YOUNG students prepared events and activities for their peers from three countries, to give them experience of the working world.

The teenage students from Darlington College and the town’s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form both planned, prepared and hosted activities for the young visitors from Germany, France and Poland.

Foundation for Jobs, which aims to address youth unemployment, worked with both groups on the activities, which were based around catering and timed to coincide with Darlington’s 60th anniversary of town twinning celebrations.

Catering students at Darlington College worked with fellow trainee chefs from Amiens in France and Opole in Poland to prepare a civic meal for more than 70 guests, at the heart of the town twinning celebrations.

Students from Mulheim in Germany provided front of house support for the event held at Darlington College.

Tim Grant, principal of Darlington College, said: "It was a real privilege to take part in such a memorable weekend, and our students revelled in the opportunity to work alongside their peers from Europe.

"Our students have told me that they were thrilled to be running the kitchens and restaurant with people from three different countries."

Also on the catering theme A-level Travel and Tourism students from the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form planned and prepared a food and catering themed day for the foreign students.

It began with an introduction to Darlington followed by a tasting of regional foods such as Pease Pudding, Craster Kippers, Wensleydale Cheese and parmo, amongst others.

The visiting students were then sent out in teams and with a budget to source ingredients for a cooking challenge in the afternoon where they had to prepare a dish using ingredients their fellow students had sourced.

While out and about they also had to complete a series of challenges which included dancing in the town centre and being photographed with the Darlington sign.

Travel and tourism tutor, Nancy Wall, said: "The opportunity to take part in planning an event allowed the students to put into practice the theory they have been taught.

"The students thoroughly enjoyed the day, and the opportunity to share time and experiences with equivalent students from overseas.

"The students produced a very professional event, and were a credit to themselves and to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College."

Both activities met the Foundation for Jobs philosophy of giving young people a taste of the real world so they are better prepared for entering the workplace.

Foundation for Jobs is a national award winning initiative involving Darlington Borough Council, The Northern Echo and the Darlington Partnership, of public and private sector organisations.

For further details contact co-ordinator Owen McAteer at owen.mcateer@darlington.gov.uk