Yesterday at Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater, Weston College and The King’s Trust hosted a presentation event where learners from the Pathways for Young People programme had the opportunity to showcase their achievements over the past 12 weeks. The King’s Trust supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those facing significant challenges, helping them to develop the confidence and skills they need to live, learn, and earn.
The event began with an inspiring talk from guest speaker Anna Carey, Head of Adult Education Projects at Weston College, who shared why the King’s Trust programme is so impactful for young people. Drawing from her own life experiences, she highlighted the profound difference the programme can make in shaping their futures.
The students then began their presentation, each taking a turn to share their personal experiences with the programme. They described how, in the first few days, they took part in various challenges and team-building activities designed to help them get to know one another. One memorable task involved building a structure from plastic straws and tape to protect a falling egg - a fun and creative exercise in collaboration. Impressively, both teams succeeded, with neither egg breaking or cracking!
The learners then spoke about their residential trip to Dartmoor, which many of the learners said was one of their favourite parts of the programme. Some of the activities they got up to at Dartmoor included orienteering, cooking breakfast, making a campfire, archery, abseiling and climbing and a Dartmoor Walk which had breath taking views! This residential trip gave learners the chance to build friendships and take on new challenges that pushed them beyond their comfort zones - an experience they described as being truly memorable.
After the residential, the learners took part in a Community Project, where they raised money for three local charities – Brunel Care, Arc, and Secret World Wildlife Rescue. To raise the money, the learners did a bake sale and a sponsored walk, where they raised £387.69!
One of the most impactful parts of the 12-week Kings Trust programme was the work placements the students did. Some of the local businesses the students worked at included a charity shop for Cancer Research UK, West Huntspill Primary School, Little Adventurers, Victoria Park Community Centre, Brunel Care, Sense Charity shop and Hinkley Point. Thank you to all these wonderful businesses for giving our learners vital work experience and increasing their confidence – many of the learners said they would love to go back to their work experience place in the future for paid employment!
As part of Bridgwater Blue Heritage, the learners worked with volunteers to plant flowers and shrubs on 3 rafts, which would then be put into docks to promote wildlife, biodiversity and fish breeding areas. The learners also worked with Seed of Hope, a support group to improve the community garden and build a raised bed for wheelchair access.
To conclude their presentation, the learners shared highlights from their visit to Müller, where they learned about the company’s history and took part in a creative challenge - designing a way to transport cows across a river using various materials. They also enjoyed an insightful tour of the factory production lines. Every learner presented with confidence and clarity, demonstrating impressive public speaking skills and doing a fantastic job in front of the audience.
Finally, representatives from each of the charities supported by the learners spoke about the positive impact their fundraising efforts had made, expressing heartfelt thanks for their help and support. To close the event, the learners were proudly presented with certificates to mark their successful completion of the Pathways for Young People programme.
Emma Hutchins, Head of Bootcamps and Pathways for Young People, said, “We are so proud of everything our learners have achieved over the 12-week programme – it is evident that they have all developed confidence within themselves whilst simultaneously learning skills that will help them through life, particularly skills in the workplace. This could not be done without the incredible King’s Trust, and our wonderful staff who have supported the learners throughout their time on the programme.”