Pennine Camphill Community welcomes Mary

Wakefield MP Mary Creagh visited specialist community college Pennine Camphill on Friday 27th May. The community college, based in Chapelthorpe, provides further education and support for young people who have learning difficulties. It operates as a non-profit-making charity, with help from volunteers locally, nationally and internationally.

Mary was invited by Vice Principal William Taylor to see the services on offer to young people with learning difficulties in Wakefield and across the region.

She met with pupils and staff to see the new facilities at the college, including the new Craft Hub which has recently been highly commended in the design and innovation category at the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) Pro Yorkshire awards.

Mary and Pennine staff also discussed the SEN green paper which the government is consulting on until 30th June.

Mary said “I was delighted to visit Pennine Community and see for myself the excellent new facilities. The work of the staff and volunteers makes such a difference to the lives of the pupils like Jason Henderson who I was fortunate to meet. Their work helps students develop life skills as well as building self-confidence and learning abilities.”

Vice Principal William Taylor said “Around 40 students with complex learning difficulties from Yorkshire and the North of England come to Pennine Camphill Community between the ages of 18 and 25 for up to three years. During their stay they are encouraged to develop personal and life skills through learning in a range of hands on activities.

The award winning new Craft Hub replaced outdated buildings with modern facilities, offering a superb range of activities, and helping even more students to make the transition into adulthood, and face the future with greater confidence.”

The SEN consultation can be read here: www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/sen/a0075339/sengreenpaper

For more information about Pennine Camphill Community visit www.pennine.org.uk/index.php