A Christmas pop-up shop has opened in Kirkby town centre, operated by students of the nearby Bluebell Park School.

Pupils from the secondary and the post-16 departments have stocked the store with their own range of handcrafted goods including Christmas decorations, gifts and jewellery.

The shop was officially opened by the Mayor of Knowsley, Councillor Frank Walsh.

Located in a unit in the middle of the town centre, the pop-up will be open from 9.30am to 2.45pm until Friday (9 December).

Colin Porter, head of post-16 provision at Bluebell Park School, says: “The students are all very excited about the opening of the shop.

“It’s been many months in the planning and since the start of the new school year the students have worked really hard making all the wonderful decorations and gifts now on sale.

“The students have been involved at every stage, from deciding what goods they should make and sell, to cleaning the unit and setting out the goods ready for the week of trading.

“As well as showcasing some of their fantastic work the shop gives the students an opportunity to engage and interact with the wider community in Kirkby in a way which wouldn’t ordinarily happen on a visit to the town centre, helping to develop both their social skills and their confidence.”

Ekran Abdi, 17, who made the Christmas stockings on sale, adds: “It’s good selling stuff to people because we’re experiencing what life is like outside of school.”

The pop-up supports the school’s post-16 curriculum and the students work towards the Duke of Edinburgh and the Junior Award Scheme for Schools (JASS) Jass awards.

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