Students with Autism studying with Weston College’s residential training facility "Weston Bay" have just completed the annual Community Project.

They organised an enterprise project to fundraise the budget needed to renovate and re-decorate Mead Vale Community Hall.

Two weeks were then spent onsite, painting, gardening, upcycling planters using old tyres and improving a well-used site within our local community. All students showed great determination, selflessness and community spirit, putting into practice all of the teamwork, independence and social skills they have learned throughout the year.

Weston College is one of three Centres for Excellence in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). As a Centre of Excellence, the College will become a national leader in SEND learning. Weston Bay is a residential training centre for students on the autism spectrum, specialising in providing support to aid learners with independent living, employability and accessing the community.

Mead Vale Community Hall is a hub for local residents to come together for various clubs and activities, from Scout meetings and dance practice to Yoga and craft classes. A well-loved staple of the community, the hall was simply in need of some TLC, and that’s where our learners came in.

We caught up with learner, Chloe Turnbull-Yeo, who gave an expert and confidently delivered speech at the opening event.

Chloe told us that, in order to start working on the hall in May, the students involved took part in various fundraising activities. She went on to explain how they all went about the huge task of beginning the restoration project, telling us that, together they truly developed their teamwork skills. 

The opening itself consisted of a grand tour, a buffet of food made by learners and, very excitingly, a visit from The Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Councillor Sonia Russé to cut the ribbon and officiate the occasion.

Just before cutting the ribbon, The Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Councillor Sonia Russé had this to say: “It’s a real privilege for me to be here and open this facility, which is so needed. The work that has been done here is phenomenal. There is no ceiling to what any of you can achieve”.

Heidi, Lead Practitioner at Weston Bay from the faculty in Inclusive Practice, went on to say “the tenacity, problem-solving and teamwork has been absolutely incredible.”

Well done to all of the hard-working students for making the project such a great success.

To find out more about Weston Bay, click here.

To find out what’s on and follow Mead Vale Community Hall on Facebook, click here.