Our programmes are designed for those learners who would benefit from a practical approach to learning, from time spent in nature and working with its materials, whether through art, design, construction or production.
Combining the learners’ innate skills and motivations in a setting in which they want to learn with wood, nature, art and tools, these innovative, holistic programmes offer ways to gain Entry Level 3 units whilst working within supportive, strengths-based and learner-led settings.
Our sites are focused on the learners, using and understanding locally managed resources and demonstrating ecological and economic sustainability through the collaborative work of The Willow Collective. We create environments conducive to vocational, life skills and citizenship learning.
The programmes engage the learners with their natural environment, often for the first time and is the beginning of a relationship with nature. Within this relationship the learners investigate and engage in sustainable resource use, the value of biodiversity, in itself and for society, and thoughts as the programme progresses on what the natural environment means to them and how they and society can care for it. This opens a dialogue these learners often have barriers to engaging in.
The units fit around themes, offering a suite of skills and knowledge that provide a broad and rich foundation from which to progress in life and life-long learning.
