Accrington PALS Memorial awash with colour, thanks to green fingered horticulture students
Students from Lancashire Adult Learner’s Level 2 horticultural courses have been busy bringing the Accrington Pals memorial garden to life.
Working in partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council the group of students and their teacher Kate Wels have been helping to plant hundreds of botanicals within the garden to bring the planting plan to life.
The group of students worked tirelessly to complete more sections of the recently renovated garden. They were accompanied by members of staff from the Council’s Parks Department.
Paving and lighting have been updated, and trees planted in the grounds already. Now the attention has shifted to the beds surrounding the Pals memorial.
The Level 2 City and Guilds Practical Horticulture skills students are studying Horticulture at Lancashire Adult Learning, part of the Nelson & Colne College Group – which has been rated Number 1 in the country for adult learning, according to the recent National Achievement Rate Tables.
The Accrington Pals memorial garden – in memory of the battalion who suffered devastating losses on 1st July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme – is not only an opportunity for the students to apply their new skills and horticultural knowledge, but also create something the community can enjoy for years to come.
Kate Wels, a tutor with Lancashire Adult Learning, said: “I’ve had two groups involved – the first from Accrington and Rossendale College, and today’s group from Nelson and Colne College. The group are planting the yellow section of the planting plan today. It’s really nice that they’ve invested their time to add to such a great project.”
The scheme aims to create a greener, more inviting space that honours the area’s rich heritage while fostering communal well-being.
Kate added: “We’re having a lot of nice comments from people walking past. People are really happy to see it renovated, and all the work that’s gone into it. The idea is that it’s a beautiful but useable space for locals to come and sit and enjoy it.”
The work is part of a £560,000 project to revitalise the Accrington Pals Memorial Garden in Church Street and other green spaces around the Accrington town centre over two years, paid for with a grant from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Tina Foulds, 56, from Lostock Hall, is one of the Level 2 Horticulture students taking part in the project.
She said: “I have an allotment. I wanted to know what I could grow, how to grow it, how to take cuttings. Last Year I did the level one and I really enjoyed it, so I’ve gone on to Level 2. We’ve just recently gone on to the garden design module and it’s nice to see it go from paper then to be able to do it on a project like this. It’s really fulfilling. It’s a massive sense of achievement, and great for your mental health.”
Besides the landscaping and structural improvements, plans are under way for a new sculpture in the seating area by the Accrington Pals Memorial. The garden has been a venture led by Hyndburn Borough Council, supported by Accrington Town Centre Greening Group, the Royal British Legion and other partners.
Mark Pickup, Senior Parks Development Officer at Hyndburn Borough Council, said: “It has been great to work closely with the college to help provide a colourful display with specially selected plants to further enhance the improvements to this important green space in Accrington’s town centre. It has been a great opportunity to showcase the horticulture course run by the college and also the dedicated staff in Hyndburn Borough Council’s parks department.”
Every journey starts with a first step – from learner to employed in 6 days!
As one of the UK’s largest Adult Community Learning Providers, Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) aims to provide learning opportunities for all adults across the region, from all walks and stages of life, to learn something new and shape their own futures.
FREE pre-employment training
In collaboration with Rossendale Borough Council, Active Lancashire and Lancashire Adult Learning, local employer Interfloor (highly successful flooring underlay manufacturer) welcomed learners at their factory based in Haslingden to provide the fantastic opportunity for FREE pre-employment training with guaranteed interviews on completion of the course.
With committed attendance for the full 6-day accredited programme, the aim was for learners to achieve positions at the company on successful completion.
A fantastic opportunity
The 6-day accredited programme provided the opportunity for learners to gain experience and training PLUS a chance to gain a qualification. The fully supported training programme provided by Lancashire Adult Learning included:
- Personal action planning to match the learner’s skills to a job role
- Be Successful Level 1, aiding learners to overcome challenges in the workplace
- Equality & Diversity Level 1
- Health & Safety in the workplace Level 1
- First Aid (Lancashire Life Savers) in the workplace
- Manual Handling training
- CV and Interview masterclass
- Employer training and factory tours
- Mock interviews and feedback
- Final interview (Day 6)
On speaking to learner Kevin Robinson on why he was completing the training, he said “Attending the training at Interfloor has given me the brilliant opportunity to branch out and gain new skills.”
