Students from Furness College teamed up with a specialist sculpture artist to create a lasting legacy for people of Barrow – in just one day.
The six youngsters, from the college’s Creating Opportunities for Real Education (CORE) programme, worked with Charlie Whinney to design and craft a beautiful wooden bench that will be installed in the gardens of College House, on Duke Street, where the programme is based.
Jack Reed, Aidan Herron, Riley Holme, Devon Littlewood, Melissa Crook and Tamzin Logan have all now successfully completed the course that develops their skills and prepares them for the workplace.
The final project element was designed to showcase their confidence and self-esteem and build on skills such as leadership and team work, communication and employability skills.
CORE pathway coach Sarah Biggins said: “The students planned, researched and produced outstanding work in preparation for the trip.
“Charlie and the students worked well together. He listened to their ideas and creativity and allowed them to be in control of the final project utilising the skills they have developed while at CORE.”
Sculpture artist Charlie said it had been pleasure having such a creative group of young people in his workshop in Witherslack and he would be happy to have them back anytime.
“I genuinely had no idea what we were going to create,” he said. “I was impressed by the good decision-making and confident use of a wide variety of tools the group demonstrated to achieve the beautiful finished design in record time.”
Student Jack Reed said he had enjoyed the experience.
He said: “We made a bench within four hours and it actually looks good. We steam-bent the wood to make it more malleable and then we bent the wood into a suitable shape. Overall, I think it came out really well.”
