Prince’s Trust Teams Take Action To Support Isle Of Wight Communities

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service's Prince’s Trust teams have been helping to improve their local areas with a variety of inspiring projects.

The intensive 12-week course offers young people aged 16-25 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 two-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 its community project at Bodster CIC Equine Learning Centre in Sandford, on the outskirts of Ventnor.

The group created a sensory garden for the service users who suffer with mental health challenges and learning difficulties.

During the two weeks the team joined together to clear and level the ground and renovate two benches - one 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 two tyre stacks where they planted flowers, two 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!"

New Prince’s Trust team courses start in September in Basingstoke, Southampton and Sandown.

Find out more about the HIWFRS Prince's Trust Team online.