Tom Gee, Head of Curriculum Employability, Volunteering and Skills said “Lancashire Adult Learning is proud to work collaboratively with Rossendale Borough Council, Active Lancashire and Interfloor to deliver this Pre-Employment Programme. Our passionate and talented teachers have worked hard with the learners and we are delighted that there have been three offers of employment following interview.”
Believing that empowering people to learn is at the heart of helping communities thrive, Lancashire Adult Learning offers an extensive range of subjects to learners, with over 2000 courses delivered through more than 300 venues across Lancashire as well as online.
Did you know?
No experience is necessary for our Employability courses. If you are ready to learn to gain employment, find out more about our employability courses here. Most courses are FREE!
Photo: Craig Harrison – Lancashire Adult Learning – Trainer, Daniel Mottershead – learner, Kevin Robinson – learner
If you have a big heart, why not use it to show ‘you can care’
#YouCanCare Week (21 – 27 February) provided the perfect opportunity for Lancashire Adult Learning to:
SHINE a spotlight on the incredible people working in the care sector
SHOWCASE why care is such a rewarding career and
PROMOTE a wide range of courses for anyone interested in working in Health and Social Care
A FREE event was hosted at Northlight, Brierfield allowing all attendees to access information about careers in the Health and Social Care sector. The team at Lancashire Adult Learning ran a variety of interactive workshops to highlight:
- Mental health conditions
- Disabilities and support needs
- Caring for older people
- Health care needs
- People in recovery
With course tutors and care sector employers on hand, it provided the opportunity for attendees to gain advice, seek guidance, ask questions and obtain further information on the career opportunities that the different Health and Social Care courses could lead to. Whether interested in retraining, upskilling, finding work, or dedicating time to care for a loved one.
A huge thank you to our fantastic partners who supported the event including: 360 Degree Health, Venturi Healthcare, Alternative Futures, Nesi Professionals, GS Social Care, Rochcare, Lancashire & South Cumbria and East Lancashire Healthcare Trusts.
Ray Felters – Head of Curriculum – Health & Social Care says “The breadth of opportunities available within either healthcare and social care settings gives individuals the chance to progress into a range of diverse roles, making a difference to people’s lives when they need it most makes health and social care such an exciting and rewarding sector to work in. Every day is different, challenging and sometimes difficult but the impact you can have on others by caring really can make the difference.”
Did you know? Most courses are FREE! If you are interested and want to know how you can ‘show you care’?
FIND OUT MORE about the courses you can enrol on TODAY.
Changing lives through an updated curriculum
Raising Awareness around Breast Cancer in Pregnancy
Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) came across Roisin Pelan’s social media campaign about her incredibly brave battle with breast cancer during her pregnancy.
Nicola Hall, Director – Curriculum Innovation & Partnerships was instantly compelled to reach out and discover how LAL could assist and support Roisin to reach even more people and consequently set out to update the curriculum of LAL’s health courses.
Nicola said “Breast Cancer affects 1 in 7 women, but with early detection it can be treated effectively. We are perfectly positioned at Lancashire Adult Learning to help raise awareness of the importance of self-examination. Roisin – breast cancer kicker and the founder of www.FightyPants.com is from my hometown of Preston and we are delighted to be working alongside her on this campaign.”
Lancashire Adult Learning deliver a variety of Health Literacy courses. The ‘Screening for Prevention & Good Health’ course aims to increase learners’ knowledge about the importance of health screening, and the main screening programmes available. For learners where English is a second language, it provides the opportunity to enhance their language skills and with this enhanced knowledge and confidence, they are then better prepared to deal with health conditions and take responsibility for looking after themselves and their family.
Sarah Haworth, Head of Curriculum – Health and Wellbeing said “By embedding key messages about breast cancer within our curriculum We hope to not only raise further awareness, but help to normalise conversations about cancer so people are confident to carry out self-examination and follow up anything they feel unsure about with their GP. Early detection is vital and can result in effective treatment that can save lives.”
Roisin’s important campaign has also led her to work closely with East Lancashire Hospital Trust (ELHT). Roisin said “The close partnership between ELTH and LAL signifies a change in the way of early detection of breast cancer – through a combination of clinical and academic means. Its work will educate both midwives and new or expecting mums and open up the conversation about breast cancer in pregnancy.”
Read more about Roisin’s personal journey, read her wonderful Blogs and watch her amazing daughter Ivy share her own perspective here.
Photo: Roisin Pelan and Sarah Haworth at Haslam Park in Preston “Kicking Cancer’s Ass!”