A vital community hub in Newton Aycliffe is undergoing a vibrant transformation thanks to a new partnership between local award-winning charity, Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), and Bishop Auckland College.
The college students are gaining valuable hands-on experience through placements to help decorate and enhance the healthy living hub, the Pioneering Care Centre – all while contributing to a space that promotes better health and wellbeing across the region.
The initiative comes at an important time for the centre, which recently saw a £1m investment to upgrade its hydrotherapy pool and extend on its offer in supporting adults with learning and physical disabilities.
This investment, raised entirely through fundraising and charity reserves, marks a significant milestone in the centre’s ongoing development.
PCP chief executive Carol Gaskarth – recently named the Aycliffe Businessperson of the Year at the 2025 Make Your Mark Awards – said: “Behind the scenes there are lots of exciting plans to continue developing the Pioneering Care Centre and ensure it remains a community-focused space that improves lives.
“Many areas of the centre need a refresh, much like our previous hydrotherapy facilities. Having the Bishop Auckland College students support us means we can continue to update and enhance the centre both internally and externally, providing a truly ‘pioneering’ space for ‘Health, Wellbeing and Learning for All.’
“The students have been amazing, so polite courteous and respectful. A real pleasure to have with us and a credit to the college.
“They should be very proud of the support they are providing us and the difference this will make to others.”
So far, the students have been hard at work painting and decorating various areas of the building, creating a brighter, more welcoming environment for visitors and service users.
Shaun Hope, CEO and principal at Bishop Auckland College Group, said: “We love the work PCP do in our region and it very much aligns with our mission of creating positive change through education and learning.
“Already we have achieved so much from student placements, sharing of resources and training for our staff communities and we are just getting started.
“The future looks even more exciting with our partnership growing further with events, like the Health and Wellbeing roadshow, and many projects that utilise the expertise in our organisations.”
The partnership highlights the mutual benefits of collaboration between education and community organisations – providing students with practical experience in a real-world setting, while supporting vital local services that have a lasting impact.
