Prepared by: The Welfare Team, Bexley
Overview: The “Drive Your Change” themed Careers Event, held on 6th October 2024 at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, (interim rented facility) aimed to spark meaningful conversations about various career paths, business, and retirement opportunities. The event offered a real focus on empowering attendees to take control of their career journeys, which was in line with the theme’s bible verse Hab 2:2. The event offered a variety of activities, including interactive breakout sessions and panel discussions. The goal was to equip participants with the necessary tools to drive change in the next stages of their lives. The event commenced at 1:30 pm with a delicious complimentary meal, followed by a chorus session, opening prayer, and a special instrumental from one of the children at 2:30 pm, and ended with a Vote of Thanks and Prayer at 5:30 pm.
Introduction: The event commenced with an introductory address, setting the tone for the gathering, followed by a moving chorus session and opening prayer that invoked a sense of blessing and unity. A formal presentation then highlighted the overall purpose of the Welfare Team, emphasizing its significance and goals. The proceedings continued with a beautiful instrumental rendition, enriching the atmosphere with its melodic contribution.
Breakout Rooms: At 3 pm attendees were dispersed into breakout rooms based on age to ensure discussions were relevant and personalized.
Group 1 – This group included primary school students (ages 5–12), who conducted research on different careers and presented their findings to the rest of the children. Feedback from the group representative was that after this session she is encouraged that she could be whatever she wants to be, through Christ Jesus.
Group 2 – Comprised of secondary and pre-college/University students (ages 13–17), who engaged in a panel discussion with young professionals focused on choosing subjects, managing exams, and university stress whilst exploring career choices and the lifestyles they could offer.
Group 3 – The session started with the panelists’ brief introductions of themselves, their career paths, business acumen, and where they are now. One key highlight from this group (18+) was the vibrant audience and panel discussion, featuring a panel that comprised of successful professionals from diverse fields, at different stages of their working and retirement lives. This session allowed attendees to hear firsthand experiences and career journeys, as well as the challenges faced by those in different industries. It provided valuable insights for individuals at various stages of their career paths, business routes, and retirement age.
Group Feedback session – All 3 breakout rooms reconvened into the main session to provide brief feedback on the activities conducted. The session also gave an opportunity for all participants to discuss their individual professional or business experiences and careers which was very insightful.
In Closing: To conclude the event, a vote of thanks was extended to the audience and participants for their attendance and active participation. The event was then formally brought to a close with a Closing Prayer.