Riverside College Celebrates Its Ongoing Partnership with Award-Winning Community Project

Riverside College is delighted to congratulate The Wonky Garden in Widnes on receiving The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour given to UK volunteer groups and the group equivalent of an MBE. This prestigious recognition highlights the outstanding contribution The Wonky Garden makes to the local community, including its transformative partnership with Riverside College’s Foundation Studies department.

For the past five years, Riverside College’s Foundation Studies students have taken part in regular supported placements at The Wonky Garden. Led by tutor teams including Phil Haden and Elizabeth Casey, students engage in a wide range of meaningful activities that support their personal development, confidence and wellbeing.

Tutor Phil Haden has seen first-hand the life-changing impact the partnership brings to students preparing for adulthood:

“Congratulations to all at The Wonky Garden on their recent achievement of receiving The King’s Award. Our students at Riverside College Foundation Studies Department are all so proud and pleased to have been involved throughout this process and application. The students get so much from our visits in regard to their physical and mental health needs along with developing many employability skills to help them progress on to adult life. We look forward to continuing with our partnership with all our friends at The Wonky Garden.”

Students take part in numerous gardening and environmental projects set by garden lead Angela, with tasks designed to develop teamwork, communication, independence and employability skills such as following instructions, using appropriate PPE and completing practical tasks safely. The work also provides therapeutic benefits, supporting students’ mental health, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of calm through nature-based activity.

This year, the partnership has further expanded to include woodworking sessions, with students currently creating hedgehog houses. These practical projects have allowed learners to build new skills and enjoy hands-on activities that enhance confidence and self-esteem.

Tutor Elizabeth Casey described the garden’s impact:

“Going to the Wonky Gardens is a little piece of heaven for the students. It is peace and quality on Earth. The students love helping the local community by attending the Wonky Gardens. It has developed core employability and communication skills. I am so proud of the relationship they have developed with Sue at the Wonky Gardens and all the hard work they do whilst attending. Thank you Wonky for the opportunity to volunteer.”

The Wonky Garden has become an integral part of Riverside College’s Foundation Studies programme, offering an enriching environment where students can grow both personally and socially. Its inclusive ethos and community-driven projects give students invaluable real-world experience while promoting independence, resilience and wellbeing.

Riverside College is proud to celebrate The Wonky Garden’s achievement and values the strong relationship between the two organisations. The King’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises not only the garden’s dedicated volunteers, but also the positive impact its work continues to have across the community.

We look forward to continuing this inspiring collaboration and supporting many more student successes at The Wonky Garden.