UNEMPLOYED Trowbridge youngsters rolled up their sleeves to make a difference by transforming the outdoor space at Studley Green Children’s Centre to create a garden for families to enjoy.

The group are currently completing The Learning Curve’s 12-week Prince’s Trust Team programme in Trowbridge, which aims to build up their skills to help them find employment.

Work on the garden transformation has been taking place for the last two weeks, with learners removing the existing recycled tyre flooring and replacing it with new grass turf, planting flowers and herbs, painting the fence bright colours and building a mud kitchen and bug hotel.

The team raised £382.26 before starting the project by bag packing and holding a cake sale to allow them to purchase materials for the garden, while also sourcing donations from ISS Landscaping.

Craig Enderby, who is The Learning Curve’s Team Leader for the Trowbridge programme, said: “Though it has been back breaking work, the team have kept on schedule.

“ISS are lending a hand again like they did on the last project and supplied all of the topsoil and turf free of charge, which was a huge help, and the team also sourced donations of plants from Mole Valley Farmers and Whitehall Garden Centre.”

The programme is for 16-25 year olds currently not in education, employment or training and aims to build confidence and improve skills in communication and problem solving.

As well as the community project, the programme includes a residential activity week, work experience, CV preparation and additional qualifications, providing young people with the skills and confidence to progress into work or further education.

Judith Gingell, Cluster Centre manager for 4Children, who run the Studley Green Children’s Centre, said: “By choosing us as their project, the team have involved the community with their fundraising and raising awareness of the children centre in Trowbridge. 

“We have been humbled and inspired by the level of work, enthusiasm and commitment that the learners have for the project and how this has enabled them to raise the funds from the community to support the work in the garden.

“This will mean that families can now access the garden area safely and we can look to support families to help children develop and grow alongside the plants in the garden. 

“I want to take this opportunity to send our huge thanks to the young people and staff from The Learning Curve Trowbridge Prince’s Trust Team from the Children’s Centre staff and the families.”

For more information about taking part in future Prince’s Trust Team programmes in Wiltshire, contact The Learning Curve on 01225 792500 or email team@learningcurve.org.uk