Remarkable colleagues inspire the next generation
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Published 14 Jan 2025 in Raising Awareness
A team of remarkable colleagues recently helped young people grow their confidence and boost their employability skills in collaboration with the Jon Egging Trust. Here’s how they found this inspirational volunteering opportunity.
As part of our commitment to Doing Good Together, we recently supported the Jon Egging Trust programme ‘Flying High – Be the best you can be’ for the third year running.
Created in memory of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, who sadly lost his life flying with the Red Arrows in 2011, the Jon Egging Trust realises Jon’s dream of inspiring young people through his love of aviation, STEM, teamwork and leadership.
This year, Midcounties colleagues delivered aspiration-raising workshops to young people from 10 schools at three sites: RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, Venning Army Barracks in Telford and RAF Cosford Museum in the West Midlands.
Colleagues Ben Sampson, Andrea Harvey-Hall and Paran Todd supported the Community Team in delivering confidence building and problem-solving workshops as well as sessions preparing them for the world of work.
Andrea explains her focus for the sessions: “My main aim on the day was to get the students to get involved, not to be shy about coming forward in a large group and to push them out of their comfort zone, to challenge themselves and gain self-belief.”
The team shared their thoughts on the volunteering with us:
Our remarkable colleagues volunteered to help young people build confidence and enhance their employability skills in collaboration with the Jon Egging Trust
Colleague Andrea Harvey-Hall delivering a session on the day
“I feel young people are usually overlooked and it's events like these that give them a chance to excel and have their say. I feel that they learnt valuable skills that will help them progress whatever they decide to do in the future.”
Paran Todd
Member Benefits Administrator
"I was fortunate enough to join the team supporting the Jon Egging Trust (JET) initiative at RAF Cosford this week and I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I thought it was really well run, with engaging content (which isn't always easy!) that was expertly delivered. The students were impeccably behaved and really got stuck in which is all you can ask for!"
Ben Sampson
Head of Facilities Management
“It’s an honour to be involved in the development of young people and to be able to pass on some of my knowledge to the next generation. To know that I have had the chance to make a difference in a young person’s life is quite humbling”
Andrea Harvey-Hall
Member Rewards and Service Administrator
If you’re interested in supporting the next generation, visit our volunteering page to see how you could spend your volunteering hours.