Creating Community Impact

I lead a Foundation & Progression Pathways class and Route to Recruit programme, and since September 2025 my students have been actively involved in a wide range of community projects. Their hard work, enthusiasm and compassion have made a significant impact on both the local area and the people within it.
Over the past year, students have taken part in regular volunteering activities that support wellbeing, independence and employability. They have:
• Supported the local food bank, raising over £180 for Children in Need and helping with sorting, organising and community outreach.
• Carried out weekly litter picking, collecting over 10 bags of rubbish every week to help keep the community clean and safe.
• Helped local churches and charity shops, offering practical support, organising donations and building positive relationships with volunteers and service users.
• Cleaned and maintained the Pathways area, taking pride in improving the environment for others.
This term, we are focusing on a Random Act of Kindness project. To brighten people’s day and support positive wellbeing, students will be handing out spring flowers and small bags of sweets to staff, students and members of the public. The aim is simple: to spread kindness, spark smiles and remind people that small actions can make a big difference.
The students are also preparing to support a local community SEND centre by helping with a clear up project and creating a new sensory garden over the next three weeks, an opportunity they are incredibly excited about.
This week, the group visited The Dell Care Home, where they spent time playing bingo and other games with the residents. Staff and residents have fed back how much joy and energy the students bring, and the students themselves come away feeling proud, valued and connected.
The response from the community across Lowestoft has been overwhelmingly positive. People regularly stop to thank the students for their efforts, and this encouragement motivates them to continue. Many of them say they don’t want the projects to stop -helping their community has become something they genuinely look forward to.
The work these young people are doing demonstrates the huge potential of SEND learners when they are given meaningful, real world experiences. Their commitment, kindness and teamwork are not only helping their local community - they are helping them grow into confident, capable adults ready for their next steps after college life.

East Coast College