Photo: City Horizons students with Steve Rawlins, Chair of Management Committee for Southampton Samaritans, Chris Grace, Training Consultant for City Horizons and Chris Burton, Lecturer in Painting and Decorating for Southampton City College.

Completing the mammoth task of painting the building’s various rooms will help them gain valuable work experience and develop their employability skills.

All of the teenagers on the City Horizons programme are currently being given the help, advice and experience they need to get into work, further education or an apprenticeship and this project will be a vital part of that experience.

Team leader, Lorraine Wheeler, said: “We have a responsibility to inspire these students by enabling them to acquire experience in a stimulating environment and therefore have a better chance of being successful in following their chosen career paths.”

Martine Pullen, one of the Deputy Directors of The Samaritans, added: “Our building here in Southampton spans over three floors and has various rooms, which are used by the Samaritans 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We noticed recently that the paintwork had become tired and we jumped at the chance of providing some real life experience for the City Horizons students. We’re incredibly grateful for their help and hope that the project will help them put the skills they’ve learnt into practice.”

While Samaritans provided the participants with the chance of valuable work experience and an exciting new environment, Johnston’s Paint also donated paint and gloss for the project.

All equipment and safety training was provided by the City Horizons team, as the renovation now enters its second week of the six to eight week schedule.

To find out more about City Horizons visit www.southampton-city.ac.uk.