This year, between February and July 2026, we have hosted a total of 24 work experience students on placement in the Lunch Club for older people. It’s always a joy to hear that many discover they liked working with older people much more than they had thought they would and we got some key feedback from them with regard to what more we can do in the eyes of local children and young people to benefit the local community.
The students came from a variety of schools and colleges across Merton, Wandsworth and Sutton with two referring themselves independently. We also hosted six students earlier this year who were studying for Health and Social Care Diplomas at John Ruskin College in Croydon.
We know that work experience in a community centre is unlikely to be the first choice for a young person and take great pride in extending our offer in particular to those students who do not come from families where parents or carers have extensive professional networks. This is our contribution to social mobility. As the Sutton Trust notes, while high-quality work experience is one of the most effective springboards into successful careers and higher earnings, the current system sometimes acts as a major barrier to social mobility, frequently entrenching class privilege rather than dismantling it.
So we make a little contribution to right this wrong. Students placed at the Commonside Trust often live locally, and when they do, this gives us the chance to ask what we look like in their eyes. This year we got some great feedback, including the following comments:
- I observed staff greeting visitors warmly, speaking politely, and helping elderly service users move around the building, showing kindness and professionalism.
- Wide range of activities and support services that encourage community engagement and bring people of different ages together.
- The building is also accessible, with facilities that make it easier for older people and those with disabilities to use the centre comfortably.
- Overall, the New Horizon Centre provides a welcoming, supportive, and well-organised service for the local community.
- As young people in sport we would like to see more sport related activities be introduced into the community.
- Factors that would encourage people to get involved is competition, such as Mitcham v Pollards Hill football match – a friendly competition to attract young people interested in sport.
- Communication could improve with the young people by Commonside making more of an effort for example speaking at school assemblies at secondary and primary schools in and around the borough.
- Our work experience we has taught us what our local community centre is about and we discovered all the underground work they do for people like us.
- I think Commonside’s biggest strength as a collective is how welcoming they are as a group and hope it remains this way.
With thanks to all of the students who chose to do their work experience with us this year!
