Shaftesbury Millie College has opened a new shop to support students’ learning and provide practical work experience.
Millie’s Gifts & Garden opened last month at the Courtyard Craft Centre in Lytchett Minster. It offers students with special educational needs a space to apply skills learned in class to the workplace as well as a platform to showcase their enterprise work.
Students have a hands-on role in stock control, point of sale, customer service and shop displays, working alongside staff to build their confidence and skills in a supportive and familiar environment.
The shop stocks seasonal produce harvested from the college’s kitchen garden and plants grown in the nursery at its 350-acre countryside site, near Poole. Homemade jams and chutneys, made by students in catering sessions using produce grown on site, are available as part of a product line called The College Crop. While crafts and art work designed and created by students are on sale as well as homeware and gift items.
College Principal Jon Ascot said:
‘This is a unique experience for students to develop their confidence and employability skills in a real workplace.
‘We have been overwhelmed by the support from independent businesses at the Courtyard Craft Centre and customers who have visited the shop since it opened.
‘Customers have enjoyed browsing gifts and creative crafts made by students and hearing about their work. We have even been asked if we take commissions.’
Proceeds from sales will go directly into supporting students’ education, funding resources for enterprise projects.
Wreath-making workshop
The shop will be running a wreath-making workshop on Wednesday, 3 December.
Learn the techniques involved in creating your own Christmas wreath with guidance from the college’s horticulture team. All materials for the two-hour workshop will be provided along with festive refreshments. Tickets priced £30, can be booked here.
In the run up to Christmas, the shop will operate extended opening hours from 10am-2pm Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 12pm-8pm on Thursdays, until December 18.
