TEENAGERS from across Dorset learned about a career in care with interactive workshops at a conference in Dorchester.

The event saw able-bodied students seated in wheelchairs, jelly feeding, and trying to count out change with a blindfold on.

Care ambassador project co-ordinator Katy Bennett said: "We gave them physical activities to let them know what a career in social care would be like and to provide insight into what it would be like to be cared for themselves.

"In the disabled care workshops a couple of students from each group were asked to sit in wheelchairs and when the others did activities they were left isolated so they would know how it might feel to be dependent.

"We also got them to count out change with a blindfold to show sight impairment - all the activities gave practical examples to the theory they've done in schools, and were better than someone just doing a talk."

A total of 140 pupils took part from Thomas Hardye School, Bournemouth and Poole College, Weymouth College, Shaftesbury School, Purbeck Upper School and The Griffin School in Sherborne.

The event encompassed activities for social care students from year 10 up to sixth form and had five categories of childcare, health, domiciliary - home care, residential care, and working with adults with learning difficulties.

Funded by the Learning Skills Council in association with Links for Learning, the all-day conference was organised by Partners in Care.

It followed a similar event held in Bournemouth in July, and Miss Bennett said they had taken on board feedback from the first conference to make the sequel even better.

Some 14 care ambassadors were on hand to offer their advice, with local representatives being Chris Ginifer of the Foresters home for adults with learning disabilities in Weymouth, and Sue Rendell of Agincare in Bridport.

Miss Bennett said: "It was fantastic, it came together really well and it gave 140 students the chance to have a taster of working in care.

"We made sure that care values and legislation were woven throughout the workshops as well so the students could take away information of key use in their schools. It was also an opportunity for teachers to meet the care ambassadors and perhaps arrange future talks in schools."