A former Bury College student has secured a volunteering role at a much loved local cultural tourist attraction after impressing colleagues during an internship.

Hardworking Rachael Scholes completed a Foundation Studies Supported Internship programme working at the Aquarium based at Bolton Central Library and Museum and was given a range of responsibilities to help support the day-to-day running of the popular Bolton attraction.

The former Rumworth School pupil spent one day a week for three months working at the Aquarium before she was offered a volunteering role which sees Rachael working across all areas of Bolton Central Library and Museum.

The Aquarium houses 84 tanks and contains fish from all around the world including Costa Rica, India, South America and Mexico. From Amazon Trout to Driftwood Catfish, the fish are being studied, bred and cared for.

Bolton Council Deputy Leader Cllr Martyn Cox said: “As a local authority we are ideally placed to facilitate work placement opportunities and give young people their first taste of a working environment. We were delighted to provide Rachael with this opportunity and she is responsible for carrying out tank display checks and has received training to identify any issues which she then reports back.”

Rachael added: “Everyone has been really nice and I enjoy looking after the fish and doing my walk round checks. I also work in the library where I handle the books that have been returned and make sure everywhere is clean, neat and tidy.”

Supported Internship programmes are part of the Bury College Foundation Studies provision and have been designed for those students who are looking to take their first steps into employment and undertake a work placement to gain skills desired by employers.

For more information about the Supported Internship programme please call 0161 280 8280.

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