Brathay Apprentice Challenge shortlisted for Charity Times Award

The Brathay Apprentice Challenge has been shortlisted for a Charity Times Award for the third year running.

This year, the Challenge has been nominated for the Community Award, recognising the impact of the work teams of apprentices do in their local areas as part of the Challenge.

The Challenge has two overarching objectives shared by all partners (Brathay Trust, National Apprenticeship Service and Campaign Collective): Reach more young people with messages about apprenticeships and recruit new apprentice employers.

For Brathay Trust, there two more objectives:

• Make a real impact on the lives of their young people taking part in the Challenge
• Aide these young people to have positive impact in their communities

Since 2012 almost 4,000 apprentices have taken part in the Challenge (675 in 2017) with pre- and post-Challenge tracking research demonstrating significant improvements in the confidence and abilities of competing apprentices. Particular improvement is seen in apprentices’ communication, team building and logistical skills.

Since the Challenge started in 2012, 261 community projects have been completed and almost £200,000 raised for good causes (not including pro-bono donations / time).

The winners of the Challenge in 2017 were from GlaxoSmithKline in Ulverston and they made a series of four short films to be shown in schools and sports clubs about the dangers of asthma attacks.

The team launched the films with a presentation to local sports coaches and intend for them to be shown in schools. The idea came about because the 11 year old son of a former employee died very suddenly from a severe asthma attack which had upset many people in the community, and the apprentices wanted to do something that could be a legacy as well as being of value to other young people. The films are moving, but handled with sensitivity.

The Challenge has also been nominated for a Public Sector Communications Award.