11th November 2025
Learners from BDC's Horizons Specialist Provision and Horizons programmes have been helping the borough grow a greener future.
While developing valuable workplace skills, community engagement, independence, and confidence, the students joined London Borough of Barking & Dagenham’s environmental team at The Chase Nature Reserve in Dagenham to plant new trees, supporting the Council’s ambitious plan to double tree canopy coverage by 2040. The initiative improves air quality, increases biodiversity, and enhances green spaces for the local community.
Barking & Dagenham College’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision delivers programmes for students aged between 16–24 (Educational Health & Care Plan holders) and focus on four pathways, Independence, Pathways to Mainstream, Employment and Community. Each course runs four days a week and covers a packed curriculum. English, maths, work experience, enterprises, cooking, bricklaying, IT, retail and horticulture, art, sports are some of the subjects covered.
Christina Hebron, Project Manager for Supported Internships & Outdoor Work Experience, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to be part of something meaningful in their local area. Projects like this help them develop teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills while building confidence and contributing to an important environmental cause.”
Krishana Kaur, Head of Department – Horizons, added: “Seeing our learners out in the community, contributing to a project that benefits everyone, really shows the difference these programmes make in fostering independence and employability.”
The College plans to continue supporting community-linked projects that combine sustainability, skills development, and real-world work experience.
