Norwich pupils get a taste of army life

Peter WalshTwenty-two pupils from Sewell Park College, Norwich, will be given an insight into army life later this month.Peter Walsh

Twenty-two pupils from Sewell Park College, Norwich, will be given an insight into army life later this month.

Four officers from Mile Cross, Catton and Fiddlewood safer neighbourhood team (SNT) will be taking the 15-year-olds to the British Army base at Swanton Morley on June 11 when they will to engage with the Light Dragoons for a personal development activities day.

Three college staff will be assisting with the army-funded event designed to help the teenagers overcome their personal fears and challenges.

PCSO Steven Downes, from the SNT, said 'The students should gain some very good team-building skills, communication skills, initiative encouragement and problem solving skills.

'Along with the discipline administered by the British Army training team we hope the students will return with a different outlook on education and also develop their student skills for life. They will be doing exercises like creating makeshift bombs, tackling the assault course and generally learning about discipline and what our soldiers have to deal with on a daily basis.

'We would like to say a big thank you to the Army careers office who have been extremely accommodating in allowing us to organise this day.'

Karen Topping, head teacher at Sewell Park College, said: 'We welcome this opportunity for our students and hope they will greatly benefit from the day.

'It is a fantastic chance for them to broaden their horizons and help learn some essential skills that will help point them in the right direction for their future careers.'