South West College has been awarded funding of £68,758 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver heritage skills to students with special educational needs as part of a new “Workhouse Connect” project.
South West College has received a National Lottery Heritage Fund funding of £68,758 for an innovative heritage project, Workhouse Connect, based at the Enniskillen Workhouse on South West College’s Erne campus. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on teaching heritage skills to students with additional needs who are studying at the Erne and Omagh campuses. The project is teaching the young people to build and maintain a small, walled kitchen garden, such as that which would have been common when the Workhouse was in operation.
Following a development phase, the project celebrated its launch on the Summer Solstice, 20 June. Students have just completed a week-long intensive summer camp and weekly classes will continue throughout the autumn. In addition, there will be four hands-on, “taste and see” workshops for parents, carers and residents of the local Devenish area. The project will conclude with an end of year event planned to coincide with the Winter Solstice to showcase student achievements.
Ciaran McManus, Director of Development and Support, South West College, said;
“We are delighted to receive this support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Workhouse Connect project offers an opportunity for students with additional needs and members of the local community to be part of the history of the Workhouse, and part of its future, through experiencing heritage skills and creating a walled garden.”
Furthermore, Ciaran added;
“Research shows that SEN students are strikingly absent from heritage skills projects in the UK and marginalized within the heritage sector. Working with heritage professionals from across Northern Ireland, participants will gain a new sense of “ownership” and understanding that heritage belongs to everyone, as well as fostering new communication skills to use as they develop their interests.”
For further information, on the Workhouse Connect project contact Amanda Gilroy at the Enniskillen Workhouse, SWC Erne Campus, on 07737 189 589 or email: workhouse.connect@swc.ac.uk
Photograph Caption
Celebrating the launch of the Workhouse Connect Project are students from South West College alongside their heritage skills tutors. The students have recently completed a week-long summer camp and will continue working on the project until December 2024.