Students praised for character and achievements

IT was supposed to be a trip to inspire their creativity, but in the end it was the students who inspired others.
More than 30 Art Foundation students from Warrington’s Priestley College stayed at the Boggle Hole Youth Hostel in North Yorkshire and left a lasting impression on hostel managers Andy and Peta Nugent.
They wrote to Youth Hostel Association chiefs and to Priestley principal Matthew Grant to praise their visitors’ character and achievements.
In his letter, Andy wrote: “We get so many young people staying with us, but these were incredible. Not only were they very talented but had so much passion and were just so nice.
“We get so tied up in our job sometimes we forget why we do it. It was a real pleasure to be reminded of this by your students and colleagues.”
Andy said it was only the third time in 20 years he had felt compelled to write after a visit.
As a thank you for the hostel’s hospitality, students Jessica Morris and Olivia Kubiak gave Andy and Peta pieces of artwork they had created during the stay.
It wasn’t just the hostel managers who were inspired by the young people from Warrington.
Primary school children also benefitted from time spent with the teenagers who volunteered to help them with a project.
“They really inspired the small primary school we had in, so much so they plan to return at the same time next year and do an activity together.. a very rare and beautiful thing,” wrote Andy.
The Art Foundation residential had been organised by Priestley College as an affordable trip to give students the chance to draw inspiration from the landscapes around Whitby.
They produced some great art including some pieces using materials collected from the beach.
“I didn’t want to leave,” said Alex Mooney, a former pupil at Great Sankey High School.
“At times it was raining and our paper was getting wet, but that just added to what we were doing and became part of the overall effect.”