Thrive Students Restore Memorial Benches in Meaningful Project

Students from Peterborough College’s Thrive course are working on a special project this term, restoring three memorial benches in the garden at the college’s Skills for Work and Living houses.

Each bench is dedicated to a student or staff member who has sadly passed away. The Thrive group are carefully cleaning, repairing, painting, and varnishing the benches to bring them back to their best, ensuring they can once again be enjoyed by learners and staff for years to come.

The Thrive programme, which began last year, supports young people who have been out of education or have found it difficult to engage due to anxiety or mental health challenges. The course focuses on building communication, resilience, and confidence through practical, creative projects that develop transferable skills.

Their first restoration project holds particular meaning for tutor Wayne Palmer, as the bench they began with is in memory of his former foster son, Aaron, who was a student at Stamford and passed away in 2017. Aaron’s bench features the crests of his two favourite football clubs, Manchester United and Peterborough United and an engraved inscription.

With support from Richard’s Carpentry & Construction, who kindly donated paint, students are repainting the bench in the colours of Aaron’s teams: red, black and white at one end, and blue and white at the other, with gold leaf detailing to highlight the crests and engravings. Alongside the restoration, learners have also been working on a crochet blanket using the same colours, and are exploring the possibility of creating additional handmade items such as cushions to complement the finished bench.

Through the project, students have been developing key skills including communication, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership, all while contributing to a meaningful cause that connects them to their college community.