Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s Prince’s Trust teams on the Isle of Wight, as well as in Southampton and Basingstoke, have been busy helping to improve their local areas with a variety of inspiring projects.
The intensive 12-week course offers young people aged 16 to 25 who are unemployed and not in education or training a chance to ‘change their lives’ by learning new skills, building confidence, completing work placements and facing team challenges.
During the 2-week long community section of the course, each team of young people raises funds to complete a community project to benefit their local area.
Team Isle of Wight completed their community project at Bodster CIC Equine Learning Centre in Sandford. The group created a sensory garden for the service users who suffer with mental health challenges and learning difficulties.
During the fortnight project, the team joined together to clear and level the ground and renovate 2 benches – 1 was used to create a new adult bench area with a shelter, and they painted the other bench in bright colours to create a special children’s bench area with a staircase leading up to it.
The group built 2 tyre stacks where they planted flowers, 2 herb beds and a large flower bed. With biodiversity in mind, under guidance from the Wildlife Trust they also built a bug hotel, beetle bank and bee hotel using flowers and herbs designed to attract bees and butterflies.
HIWFRS Prince’s Trust Manager, Jo Gregory, said:
“The community project part of the course is hugely important as it encourages the young people to develop their teamwork and problem-solving skills. It also gives them a chance to give their time, energy and commitment to valuable projects that help to improve their local community for the greater good – an achievement to be proud of!”
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New Prince’s Trust team courses start in September in Basingstoke, Southampton and Sandown. Find out more about the HIWFRS Prince’s Trust Team.
