Last month, Station House welcomed two special visits from local SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) schools, offering students the chance to explore different roles and experiences within a residential care setting.
The visits were arranged following an approach from Ductu, a community interest company that supports young people with additional needs in preparing for adulthood through real-life experiences, mentoring, and tailored support. Ductu reached out to Registered Manager Laura to explore the possibility of getting involved, and she was keen to support the initiative. With her team, Laura brought together colleagues from various departments to offer students a meaningful and engaging insight into the different roles and daily life within a residential care setting.
Team members who took part included HR representative Kelly, Regional Director Lisa, Administrator Chris, Scheme Manager Courtney, Maintenance Operative Michael, Team Leader Denver and Laura herself.
One of the highlights of the visit was an inspiring talk from Paul, who’s supported at the service. Paul spoke confidently with the students about his hobbies, his trip to Tenerife, and what his weekly routine looks like — even bringing along photos to share and offering biscuits to the group. His energy and enthusiasm made a big impression.
“The sessions were a great opportunity to share what life is really like at Station House,” said Laura. “We were so proud of how Paul engaged with the students — he brought such warmth and honesty to the day and was a brilliant host.”
At the end of each visit, students and teachers completed feedback forms — and the response couldn’t have been more positive, with everyone giving a 5-star rating. Feedback included:
🗨️ “Really informative session”
🗨️ “The children really engaged and found it interesting”
🗨️ “It was lovely to meet and speak with Paul”
Swanton Care is proud to support initiatives like this, helping young people build confidence, learn new things and feel inspired about their futures.
