Students join The Cultural Spring team

An accounting student on an apprenticeship, smiling at the camera

Getting you career ready

Taking part in work experience with an employer will give you the edge in the jobs market and ensure you develop the skills, knowledge and experience that employers love! It will also give you an exciting insight into a future career.

Two Sunderland College students will play a key role in promoting arts and culture to young people across Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Troy Pashley, 17, and Bethany Potter, 17, have begun year-long placements with The Cultural Spring, an Arts Council England-funded project which works alongside communities to develop an exciting programme of events, performances, workshops and other opportunities to enthuse, educate and encourage local residents.

Emma Scarr, Project Co-Ordinator at The Cultural Spring, explained their roles: “We’re delighted Troy and Bethany have joined us – their roles will be to promote the project across Sunderland and South Tyneside, particularly among younger people.

“We’ve just started our third phase and one of our aims over the next three years is to connect with more young people and Troy and Bethany will help us do just that. They have the skills and networks to raise the profile of the project and we’ve already been impressed by their enthusiasm and knowledge.”

Troy, from Tunstall, is studying Level 3 IT and Digital Advanced QCF at Sunderland College’s Bede Campus.

He said: “I applied for the role at The Cultural Spring because I wanted to get involved in some ‘live’ IT work and to improve my CV.

“I hope to use this experience to know what it is like to be in a workplace and the thing that I am most looking forward to is finding out how The Cultural Spring helps people around Sunderland and South Tyneside.”

Bethany attended Farringdon Community Academy before starting a Level 3 BTEC Creative Media course at Sunderland College. She is now in her second year and plans to go to university next year.

“I have chosen The Cultural Spring for my placement as I want to achieve the programme’s aim of promoting their work and attracting young audiences which I currently do on my college course. Targeting a specific demographic is something we’ve done through creating print and moving image products and I’m looking forward to putting what I’ve learned into practice,” Bethany explained.

“I am excited to be working with The Cultural Spring and look forward to building closer relationships with the team and Troy to make my placement experience more enjoyable and effective. I also think that working with people I don’t know yet will help me boost my confidence and communication skills.

“Troy and I are excited about the year ahead.”

Jane Reed, Faculty Director for Digital, Creative and Business, said: “I can’t think of a better experience and outstanding learning opportunity than to be involved with The Cultural Spring Team and their wonderful projects.

“The industry placements across Digital and Creative Arts ensure our study programmes have a careers focus, giving our students an insight into real life work situations and ensuring both their technical skills and employability skills are enhanced.

“I’m sure both Troy and Bethany will have an amazing time this year, and we wish them and The Cultural Spring team continued success.”

The Cultural Spring is funded by Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places project and its four partners are the University of Sunderland; the Customs House, South Shields, Sunderland’s Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust and Sangini, a women’s health organisation.