Students at Mansfield Education Hub have continued to build up their volunteering experience in the community while gaining gardening skills.

The group learned how volunteers help to meet needs in communities, the skills that are required to be a volunteer, and the personal benefits of volunteering.

They visited Northfield Community Allotments, Mansfield Woodhouse (above) to lend a hand and see the projects that are run there.

During their visits, students tidied the allotment by discarding unwanted vegetation and moving timber. They were responsible for riddling soil on and putting it into raised beds. The beds have been installed to ensure the allotment is inclusive and accessible for wheelchair users.

The group also sowed seeds and have been caring for seedlings. They are hoping to return throughout the academic year to support the allotment in its development and to harvest and cook crops in the autumn.

Amanda Fisher, an organiser at Northfield Community Allotments, said: “We run this community allotment to help address many needs in our local area.

“Firstly, the green space is beneficial for local wildlife to thrive in an urban area. Secondly, the allotment helps to bring people together who are experiencing loneliness, mental health issues, or simply want to get active and into the fresh air.

“The allotment allows us to provide people with fairer access to food. Our volunteers can use and eat foods we grow and we love to donate fresh produce to our local community, ensuring they can cook and consume wholesome and healthy meals.”

The project-based Foundation Learning course offered at Mansfield Education Hub sees students take part in ongoing practical projects that feed into their qualification. Courses are available throughout the year and young people can apply and enrol now.

To find out more information about our Foundation Programmes and studying at Mansfield Education Hub, visit www.barnsley.ac.uk/mansfield-education-hub, call 01156 848 376 or email [email protected].