At Bright Futures, we believe that education extends far beyond the classroom. Real-world learning experiences play a crucial role in helping young people develop confidence, independence, and valuable life skills. That’s why we’re excited to share that our students at Willow Tree Park will be taking part in the Young People’s Makers Market in Newton-le-Willows on 22nd March, showcasing their talents, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit – awakening their potential.
Learning by Doing
Supported by St Helens Borough Council, the Young People’s Makers Market offers young makers, designers, and entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to run a market stall for free. Whether participating individually or as part of a group, this initiative celebrates the breadth of local talent and encourages young people to engage with their community in a meaningful way.
For our students, this is more than just a fun event – it’s a chance to put their skills into action in a real-world setting. They’ll be baking and preparing delicious bakes and homemade dog treats, managing transactions, and interacting with customers. Every step of this process – from planning what to make, to setting up their stall, to selling their goods – all helps to build independence, teamwork, and confidence.
Why Hands-on Learning Matters
Traditional classroom learning is important, but experiential and immersive education – learning by doing – can have a profound impact, especially for students with additional needs. Taking part in this market helps our students to:
- Develop communication and social skills by engaging with customers.
- Enhance practical numeracy skills through handling money and transactions.
- Build confidence and self-esteem as they see their efforts pay off.
- Experience teamwork and responsibility, key independence skills for the future.
- Connect with the local community, fostering a sense of inclusion and belonging.
How You Can Support
We’d love for our parents and local community to come along and support our young entrepreneurs! Whether you visit the market to buy a treat, have a chat, or simply cheer them on, every bit of encouragement makes a difference. Events like these demonstrate the incredible abilities of our students and the importance of inclusive opportunities that celebrate everyone’s talents.
The money they generate as part of the market will be reinvested back into their enterprise budget and the students are then able to decide to spend this on future projects.
📍 Where: Newton-le-Willows, Market Street, Earlestown
📅 When: Saturday 22nd March, 10.30am – 3pm
