What started as a love of rollercoasters soon grew into something more for secondary student Sarah, sparking a curiosity that led her into the world of health and safety.
When the opportunity arose for Sarah to complete some work experience with our Health and Safety Officer, John Young, she was keen to get involved.
Work experience plays an important role in helping students build confidence, develop new skills and explore future employment pathways. We work closely with local organisations and partners to offer meaningful placements, and when Sarah’s interest in health and safety became clear, our team knew she would benefit from learning directly from our in‑house experts.
Sarah’s placement began at Autism Unlimited’s Charity Hub, where she met John and his colleague, Steve. They introduced her to the responsibilities involved in health and safety, including the types of checks carried out across our sites to keep everyone safe. Sarah also had a tour of the office and was particularly engaged by the different safety signs and features she spotted along the way.
The visit strengthened Sarah’s enthusiasm even further. Afterwards, she shared:
I really enjoyed the talk from John Young and the information he gave me on safety. I can’t wait to go back and learn more!
A couple of weeks later, Sarah joined John at the Portfield School site to take part in a full health and safety inspection. John explained what to look out for, why each element matters, and how to record findings accurately.
From there, Sarah took the lead, carefully scanning the school site for potential risks, noting her observations and asking thoughtful questions throughout. John highlighted key safety features as they went, including fire exits, extinguishers and fire doors, helping Sarah build a deeper understanding of how everything fits together.
The inspection continued outside the school buildings, where Sarah remained focused and committed, supporting John with every aspect of our health and safety checks. She approached every part of the task with maturity and determination.
By the end of the placement, Sarah had successfully completed the full inspection, and the photos show just how much she enjoyed the experience.
This opportunity allowed Sarah to build on her passion for health and safety and to understand the purpose behind the signs, systems and procedures she finds so interesting.
With ambitions to pursue a career within a UK theme park, Sarah is already developing the skills and knowledge that will support her future goals. Her attention to detail, curiosity and commitment to keeping people safe shine through in everything she does.
Opportunities like this are vital in ensuring the young people we support have access to experiences that help them discover what they enjoy and what brings them fulfilment.
