EVERY day Jodie Greening travels from her home in St George to the Hesding Close residential care home in Hanham.

As an apprentice support worker, Jodie, 17, helps look after the six residents, all of whom are in their 60s or older and have learning disabilities.

She has only been doing the job for eight months, but already Jodie is an important part of the team, helping bathe the residents, cooking for them, learning about their medication and taking them out on trips.

Jodie is one of five apprentices at Aspects and Milestones Trust, a Staple Hill-based health and social care charity that helps people with learning disabilities and mental health needs in the greater Bristol area.

The trust has 59 homes, catering for 600 people.

Now it is looking to take on five new apprentices in September and another five in February, part of its plans to bring younger people into its workforce.

Mel Akers, Aspects and Milestones' chief executive, said: "We have five apprentices who work in our residential homes, and our five new apprentices will also be based there.

"The idea is to train them up to be support workers, then give them the chance to go on to gain management qualifications and eventually become home managers.

"Our first intake of apprentices was in September last year. Now we hope to recruit up to ten apprentices each year for the next two years, and then continually after that.

"In our sector we are the only organisation in the area to offer an apprenticeship scheme. If people want to get into the caring profession, this is an ideal way."

The five apprentices will take an NVQ level 2 in health and social care, involving practical work, theory and basic maths, English and communication skills.

They will either go to college one day a week or a tutor will assess them on site.

In return they will get £95 a week, but by the end of the year could be earning more than £11,000, depending on how they progress.

Jodie started her apprenticeship after leaving The Grange school, and now helps people with mental health problems and learning disabilities.

She plans to study for an NVQ level 3, then go to university to train as a nurse, and has already had lots of success in helping the residents she works with.

One female resident swore she would never go swimming, but Jodie took her to a spa and pool, and she found she loved the water.

She also took an elderly gentleman to the cinema – for his very first visit.

She said: "I really enjoy looking after people and taking them out, knowing that they are enjoying themselves with me.

"It is really rewarding when they feel they can confide in you.

"If you are a real people person and like caring, this is a great job.

"A lot of young people just want to get a job, but if you do an apprenticeship you are at college and getting paid.

"That was what caught my eye, but after I started I didn't really think about the money because I liked the job so much."

For more information or to apply for an apprenticeship at Aspects and Milestones Trust, call Katie Maloney on 0117 970 9383, or visit www.aspectsandmilestones.org.uk.

● After the success of the Evening Post's campaign to find 100 apprenticeships in 100 days, we have expanded our target.

Now we want to get 100 business across the Bristol area to sign up and offer young people the chance to work with them as apprentices.

Our campaign is aimed at companies of all sizes, across every industry.

If you are a business looking to take on an apprentice, or a young person keen to start an apprenticeship, email d.harris@bepp.co.uk.

For more information on apprenticeships, how to run one or to apply, call the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600 or visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.