New vocational centre in Bexhill is open for business

An innovative '˜shopping mall', which aims to help young people with learning difficulties gain work experience and improve social skills, is open for business.
St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150702001St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150702001
St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150702001

The Aspire Vocational Centre, at St Mary’s Special School and College in Bexhill, is believed to be the only project of its kind in the country.

It took 18 months to transform the classrooms into what resembles a small village, with a car wash, hairdresser, general store, bank and a pop up shop.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 16 to 19 year olds are rotated round the different businesses before choosing the skills they are the most skilled in, but there is one stand out favourite – the cafe.

St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150712001St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150712001
St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150712001

As well as serving tea to staff and visitors, students also make the staff sandwiches, meaning the cafe is also very much a staff favourite too.

Jonathan Smalldon, fundraising and marketing manager at St Mary’s, said: “The purpose is to enable particularly college students to gain life and social skills they would not get otherwise.

“It’s to support them in terms of getting employment as well as supporting social development.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Although Aspire is not yet open to the public, it is starting to take bookings from community groups who would like to come in and use the facilities. Students will work as receptionists and take the bookings themselves.

St Mary's School's Vocational Centre. Students pictured with two of the Interim Management Board and Senior Leadership Team members: Amanda Clugston (Consultant Principal) and Ian Mason. SUS-160516-154734001St Mary's School's Vocational Centre. Students pictured with two of the Interim Management Board and Senior Leadership Team members: Amanda Clugston (Consultant Principal) and Ian Mason. SUS-160516-154734001
St Mary's School's Vocational Centre. Students pictured with two of the Interim Management Board and Senior Leadership Team members: Amanda Clugston (Consultant Principal) and Ian Mason. SUS-160516-154734001

Naomi White, who is in charge of the vocational centre, said: “Because we are making it like a work environment, we asked them to apply for the jobs and go for interviews, as well as it’s more realistic.”

Sharon Thompson, vocational cafe support, added: “They said they feel they really are at work.

“They love wearing their uniforms, it makes them feel smart and grown up.

“They have really embraced the challenge of it.”

St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150712001St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150712001
St Mary's School feature, Bexhill. SUS-160711-150712001
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coming soon will be the St Mary’s launderette, with washing machines installed and ready to go, and plans for a print room and photographic studio are in the pipeline.

Consultant principal Amanda Clugston said: “We have high aspirations for our children and we want them to have it for themselves.”

She added: “In local authorities there is less and less money to fund placements after 19.

“So the more youngsters we can get ready to take their place in employment, the better really.”

St Mary's School's Vocational Centre. Students pictured with two of the Interim Management Board and Senior Leadership Team members: Amanda Clugston (Consultant Principal) and Ian Mason. SUS-160516-154734001St Mary's School's Vocational Centre. Students pictured with two of the Interim Management Board and Senior Leadership Team members: Amanda Clugston (Consultant Principal) and Ian Mason. SUS-160516-154734001
St Mary's School's Vocational Centre. Students pictured with two of the Interim Management Board and Senior Leadership Team members: Amanda Clugston (Consultant Principal) and Ian Mason. SUS-160516-154734001
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

St Mary’s is keen to hear from community groups which would like to visit Aspire and businesses who could offer support to the project or apprenticeships to students.

To find out more about how to get involved with the Aspire Vocational Centre, call St Mary’s on 01424 730740.

* Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

1) Make our website your homepage at www.bexhillobserver.net/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bexhillobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BexhillObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Bexhill Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: