on how to improve their employment prospects at a charity conference.

Epping Forest emergency food agency 3Food4U staged its latest World of Work YES Conference with partner charity Youth Employment Strategy Partnership YES.

Their aim is to motivate and encourage students to have an awareness of how to improve their employability skills. They do this by working with students from Years 9, 10, 11 with two conferences and mentoring Year 11 students.

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More than 40 students from Roding Valley High School and Davenant Foundation School attended the day-long conference at Waltham Abbey Marriott Hotel.

Organisers thanked the Department for Work and Pensions, Essex Police - Epping Forest District, Essex Youth Service and Foskett Marr Gadsby & Head for their support.

The feedback from the students and the schools was testament to the programme's great value.

One student said: "I hadn't considered an apprenticeship, but after hearing the benefits and first hand experience of a recent school leaver I'm definitely going consider it."

Another student said: "The speed networking with businesses was my favourite. I learnt so much about what options I have and I'm now considering engineering."

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The conference finished with the students being presented certificates from deputy Mayor of Loughton Town Council Cllr Michael Stubbings.

3Food4U is looking for businesses to support the conferences and sponsor, and volunteers to help. Contact them for more details.

The charity has a fundraising page at https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20356308. The community surplus hubs are open as follows:

  • Monday: Waltham Abbey - 13 Sun Street - 11.30am to 1pm
  • Tuesday: Loughton - Loughton Club, 8 Station Road - 11.30am to 1pm
  • Wednesday: Chigwell Row - All Saints Church Hall, Romford Road - 5pm to 6.30pm
  • Thursday: Ongar - Zinc Arts Centre, High Street - 1pm to 2.30pm
  • Friday: Waltham Abbey - 13, Sun Street - 11.30am to 1pm

For further details, visit 3food4u.org, email info.3food4u@gmail.com or call 01992 842642.