Christmas cards produced by young people at Prior’s Court are now on sale in an online shop.

Our young people have contributed to the creation of the cards in the online shop, launched this week, during their lessons as part of our vocational streams approach to post-16 education.

These lessons are focused specifically on developing, practicing and generalising vocational skills which are geared towards helping our young people to secure employment in the future.

Monies from every sale will be used by our staff to purchase more raw materials for new products, ensuring our young people continue to develop and generalise their vocational skills.

Skills learnt include following instructions and manufacturing techniques, with additional benefits from learning about running an enterprise, such as stock-taking and fulfilling deliveries.

Charlie Harris, Vocational Teacher who has led on the online store project, said: “Our young people have contributed at all stages to the cards which are on sale.

“We have regularly sold a range of items on-site to staff and parents in the past and it is hugely exciting to now be able to show the wider world what young people at Prior’s Court are capable of.

“This is the first step we are taking with an online enterprise and we hope to build on this in 2021.”

We have also been working with Artisans Handmade UK, a collective of artisans and crafters, which recently opened a pop-up shop in The Oracle shopping centre, Reading, to sell items made by our young people. The shop closed due to the nationwide lockdown throughout November, but has now reopened with cards, wrapping paper and Christmas tree decorations made by young people at Prior’s Court now on sale.

Charlie added: “We have had a lot of positive feedback about our items in the pop-up shop and hopefully this will continue with our new online store.”