Five Coleg Menai learners succeeded in gaining placements in the Denu Talent Môn scheme, with two gaining full-time employment.

Coleg Menai health and social care students completed the work placement programme recently, which is offered by Isle of Anglesey County Council.

The scheme provides individuals over the age of 16 with the opportunity to undertake up to 12 weeks of paid work.

Sophie Dickens, Lucie Williams, Ffion Jones, Jessica Bowes and Lucy Griffiths were all successful in gaining placements over the summer, after applying following a presentation on the scheme at the college’s Llangefni campus.

They acquired valuable real-world work experience, with Sophie and Lucie securing employment following their placements.

Sophie, who is studying a foundation degree in health and social care, is now working full-time in the council’s reablement service.

The service aims to promote independence for people recovering from illness, injury, or loss of self-confidence.

Sophie said: "I really enjoyed it.

"It was a great experience getting to know everybody, getting to learn the subtle things you need to pick up on, and being able to talk in a sensitive way with people because they can feel quite vulnerable."

Lucie Williams, who completed her level 3 health and social care course this summer, has also been employed by the reablement service after impressing during her placement in the Plas Crigyll Dementia Centre.

Ffion Jones, a student of the level 3 health and social care course, also worked for the reablement service and has been encouraged to apply for relief work following her placement.

She said the experience has given her confidence as she works towards her dream of becoming an occupational therapist.

She said: "I thought it would be a really good experience to have a new outlook on care.

"I liked the fact that it was community work, which I’d never done before, and it really helped with my confidence.

"After I’ve finished my course, I want to go to university to study occupational therapy, which is what I’ve always wanted to do.

"Reablement is similar to occupational therapy in that it’s promoting independence, so it was really good experience."

Sophie added: "Doing the placement allowed me to gain the experience to then be considered for full-time work, which is what I now do with the council.

"The end goal is to be a social worker, and because I now have this job with the council they have offered me placements and courses which I can take with them, to further my education to get my social work degree."