A group of Brockenhurst College students raised £870 for learning disabilities charity Mencap by doing a 7km sponsored walk recently – exceeding their target of £750.
The Pathway to Apprenticeships, College and Employment (PACE) students were dopped off in Lyndhurst by minibus before making the trek back to college through woodland.
They were accompanied by four members of staff and were met on the outskirts of Brockenhurst by other PACE students and learners from Brock’s Foundation and Independence Hub.
It was all part of a PACE project for Learning Disability Week, which is a national initiative spearheaded by Mencap.
The theme for 2026 was ‘Do You See Me?’, which was intended to highlight and address how people with additional learning needs can become marginalised and/or forgotten in society.
To this end, PACE students worked to create detailed written and photographic profiles of Brock students who are benefitting from intensive learning support at the Independence Hub.
These profiles were then displayed in and around the Main Reception area in the Main Building.
And it proved to be inspirational…
Last week, a first-year A Level student, who already works with South Wiltshire Mencap, visited the Independence Hub after seeing the posters and offered to volunteer from September.
Pace Lead Lecturer, Natasha Dawes, said: “I’m so proud of the PACE students for all their efforts around Learning Disability Week.
“Each one felt deeply invested in the cause and understood the difficulties associated with people who have learning disabilities being left behind in society
“To beat their sponsored walk fundraising target of £750 was important validation for them and their efforts.
“Meanwhile, they worked with great care, compassion and empathy in getting to know our Independence Hub learners and creating the visibility profiles.
“To get a result from that effort as well is extremely rewarding, and I warmly congratulate them on the difference they’ve made.”
