Newbury College Art, Design and Media Practice student, Vinney Hosey, has been recognised with the ‘Inspiring Others’ Award at the 2025 West Berkshire Learner Achievement Awards. The event is organised by West Berkshire Council and was held at Shaw House on Friday 07 November.
Vinney was nominated for the way he has inspired both staff and fellow students through his determination, creativity, and professional approach to photography. His learning journey began in Foundation Learning, and he is now studying Level 4 Art, Design and Media Practice.
Until recently, Vinney found large group settings and busy classrooms overwhelming, often needing to step away due to anxiety. With tailored support and a focus on building confidence in small steps, he now approaches new challenges with enthusiasm and a calm, professional manner.
An accomplished photographer, Vinney has built an impressive portfolio of work that reflects real-world industry experience. He has led photography at a major corporate event at Vodafone Headquarters, capturing portraits and reportage images in a large, high-profile setting. He has also photographed Newbury College Football Academy students in their new kits ahead of their summer tour to Spain, created a visual record of the High Needs Foundation Learning end-of-year prom, and regularly documents student artwork and workshops for use by peers and College marketing.
Course leader, Victoria Burden, said:
“Vinney’s progress has been remarkable. He has moved from finding the classroom environment very challenging to taking the lead in demanding professional situations.
“He is the person other students turn to for technical advice, and he always supports them with patience and kindness. This award recognises not only his talent as a photographer but also the way he lifts those around him.”
Vinney has become an integral part of the course group, often acting as the ‘go-to’ technical support for his peers and helping ensure their work is documented to a high standard. His growth in confidence and independence reflects the College’s purpose of creating opportunities to transform lives and its focus on careers, not courses, giving learners genuine experience of working in the creative industries.
Vinney said:
“I feel grateful for the award; it means a lot to me. I appreciate the help and support that my teachers have given me, and I’m keen to use my skills to build a career as a photographer in the future.”
The West Berkshire Learner Achievement Awards are organised by West Berkshire Council on behalf of the Community Learning Partnership. They annually celebrate the achievements of learners from across West Berkshire and highlight how education, training, and personal development can transform lives. This year’s ceremony featured keynote speaker Anthony Bennett, known as “The Miracle Man,” who shared his powerful story of recovery and resilience, echoing the spirit of the awards and the journeys of the nominees.
To find out more about Art and Design and other career-focused programmes at Newbury College, visit newbury-college.ac.uk