The Volunteering for Wellbeing Project, based at the Bridges Community Centre, has teamed up with students and staff from Monmouth Comprehensive’s Specialist Resource Base in a new and exciting partnership that promises to bring rewards to the unit and to Bridges Community Centre

The Resource Base is a specialist provision within the school that supports students with additional learning needs and they benefit from valuable work experience opportunities with local businesses and charities.

At Bridges, a group of students now work alongside gardening volunteers gaining hands-on experience in nature and plant cultivation. These sessions not only enhance their understanding of the natural world but also help them develop independence, social skills, and employability. Everyone involved enjoys a sense of community, the fulfilment of helping others, and the celebration of diversity. New skills are being learnt and new friendships formed.

During the winter they spent a lot of time catching up on the weeding and raking up leaves, but it has got a lot more interesting now that spring is here and they are busy planning what to plant. Currently they are thinking of growing tomatoes, some herbs and some big sunflowers. This week the team even found a bird’s nest in the rosemary bush they were pruning and think it might have been a robin’s nest. Kind people have donated compost, plants, and gloves so students can protect their hands, and funds from an anonymous person will be spent on plants, and other bits and pieces.

The team at the Bridges Centre would particularly like to extend their thanks to local company Mandarin Stone who kindly donated three planters to the project. They would also like to thank members of Llandogo Village Produce Association, the Ellis family and an anonymous individual who has been incredibly kind with donations towards the project which will sustain it for the rest of this year and hopefully into next year as well.

The Bridges Centre are also delighted to have welcomed a student into the Pantry Café for a placement each Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime. Freddie has already proved to be an excellent coffee maker, with great customer service skills and is a fantastic addition to the team.

The Specialist Resource Base are always looking for new opportunities in the Monmouth area to further expand their students’ work experience options and people should contact the school if they think they might be able to help.

The Volunteering for Wellbeing Project offer opportunities for people to get involved in their local community in lots of different ways. Marianne Piper, the local volunteering co-ordinator, is always pleased to chat to anyone interested in getting involved locally in a huge variety of opportunities, from lending a hand in the charity shop or befriending someone

feeling a little lonely and isolated, to driving people to important appointments or helping with gardening at the Centre. The Tuesday morning gardening team always welcome new members too! Marianne can be contacted on: [email protected]