Flare provides learning for 15 to 19-year-olds (years 11, 12 and 13 equivalent) at our Clip centres in Gainsborough and Mablethorpe. At Flare, we provide a supportive environment, where teenagers can find their passions and talents. Through hands-on projects and tailored learning, we help them discover their own path through: 

• English and Maths Qualifications

• Vocational qualifications  

• Employability and Occupational Skills 

• Involvement in community projects 

• Personal and Social Development 

Throughout their academic year, Flare learners from Clip Gainsborough have taken part in enterprise projects to donate food to local food banks, raise money for charity, and improve the wellbeing of Acis staff and communities through a campaign of kindness. Let’s take a look at everything they’ve achieved over the academic year. 

Christmas Fair 

On Wednesday 18 December 2024, the Flare learners hosted their Christmas Fair at Clip Gainsborough. Planning started in September 2024 at the start of their academic year. They took part in one enterprise project session a week and researched costs, made prototypes and tested how achievable it would be to make and sell items. They then designed and created their own products which were on sale at the fair. 

The Christmas Fair was a great success with a book stand, tombola, guess the name of the teddy, guess the weight of the sweets, a raffle, candy cane reindeer, hot chocolate marshmallows and plenty more helping raise money for charity. 

Aimee Smith, Clip Volunteer, was delighted with the outcome “I was so proud of every student at Flare Gainsborough for our Christmas Fair, everyone worked together to set up and man stalls. Our Enterprise students worked so hard researching, costing and making their own products to sell on the day and they all sold very well. With their sales and the money raised from the raffle and other stalls we managed to raise over £140! I would like to thank the Flare Gainsborough team and everyone who came from Acis Group for all their help and support in making the day run so smoothly. Watch this space for our next event” 

Spring Fair 

The new year started with a new project, the Spring Fair. After months of planning, the Flare learners hosted another fantastic fair at Clip Gainsborough on Wednesday 2 April 2025. The aim was clear, to raise as much money as possible to buy food from the local supermarket to donate to the local food bank. 

The community event brought together the Flare learners at Clip Gainsborough, tenants from Pillared House, participants from the winter pressures groups, and the autism peer support group all under one roof. It was a wonderful afternoon of Acis Group communities coming together to support a worthy cause. 

Thanks to the tombola, scavenger hunt, raffle, plants grown by the learners, and plenty more, the spring fair raised an incredible £450.33. A tenant at Pillared House even took to social media to share her thanks. She got in touch with the Clip team and said “Thanks so much! Barry and I had a great time. He’s so chuffed about winning the wok!” 

Following the success of the event, the Flare learners used the money raised to purchase food from Lidl in Gainsborough. This food was then donated to the Salvation Army Foodbank in Gainsborough. The food donated included: 

•  48 tins of beans

• 48 tins of tuna

• 48 tins of chopped tomatoes

• 24 tins of peas and carrots

• 18 packs of noodles 

• 16 packets of pasta and sauce 

• 13 bottles of ketchup

• 12 jars of hotdogs

• 12 cartons of long-life milk

• 10 bags of pasta 

• 7 boxes of cereal 

• 4 packs of weetabix 

• 2 bags of onions and tomatoes

• 2 large bags of rice

Despite buying all of this, there was still money left over for another shop and donation! This second donation followed the week after, making a huge difference to those that need it the most. 

Campaign of Kindness 

During the spring and summer term, the Flare learners focused their attention on their campaign of kindness. As part of the campaign of kindness, the learners have been looking at random acts of kindness and things they could do for others. 

Throughout June, the learners created cards and decorated ornamental keys sharing the message “The key to your success is in your hands”. These beautiful creations were handed to Elaine Ward, Operations Manager for Acis Students. Elaine and Aimee shared the keys with new Acis Students joining us at our Acis Students University accommodation at both The Trigon in Sheffield, and Raleigh Park and The Village in Nottingham. Elaine was grateful for the donation stating, “Moving to University and away from home for the first time can be a big change for our students. The ornamental keys were a really nice gift to add to our move in support, and the message helped bring plenty of joy to our students” 

Following the kind donation to Acis Students, the learners made the short trip down the road to stop at Acis Group’s headquarters in Gainsborough, Acis House. The aim of this visit was to spread kindness across our different departments, and this was certainly achieved as our colleagues were delighted with uplifting comments and mini heroes shared by the learners.  

Another trip soon followed, this time the learners took part in a two mile walk around Gainsborough on the morning of Wednesday 9 July 2025 to raise money for the Lincoln Down’s Syndrome Support Group. Throughout the walk, the learners shared uplifting gifts in different places for members of the community to find. The gifts included friendship bracelets, painted rocks and Wilber the worry worms. 

In the spirit of considering how we can be kind to others, the learners also created “Most likely to” certificates and voted for who would win each certificate. The focus of this was positivity and humour. 

Success 

The enterprise projects have catered for all learning styles and have included sections that focus on each of the learner’s strengths whilst helping them learn new skills. Learners have challenged themselves to create posters, lead a team, learn how to sew, plan budgets, write letters and plenty more. These skills combined have helped learners build their confidence ready for their next steps. 

We’ve seen great engagement across the three terms of the Flare programme, with one learner sharing their favourite moment “I enjoyed the sponsored walk we did for Down Syndrome and the acts of kindness we did along with it. 

Lucy Binns, Delivery Lead for Study Programmes, was delighted with the learners personal and academic growth “It has been a pleasure tutoring the Flare, Gainsborough cohort this year. It has been inspiring seeing the learners rise and grow into the lovely young adults they are today, I wish all of them every success in where life takes them”.  

If you’ve been inspired by the Flare learners, you can find out more on our Flare and Clip websites.