Bug Hotel design brings big win for supporting learning adults

The creativity, teamwork skills and enthusiasm for nature and the environment led to supported learning adults from Walsall College scoring a hat-trick of wins in a design and construction competition.

Led by Midland Metro Alliance, the competition invited Black Country-based students attending a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) to envision and construct a bug hotel or to propose innovative designs for a tram stop.

The college’s students submitted three bug hotel entries, coming away with awards for Community Impact, Best Architectural Structure and Teamwork.  They were presented with medals and certificates at a ceremony held at Wolverhampton’s Molineux Stadium.

Lecturers, Sadie Christian and Claire Anderson said the staff team were delighted by their students’ achievements.

“The project allowed students to see the entire concept through from designing, to building to the final presentation,” continued Claire.  “This included utilising lots of the college resources together to create the final products.  We also drew on the college’s Digital Learning Zone for 3D design input and our Digi Hub for the printing of our hotel signs.

“All in all, it was great to see the students’ ideas become reality.”

The three winning entries now reside in the Students’ Union garden at the college’s Wisemore Campus.

Midland Metro Alliance (MMA), which is working on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to design and delivery tramway extensions across the region said it was proud to host this competition for the second-year running.

The Bug Hotel is one of several green-focussed initiatives the supported learning adults have been involved in during 2025.

In February, they began hosting a Thriftz Stall as a way of developing enterprise skills and to help fund their college outings.  They were able to raise over £360 by sorting through items, setting up and running their stall during two half days each week and managing the money made from items sold.

Any remaining pre-loved items were donated to the Salvation Army and St Giles charity shops as well as the Midlands Langar Society for their own community groups.

Students are also working with Walsall Council’s Healthy Spaces team and the Grenfell Allotments Management Committee to help transform a previously unused area in Little Bloxwich into a vibrant, inclusive and accessible environment.  They have worked with allotment holders to dig trenches for Christmas potatoes, dug over plots, cleared out raised beds, painted benches and harvested tomatoes.

Following the success of this working partnership, the college has been given their own allotment plot at Forest Avenue where students have cleared an extremely overgrown space.  Students across the Supported Learning department have access, completing a variety of tasks from weeding, digging, and painting.  This has been a great opportunity for students, improving their mental and physical health, as well as giving them a safe space of their own whilst being part of their local community.

Tanya Lewis, Supported Learning Team Leader for Engagement at the college added: “I’m so proud of what Claire and the students have achieved.

“Working with the team at Walsall Council’s Healthy Spaces, they have developed a volunteering opportunity which not only provides the students with essential practical skills for life and work but also gives back to our local community. In recognition of their efforts, the students have been invited by Walsall Council to a celebration event in January 2026, in which they will meet the Mayor of Walsall.”