SWRAC - Merseyside

🌳 A Day at Hesketh Park 🌳

Our Southport students recently enjoyed a fantastic trip to Hesketh Park, accompanied by Learning Support Assistant Rachel, Tutor Iain and ELSA Chloe.

The day began with a bus journey to the park, providing a great opportunity for students to practise their travel training skills and build confidence using public transport independently.

Once there, students explored the park and discovered a beautiful butterfly design made from pebbles and rocks. 🦋 They also enjoyed spotting the ducks around the lake, with one of our Prepare for Work students, Dylan, even managing to stroke one before it happily waddled back into the water! 🦆

Before heading home, students put their competitive side to the test with a game of crazy golf and had fun trying out the outdoor exercise equipment.

This is such a great way for students to develop independence and social skills while enjoying new experiences and spending time together.

✨ Behind the Scenes at Bootle Centre ✨

When people think about education, they often picture lessons and qualifications. But our Prepare for Work classroom at the SWRAC Bootle Centre is so much more than that.

It's a bright, welcoming space where students can build confidence, develop new skills and feel supported every step of the way. 💚

Take a closer look and you'll spot photographs of the adventures our students have enjoyed throughout the programme, alongside memories from work placements where they've gained valuable real-world experience. You'll also find personalised targets, achievement displays and plenty of encouragement designed to help students believe in themselves and their future.

Every corner of the classroom has a purpose, to celebrate success, promote independence and inspire students to reach their goals.

It's not just a classroom. It's a place where confidence grows, friendships are made and futures begin. ✨

Behind every student's journey is a team of dedicated staff who are passionate about helping people grow in confidence, develop new skills and achieve their goals.

We asked some of our team members at our Southport Centre what they enjoy most about working at SWRAC, and their answers perfectly reflect what we're all about 💚

⭐ Jasmin: "Watching the students develop and make new friends."

⭐ Tracie: "Teaching the Prepare for Work students and encouraging them to find the right career path."

⭐ Paul: "Getting to engage with students on a 1:1 basis through Job Coaching."

⭐ Rachel: "Supporting Prepare for Life students, watching them come out of their shells and helping them settle into their first few weeks at the centre."

⭐ Will: "Seeing students pass their Functional Skills exams. I believe in them and encourage them to believe in themselves too."

⭐ Jacky: "Watching how students and staff interact across all three centres, it's lovely to see."

⭐ Iain: "Getting to know all the students and teaching them."

A huge thank you to our incredible team for the support, encouragement and opportunities they provide every day. We are proud to have such a caring and dedicated group of people making a difference in our students' lives.

👇 What do you enjoy most about being part of a great team? Let us know in the comments!

📢 Supported Internships 📢

Join us this Thursday 11th June at our Widnes Centre for our Skills Assessment Day for Whiston Hospital Internships.

Are you interested in gaining valuable work experience and developing new skills in a hospital setting? Come along to our Whiston Hospital Supported Internships Skills Assessment Day on Thursday 11th June from 10:00am at our Widnes Centre, Victoria House, Widnes Road, Widnes, WA8 6DJ.

There are a variety of exciting roles available across the hospital, offering opportunities to learn, grow, and build confidence in a supportive environment.

This is your chance to find out more about the programme, meet hospital staff, and chat with students currently on placement who will be happy to share their experiences and answer any questions you may have.

If you’d like to attend, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to provide more information and book you on.

We look forward to meeting you!

📞 03302020383
💻 [email protected]

✨ Meet the Team Monday ✨

Say hello to the lovely Jane! 🌿

Jane is one of our dedicated Learning Support Assistants in Prepare for Work at the Bootle Centre. Her role is all about helping students grow in confidence, independence and skills for the future.

Whether she's supporting students in lessons, providing 1-to-1 guidance, helping them learn new skills on work experience placements, or encouraging independence through everyday activities like trips to the shops, Jane is always there with a friendly smile and helping hand.

When she's not supporting our students, you'll usually find her walking, swimming or curled up with a good book 📚

We're incredibly lucky to have Jane as part of our team. Thank you for everything you do!

All students at Southport had the opportunity to take part in a community litter pick at King’s Gardens 🌿🗑️

They were joined by members of the public, which encouraged some fantastic conversations and helped students connect with people they wouldn’t normally meet.

After all their hard work, students were treated to free refreshments as a well-earned thank you!

Not only have the students helped to improve the local environment, but the experience has also encouraged greater awareness of where waste and litter belong 🌍♻️

A big thank you to King’s Gardens for welcoming us and allowing us to be part of making a positive difference in the community 💚

💚 Did you know our Bootle Centre has a Cubbie?

Our digital sensory booth gives students with SEND, Autism and ADHD a safe and calming space to regulate emotions, reduce anxiety and reset when feeling overwhelmed.

Students can personalise sessions lasting 5, 10 or 15 minutes with calming music, coloured lighting and immersive videos such as the Northern Lights or sea turtles 🐢✨

Having access to the Cubbie helps students feel more relaxed, focused and confident, allowing them to engage better in lessons and build positive connections with their peers 💚

We’re proud to share a closer look at some of the dedicated areas designed with our students in mind at our Widnes Centre, including our Sensory Room, Communal Spaces, and Library Area 💚✨

Each space has been created to support comfort, connection, and wellbeing, giving students the right environment to relax, reset, learn, and feel at ease throughout their day.

These areas play a key role in helping students regulate and engage in learning in a way that works for them.

If you’d like to find out more or come and see our centre in person, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’d be happy to show you around 📩

📞 Call us today on 0330 2020383

🌻 The Prepare for Work students at our Southport Centre got stuck into a fun hands-on Curriculum session last week by planting their very own sunflower seeds!

Using recycled milk bottles from home, students created their own planters by carefully cutting and preparing the bottles ready for planting ♻️💚 Staff helped make drainage holes in the bottom so the sunflowers have the best chance to grow strong and healthy 🌞

The students filled their planters with soil, made small holes using lollypop sticks and planted their sunflower seeds before covering them over ready to grow 🌻✨

We can’t wait to see whose sunflower grows the tallest… stay tuned for updates! 👀

A huge congratulations to Michael at our Bootle Centre for an amazing achievement this week 👏

Michael has successfully completed his Mental Health Training alongside the Student Counsellor, developing valuable knowledge and skills that can help support both himself and others 💚

We are incredibly proud of his hard work and willingness to learn more about such an important topic. This achievement is such a fantastic way to build students confidence and awareness.

Well done, Michael, keep up the amazing work! 🌟