Prince's Trust Team up for an award
Seven young people from Warwickshire College, who have
turned their lives around through the Prince’s Trust Team programme, have been
nominated for a prestigious royal award.
The team were up for the Aston Villa Football Club Community
Impact award at the Prince’s Trust’s ‘Celebrate Success’ awards.
They were nominated for their work at the Netherfield Centre in
Lillington, where they spent two weeks working on overgrown
allotments, clearing overgrown areas, creating pathways and
installing guttering.
The team also raised the money for the project, with a sponsored
walk, car wash and cake sale.
Many of the youngsters have faced family problems, struggled at
school, or experienced health problems. Following the programme,
all team members have succeeded in finding training courses or
employment.
The Netherfield Centre teaches life skills to adults with
learning disabilities and faced losing its allotments unless major
work was carried out to renovate the area.
The team chose their community project because all members had
experience with learning disabilities and realised the significance
of teaching life skills to disadvantaged adults.
The renovation of the Netherfield Centre has been a huge success
and the staff there are now able to spend more time at the
allotments teaching adults about growing fruit and vegetables. The
area is easier to maintain and the allotments can now be enjoyed
for many years to come.
Liam Healey, one of the young people on the team, has now
started a course in animal care after his Prince’s Trust placement
at Leicester Animal Aid. He said: “Before I came to the Prince’s
Trust I didn’t have the confidence to apply for jobs and I found
school difficult. The programme showed me that I have got skills
and am worthy of getting a good job and having a good life.”
For more information on the Prince’s Trust and future programme
start dates in Leamington, Rugby and Nuneaton please contact Chris
Gately on 01926 318199, 07799843722 or cgately@warkscol.ac.uk