22 pupils from Progress Arc and Progress Futures have recently made a positive impact on the Billinge community through an enterprise project in which they designed, budgeted and built a series of handmade planters.
As part of a summer community project, students across Years 3 to 13 worked collaboratively across Design & Technology, Art, Horticulture and Maths, alongside the ASDAN Life Skills course, to create the planters from scratch. The aim of this project was to build a number of planters that could be donated to local community settings. The project, which lasted 11 weeks, provided meaningful opportunities for students to apply their learning in a practical, real-world setting, with each individual contributing to different stages of the process. This collaborative approach ensured broad participation, allowing students to develop a range of skills, build confidence, and experience the value of working together towards a shared goal.
Once completed, the planters were proudly delivered to several local community and educational settings, including St Mary’s Church, Chapel End Primary School, Billinge Parish Hall, St Aidan’s Catholic Primary School, and Birchley St Mary’s Catholic Primary School.
Mr Hewitt, Headteacher of Chapel End Primary School commented, “How befitting it will be for our memorial gardens, the children are going to love it.” A teacher from St Aidan’s Primary School said, “These planters are really going to brighten up our school.”
For our students, seeing their work displayed within the local community was a powerful and rewarding experience. The project provided a tangible sense of achievement, allowing them to see the lasting impact of their efforts beyond the classroom. The planters now stand as vibrant features within these settings, enhancing outdoor spaces while reflecting on the creativity, dedication, and teamwork behind them.
More than just a practical project, this initiative strengthened students’ sense of belonging, purpose, and community connection. It has inspired a wider commitment to developing regular community-focused projects that promote wellbeing, social responsibility, and positive contribution, while continuing to build students’ confidence, skills, and pride in making a meaningful difference to the world around them.
