YOUNG people working with the Oakfield Project went on the trip of a lifetime to experience the battlefields of the First World War.

The youngsters, who attend the alternative to mainstream school for students with specific needs, left Swindon last week for Belgium and France with staff from Create Studios.

The company also took them with their own MassMedia group as part of its year-long First World War project to involve more than 60 young people from across Swindon in unearthing a moving First World War story from the town.

The youngsters from Oakfield visited the battlefields as part of their ongoing research into Swindon-based soldiers. Their research has involved several sessions with Create and a visit to the Wiltshire and Swindon History Museum and the Swindon Museum & Art Gallery.

The work includes an opportunity to explore and celebrate a unique archive of letters from Swindon’s First World War POWs.

Oakfield Project’s Paul Wainwright, who went on the trip, said: “Our young people were really looking forward to the trip and have been chosen for good behaviour and attitude. One boy is even thinking of taking history at university from what he has experienced in this project.”

The youngsters have also made ceramic poppies in remembrance and took two of them over with them.

They will form a camera crew on the trip and make a film to document their experience.

Create Studios, which works to deliver life-changing opportunities to people looking to learn new skills and start their digital journey of discovery, received a £34,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver the project.

Create’s production manager, Marilyn Fitzgerald, said: “We are thrilled that the Heritage Lottery Fund have supported us to take some of the young people from Oakfield to France and Belgium and share this important Swindon WW1 story.

“We have been waiting for the opportunity to give a project to Oakfield and when we received the HLF money, it was a perfect match. Most of them have never been abroad so this is such a special trip”.

Working alongside lead artist Gurchetan Singh, the work will culminate in a public touring exhibition in the second half of 2015, bringing this Swindon story to thousands during the centenary commemorations.