Latest news with #SamanthaWebster
Powys County Times
11-05-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Powys poppy waterfall makers aiming for 27 metre display
Llanfair Caereinion's annual poppy waterfall for Remembrance Day is set to return in 2025, with an ambitious plan to reach new heights. After debuting on St Mary's Church in 2022, a waterfall of poppy's has been an annual staple of Llanfair's Remembrance Day commemorations, but planners behind the project are hoping this year it will be more than three times as long. As 2025 marks 100 years of the Llanfair Caereinion branch of the Royal British Legion, the group is hoping to commemorate the occasion by expanding the waterfall from a height of nine metres to 27 metres. That height increase would take the waterfall from its current position on St Mary's Church tower, hanging from the window below the tower's clockface, to the very top of the tower to the ground. Organisers say the project already has the necessary poppies to reach that height and has already held an event as part of an effort to assemble them all for the finished display. Commenting via social media, a spokesperson for the group said: 'This year, the Llanfair Caereinion Branch of the Royal British Legion proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary. 'To commemorate this milestone, we are aiming to expand the Poppy Waterfall from 9 metres to an impressive 27 metres, cascading from the top of St Mary's Church Tower. 'Thanks to the incredible efforts of the Llanfair and Buttington Knit and Natter groups — along with dedicated knitters from as far away as Rochdale — hundreds of poppies have already been lovingly created. Now, it's time for the next step: attaching the poppies to the net, ready for this year's Poppy Appeal in October. The session was held at the Llanfair Caereinion Institute on May 2, with volunteers invited down to be part of the project that Llanfair's Royal British Legion branch called 'a lasting legacy for our community'. The project was first put together to coincide with the 2022 poppy appeal organised by the Royal British Legion. The groups began their collaboration after Samantha Webster, chair of Llanfair Caereinion and District Royal British Legion, attended a coffee morning at the Llanfair Institute that also included the 'Knit and Knatter' group and approached Shirley with the idea of a knitted poppy display. Over 60 people were involved in the project, covering a range of ages with the youngest being 10 years old and the oldest aged 90.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Plans approved for new part-time SEND school
Plans have been approved for a new SEND school for part-time students. The facility at a unit on Pendeford Business Park in Wolverhampton will cater for children aged 14 to 16 with social, emotional and mental health needs, or other special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The proposal was submitted by Emma Rennie-Gibbons and Samantha Webster from the alternative education service Leading Futures, who both have children with special needs. Ms Rennie-Gibbons said she had a passion to support young people to achieve their goals "regardless of their starting point". She said she had four children who "found school challenging" , adding she understood the importance of bespoke learning packages. The school will open for two sessions each day, from 09:00 - 12:00 and 12:45 - 15:45, with students attending for a maximum of 18 hours a week. Each session will cater for no more than 20 learners. Wolverhampton City Council, which approved the plans, said the facility would bring the vacant unit back into use and benefit the city, bringing new jobs and investment to the area. Staff will deliver a tailored curriculum including maths, English and personal development qualifications. The facility will also offer students "mindfulness opportunities" through art to support "emotional regulation and wellbeing". "I am a mom to three neurodiverse children which has further developed my empathy for the struggles some learners face," Ms Webster said. "I have personally experienced the positive impact that arts and crafts can have on personal development and mental health, so am excited to see the impact it can also have on our learners." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Council praised for improvements in SEND provision Strong progress in city's special needs services Special needs hub brings services under one roof City of Wolverhampton Council Leading Futures
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans approved for new Wolverhampton SEND school
Plans have been approved for a new SEND school for part-time facility at a unit on Pendeford Business Park in Wolverhampton will cater for children aged 14 to 16 with social, emotional and mental health needs, or other special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The proposal was submitted by Emma Rennie-Gibbons and Samantha Webster from the alternative education service Leading Futures, who both have children with special Rennie-Gibbons said she had a passion to support young people to achieve their goals "regardless of their starting point". She said she had four children who "found school challenging" , adding she understood the importance of bespoke learning school will open for two sessions each day, from 09:00 - 12:00 and 12:45 - 15:45, with students attending for a maximum of 18 hours a week. Each session will cater for no more than 20 learners. Wolverhampton City Council, which approved the plans, said the facility would bring the vacant unit back into use and benefit the city, bringing new jobs and investment to the area. 'Mindfulness opportunities' Staff will deliver a tailored curriculum including maths, English and personal development qualifications. The facility will also offer students "mindfulness opportunities" through art to support "emotional regulation and wellbeing"."I am a mom to three neurodiverse children which has further developed my empathy for the struggles some learners face," Ms Webster said. "I have personally experienced the positive impact that arts and crafts can have on personal development and mental health, so am excited to see the impact it can also have on our learners." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
