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Trainees have been recognised for their hard work, progress and achievements during a busy and rewarding year.
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Trainees have been recognised for their hard work, progress and achievements during a busy and rewarding year, at the annual B-Leaf and Wood-B celebration evening held at Maesteg Town Hall on Thursday 1st October.
Awen Cultural Trust manages B-Leaf and Wood-B, inclusive horticulture and carpentry programmes that enable adults with learning disabilities to build skills, confidence and independence, in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council.
During the evening, all trainees received certificates for various accredited courses they had completed during the year including ‘preparing plants for sale’, ‘oral communications’, ‘independent living skills’, ‘promoting healthy living’ and ‘organising information’.
Three trainees – Richard Taylor, Dean Wright and Kristoffer Rutter – collected awards for B-Leaf Trainee of the Year, sponsored by Castell Howell, Wood-B Trainee of the Year, sponsored by Valleys to Coast and Learner of the Year Award, sponsored by Bridgend College.
B-Leaf Trainee of the Year
Richard Taylor was recognised as a valued member of B-Leaf whose excellent attendance, conscientious approach and hard work have enabled him to complete tasks to an extremely high standard. He can use a wide range of machinery, follows instructions well and takes the initiative to gather the tools needed for each day’s work.
Alongside B-Leaf, Richard Taylor volunteers once a week at ADM Nurseries in Bridgend, where he is considered a great asset to the organisation. He also enjoys being part of the maintenance team around Bryngarw House, taking pride in keeping the area neat and tidy for visitors to Bryngarw Country Park. Whether planting, watering, maintaining the grounds or completing general housekeeping, Richard approaches every task positively.
Wood-B Trainee of the Year
Dean Wright received the Wood-B award in recognition of his reliability, helpfulness and commitment to developing new skills. A popular member of the team, Dean enjoys working with his peers to make gates, benches and pergolas, as well as visiting different sites to install them. He is particularly meticulous when painting Wood-B’s forever flowers.
Dean Wright also takes part in the educational courses offered to him. He particularly enjoyed the mathematics classes run by Bridgend College and held at B-Leaf and is an active participant who contributes ideas. Over the past year, Dean has continued to grow and has responded to challenges with a positive attitude.
Learner of the Year
Kristoffer Rutter, known as Kris, was named Learner of the Year after choosing to attend mathematics classes at Bryngarw Country Park through Bridgend College. His excellent attendance and participation included a ‘number skills for darts’ module, through which he practised doubling and tripling numbers alongside multiplication. He has transferred these skills into his work at Wood-B, particularly when measuring multiple components.
Kris also continues to take part in accredited courses available through Awen and Adult Learning Wales. He engages enthusiastically in practical sessions and applies the skills he learns to everyday tasks, using his own initiative. As Kris was unable to attend the celebration, Carpentry Lead for Wood-B, Jason Aston, received the award on his behalf.
Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen Cultural Trust, said:
“The annual celebration evening once again provided a heartwarming opportunity to not only celebrate the commitment, skills and achievements of Richard, Dean and Kris, but the progress made by every single B-Leaf and Wood-B trainee over the past year. We are incredibly proud of the confidence, independence and practical skills every trainee continues to develop.
“At Awen, we focus on what our trainees can do, not what they cannot. It was therefore poignant that this year’s celebration closed with a BSL signed rendition by the trainees of ‘A Million Dreams’ from the Greatest Showman, a song about ambition, imagination and the power of holding onto your goals despite the doubts of others.
“Of course, none of this would be possible without the dedication of our staff and volunteers, or the invaluable support of families, carers, partners and sponsors. The achievements celebrated at this year’s event demonstrate the value and strength of partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council, with both organisations aligned in delivering a people centred, progressive approach to improving life chances and wellbeing.”
Cllr Jane Gebbie, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Services, Health and Wellbeing, said:
“We are proud to support B-Leaf and Wood-B and the fantastic opportunities they provide for adults with learning disabilities across Bridgend County Borough.
“Working in partnership with Awen Cultural Trust, we are helping to create an inclusive environment where people can develop practical skills, build confidence, gain qualifications and grow in independence, while discovering their strengths and reaching their full potential.
“The achievements celebrated at this year’s awards are a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when people are given the right support, encouragement and opportunities to thrive. Congratulations to Richard, Dean and Kris on their well-deserved awards, and to all the trainees for their hard work and progress over the past year.”
