Well Done to Stranraer Can Do Participants

That the Parliament congratulates all of the Dumfries and Galloway College Stranraer campus participants in the Leonard Cheshire Can Do project, which concluded on 23 March 2021 with a virtual awards ceremony at the Stranraer Campus; understands that the Can Do project encourages those aged 16 to 35 with additional support needs to gain new life skills through training and volunteering opportunities in the local community and that the students have been learning about different activities that can support improved mental health and wellbeing from a range of groups in the local area; notes that, due to lockdown, the students have also been taking part, and learning new skills, via virtual means; further understands that the students, working with local businesses like Tammy’s Sweet Stems, which is based in Newton Stewart, learned flower arranging skills, and with third sector groups like A Listening Ear in Wigtownshire, worked with people who may be at risk of social isolation and loneliness, particularly during the COVID-19 restrictions; further notes that, as part of the programme, the participants produced and named teddies, with accompanying stories, which were given to members of the local community, and created window displays to help brighten up Stranraer; thanks Leonard Cheshire, The Holywood Trust, The Orcome Trust, Batchwood Community Trust and the National Lottery for funding the programme for the next two years; thanks all staff and students who were involved, and wishes all participants all the very best for the future.