Students from five different countries have helped to transform the outdoor space at a Rugby church as part of The Prince’s Trust Team programme.
A team of eight students have renovated three different outdoor spaces at Rugby United Reformed Church on Hillmorton Road.
The Prince’s Trust Team programme is run in the area by college group WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) and is based at Rugby College – and works with young people age 16 to 25.
Students who have just arrived in the country from Ukraine, South Africa, Afghanistan and the Philippines were joined by UK students to create a safe and secure children’s garden, renovate the church’s reflective memorial garden and also renovate the recycling garden.
Work included repairing fences, removing damaged Astro Turf, creating seating areas, clearing spaces and painting murals on the walls.
The project was funded through donations from businesses in Rugby - with Wickes, Off Grid Energy and The Entertainer all supporting the project.
Lorna Maloney, from Rugby United Reformed Church, said that the new spaces will help the church to support people of all ages in the community.
“We have been looking to find ways to engage more with the local community and these new outdoor spaces will help us to do just that,” said Lorna.
“The three new areas will cater for different groups, but the children’s garden will be at the heart of our Mums and Tots Club. The new seating area in the memorial garden is already proving popular with our more elderly visitors, and the recycling area where we raise funds for Helipads for Hospitals will enhance that provision.
“The young people who came along were absolutely fabulous. There was a tremendous amount of excitement during the two-week project, with people from the church community watching the changes take place.
“We would like to thank them for bringing new life to our church. We’re thrilled by the work they have done.”
Georgia Allen, The Prince’s Trust Team Leader for Rugby at WCG, said: “We are always looking for worthwhile community projects to support through The Prince’s Trust Team programme.
“It lasted two weeks and the students did a great job at recycling, renovating and upcycling items for the garden as well as fundraising to purchase specific items.
“The church members and groups are already using the garden and it will be a calm, sociable place for the community to use.
“This project has had a clear positive impact on the local community in Rugby. It has given the students fantastic experience and helped them to develop new skills that will be valuable when heading out into the world of work.”
WCG is the largest provider of programmes for The Prince’s Trust in England.
To find out more about The Prince’s Trust and programmes available through WCG visit https://wcg.ac.uk/page/25/princes-trust
PICTURE CAPTION: Front, seated – Rev Robert Maloney and Lorna Maloney. Back, from left to right - Rhys, Surinder, Casey, Ethan, Maddie, Dylan, Alina and Zac.