TEENAGERS from Wallingford who tried running a housing association did so well they have been asked to keep working.

The 10 Wallingford School students in years nine to 11 tried their hand at running things at Soha housing association, in Didcot.

They spent Friday finding out about Soha’s “community involvement” projects, and ended up suggesting their own.

The trip was part of national Takeover Day, where pupils learn leadership skills by trying it themselves. Spokeswoman Liz Roberts said: “Given a notional budget, an indication of available resources and a laptop, one group decided to address the loneliness of rurally isolated older people with a scheme to link them with primary school children around arts and crafts.

“A second group presented a plan to counter what they saw as a lack of cross-border cultural understanding in the EU area. Their project involves young citizens learning languages and widening their horizons by online contact.”

The students, now back at school in Wallingford, are working up their plans with the rest of their year groups. They will meet Soha officers to discuss adopting one or both of the projects next year.

Soha, whose chief executive is Richard Peacock, pictured, owns and manages 6,700 homes in Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties.

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