Middleton Grange Year Seven pupils identified a positive way of keeping young people out of trouble as their ‘big idea’. Called ‘Jobline’ the concept would bring teenagers and potential employers together.

Because ‘there are a lot of kids out there with nothing to do’ the Middleton Grange pupils devised the automated telephone employment service. After surveying teenagers, parents and businesses the ‘Jobline’ concept was further refined by the pupils to include identity cards, suggestions for advertising, contracts for employees and employers and some security recommendations.

Riccarton-Wigram Community Board has recommended that the pupils present their proposal to the Middleton Grange board of trustees, and is investigating whether it would be possible to appoint a co-ordinator for Jobline through the Government’s Task Force Green project.