Blog
#TeamStranraer’s 2022
Thu, 29th Dec 2022#TeamStranraer had so many adventures over the course of 2022, stretching from Edinburgh to Glasgow, Mull O’ Galloway, and back again. We hope you’ll enjoy this run-through of all the key events of the past year.
We kick-started the year with a belated Christmas party! We then settled into the comfort of our learning routines, where we had an environmental focus on the start of the New Year. #TeamStranraer took a trip to Cairnsmore where we planted trees to help populate the surrounding area.
February was an eventful month as we all ventured to Glasgow to explore the Gallery of Modern Arts and experience the different displays and exhibits. The trip was funded by Stranraer Development Trust as part of the Stransform Project and we created pieces of art that were displayed throughout Stranraer town centre as part of an art trail for locals and tourists.
In March we welcomed Lara & Cliff to #TeamStranraer who brought another level of skill, fantastic experiences, and unique humour to our already diverse team. A group of our young people also started up their Riding for the Disabled Association Stable Management Course. It was a brilliant opportunity and experience for all involved. March also saw us conclude our V.I.P Me sessions with D&G Youth Work and to celebrate we were treated to a delicious lunch at the Crown Hotel in Portpatrick.
Following on from the food theme, in April the group visited Papa Rabs Restaurant where we took part in a pizza-making workshop, led by Papa Rab himself! We had great fun making our own pizzas and even more fun eating them afterward. This was part of our Environmental ASDAN where we looked at sustainable food. We had a trip to The Wee Aird Dairy in Stranraer where we got a tour of the farm and milking parlour and learned how they take fresh milk and turn it into the delicious milkshakes they sell in the farm shop. We were lucky enough to be treated to a bottle of milkshake each!
As things began to heat up in May, our group took a trip to Ardwell beach with Nic Coombey from Solway Firth Partnership. He led us on a beach clean and some foraging and spoke to us about the environmental issues affecting our oceans. To round off the month #TeamStranraer took a trip out to Kirkcudbright Galleries to see the Galloway Hoard. We learned a lot about the Viking era and were amazed at some of the artifacts recovered from the find.
June was undoubtedly our proudest month of the year as #TeamStranraer was awarded Wigtownshire’s Educator of the Year 2022. It was amazing to have the efforts and dedication to our young people recognised. The award meant a lot to us because it was voted for and decided by our very own community.
July was the beginning of our three-week summer programme. Our activities took us from Loch Ryan to Loch Lomond. We took part in fun activities such as kayaking, power boating, ten bowling and golf, all under the warm summer sun! A walk up to Dunskey Castle in Portpatrick tested the strength of our legs but when we reached the top the scenery was breathtaking.
August was an eventful month as we started a new term all refreshed and raring to go! We enjoyed eco crafts with Elizabeth Tindall, Forest Ranger with DGOWL, and we made some fishy windsocks made from recycled material and plastic bags as part of a display at the Unexpected Garden in Stranraer. We also welcomed a new member of staff, Lauren, into Team Stranraer to as an Employability Support Worker! Our new Motor Vehicle course revved up to go.
During September our young people ventured to Blair Drummond Safari Park and enjoyed seeing different wild and beautiful animals. We also had a stall at the Stranraer Oyster Festival where we displayed our Environmental coursework and spoke to visitors about the impact of climate change. We were able to meet celebrity chefs Tony Singh and Clodagh McKenna who were delighted to wear our BLP Green Team t-shirts. We also started our weekly Branching Out sessions at Kirroughtree!
October we got really spooky! A group of our young people made up a gruesome buffet for our Halloween party, dress up and games followed suit with karaoke!
November was calm before the festive storm! We had a visit to Stranraer Fire Station and enjoyed a tour, we also began creating our Christmas decorations – reindeers, mini snowmen, and other festive items!
December was one of our busiest months. The Swan in Stranraer held a raffle/quiz night for us which raised £900 towards our big trip in 2023! Our local Young Farmers also supported us by raising £500 at their annual tractor race. We had a fantastic night out at the pantomime and a fun-packed end to 2022. We can’t wait to see what 2023 brings!
