Write a commentA group of young people on The Prince’s Trust Team Programme at Southern Regional College Newry have upgraded and restyled a local area that had become run down and unattended over several years. 14 students aged 16-23 undertook the Community Project element of their course over a 3 week period at the Women’s Resource Centre at Downshire Place, Newry.
The project consisted of a major clean up operation, gardening, construction work, painting and decorating. For this project the students raised funds for resources needed to complete the project by carrying out a bag pack in Sainsbury’s, Newry.
When the team had restored the garden to a beautiful and peaceful setting, the project focused on the completion of wall murals that depict the journey women and children take when they decide to leave behind a life of domestic violence. The murals helped keep the project in line with the ethos of Women’s Aid and created a colourful and attractive environment.
Along with the help of artist Louise Donnan and the inspiration of Assistant Team Leader Kathy McComb, the team painted each of the four seasons and nature images which represented the home and family. The students also wrote inspirational and motivational quotes on another wall, each young person confirming their chosen quote with a hand print.
The Women's Resource Centre provides support, information, advice and training to women who have suffered domestic violence, therefore it is hoped that these women will use this area; The Garden of New Beginnings, as a place to relax, find peace, and gain inspiration. All staff at the Women’s Resource Centre were extremely pleased with the transformation of this area and the Prince’s Trust students gained great satisfaction from the level of praise and appreciation their project attracted.
Lisa McAnulty, a team leader for the Prince’s Trust Programme commented “These young people have created something that will have a positive impact in a woman’s life, their combined effort on this project could pave the way for new beginnings”.
The Garden of New Beginnings was officially opened at Prince’s Trust Team 11’s Final Presentation by the students and Women’s Resource Centre alongside representatives from the Southern Regional College. Special thanks to Paintz for donating products that enabled successful completion of this project, Sainsbury’s Newry for allowing the Team to fundraise and in particular to the staff at Women’s Resource Centre for their co-operation throughout this project. For further details and info on registering for the Prince’s Trust programme, please contact Stephen Ferris on 07841468934 or email ferriss@src.ac.uk
