Five children pose in the courtyard, three of them hold up the fourth, who stands on their shoulders. Text reads: Being an apprentice at Aston-Mansfield Community Centre has been such a rewarding experience for me so far because I love working with children and being part of their day to day lives.

A group of children use spray paint to create art. Text reads: I enjoy coming up with new art and creative activities for them to take part in, and it's always fun for me to get involved and support them whilst they're doing this.

A child smiles from above, high up on a high ropes course. Text reads: One of my favourite parts of the role is going on trips with the children during term time, as it gives them the chance to experience fun activities like ice skating, visiting museums, going to theme park trips such as Adventure Island and trips to the beach, along with many exciting outings.

A group of children ride bikes on a path next to water. Text reads: The coursework part of my apprenticeship links closely to what I do in my role, meaning I can understand the reasons behind certain practices, reflect on my experiences and improve how I support the children. Having prior experience at work has made learning my modules easier and motivated me in developing my skills as a playworker.

Happy #NationalApprenticeshipWeek! To celebrate, we spoke with Rebecca about her experience as an Apprentice Playworker, supporting children and their families at the Aston-Mansfield Community Centre.

#NAW2026 #Apprentice #Newham #EastLondon #Playworker