A RED CROSS volunteer from North Petherton is encouraging people to take up internships with the charity to enhance their skills.

Lucie Merson, 23, applied for a Justice and Fairness Internship while searching for jobs in education after graduating from Edinburgh University.

She said: “I found the Red Cross offered internships in lots of different areas, ranging from refugee services to marketing and communications.

“I started in October and have this week just finished my internship as a justice and fairness co-ordinator. My role was to promote the Red Cross' Justice and Fairness teaching resources to schools, colleges and youth groups in Somerset.”

The children were encouraged to debate issues and analyse case study examples to give an understanding of war and its impact.

Although not paid for her time, Lucie said she would recommend an internship with the charity.

“My internship has provided me some invaluable experiences.

“It has been so interesting to see how students have engaged with the Red Cross's educational resources - whether it was Y3 and Y4 in Poole participating in operation Amphibian, a simulation to show children how the Red Cross responds to emergencies, or leading sessions surrounding child soldiers to Y10's in Highbridge.

“I have received first aid training and attended a two-day Humanitarian Education course which enabled me to learn more about the educational resources and how to present and lead sessions on them.”

Lucie hopes to become a primary school teacher and is looking forward to starting a PGCE in September.

For more information visit www.redcross.org.uk. Any educational facilities who would like free humanitarian education resources contact Claire Sutcliffe at CSutcliffe@redcross.org.uk