Graduation Day
The Course
For the past 12 months Paul and Lizzie have been working towards achieving their Open Award, Level 1 in Horticulture. After all their efforts, we are pleased to announce that they have both passed.
In order to meet the requirements of the course, the students had to provide evidence that they understood a variety of horticultural tasks and applications.
Both Lizzie and Paul are part of a Dale Farm committee group, which is organised and run by the people the farm supports. This committee communicates what direction they believe the farm should go in. It is hoped that Lizzie and Paul, will utilise their more enhanced understanding of horticultural activities to help support the implementation of new/current projects on the farm.
Being able to complete a course in horticulture meant a lot to Paul as he was unable to complete a course in horticulture several years ago due to practical issues. Both Lizzie and Paul put an emphasis on wanting to support others through the course and to help their peers with the knowledge and skills they have gained.
At the start Lizzie and Paul said they were nervous about starting a new course. Both wanted to thank volunteers Colin, Coral and Arne, for all their help, support and for mentoring them over their year of study. Both Colin and Coral are retired teachers and Arne has worked in the academic field of disability for many years. The farm is blessed volunteers with a wide set of skills and both students have really appreciated all the help and support they have been given.
Jean, Paul’s Personal Assistant has been an amazing support to Paul over the years and has known him all his life. They are the best of friends and she is Paul’s go to should he ever need any practical support.
Graduation Day
The graduation ceremony was at The Grange in Wallasey village. As well as Paul and Lizzie, the ceremony was attended by Zeb, Dale Farm’s Manager, Jean, Coral, Colin and direct family (Arne was disappointed that he could not attend). Paul and Lizzie said that they had a brilliant day and that the staff at The Grange couldn’t do enough for them. Lizzie commented that the day was “magical” and that even the sun came out for them.
Zeb, Dale Farms Manager, presented the pair with their certificates and Karen Smith, Wirral Evolutions Operational Change Manager came to congratulate the pair. Both families were overjoyed by the pairs achievement and exceptionally proud of them. After the ceremony, both families went out to celebrate the pairs hard work and achievements.
Jean, Paul’s Personal Assistant, kindly took the photos of the day
Dale Farm Educational Support
Dale Farm strives to improve the knowledge and skills of the people they support within a work setting. The farm offers appropriate educational qualifications to increase knowledge, skills, communication and confidence and provides opportunities to apply these skills. The fact that Lizzie and Paul have passed this course on their own merit is a testament to their determination and ability to apply themselves. Dale Farm believes in ability and not disability and that everyone should be given the chance to achieve all that they are capable of.
The farm has become more of a family over the years. With family, friends and volunteers helping support the farm, from buying produce, plants to fundraising and volunteering. Paul’s dad and their family, friends and neighbours all walked around the Wirral and raised around £3,300 for the Dale Farm Trust. Some of the money was used to buy a laptop for the farm, which was used by Lizzie and Paul in their studies.
