Newbury College recently held an event to thank local employers who have supported them with apprenticeships and work placement opportunities for Health & Social Care and Child Care students. Over the past two years more than one hundred employers have hosted students. The majority of full time students secure permanent employment before completing their qualification and apprentices are often offered permanent positions once their apprenticeships are completed.
Principal Anne Murdoch formally opened the event which included talks by current students, College staff and the manager of Sandleford Nursery, Katie Noonan. This was followed by a cream tea made by students from the Catering department, and an opportunity to network.
Curriculum manager for Care Alan Cracknell said, "We greatly appreciate the support we receive from local employers. The evening was a chance to celebrate students' successes and to thank those who have shown commitment to the College and helped our students over the past few years".
The manager at Teddy Bears Pre-school in Boxford, Sarah Phillips, who attended the evening and works closely with the College said, "As an employer it is always good to support the students and apprentices within your local area while having a chance to meet other employers within your field".
Health and Social Care student Charlie Waddington said, "The evening was a really nice opportunity for us to thank the people who offered us a place in their settings. Placement has given us a valuable insight into how organisations work which helps us when we actually go into employment".
With the examination period in progress and the end of term looming, Newbury College welcomed Team GB 400m champion Lesley Owusu to motivate and inspire students.
Lesley gave a presentation about her sporting journey and how sport has shaped her life. Following the presentation students were able to take part in a question and answer session and fun activities involving team work.
Sports Maker at Newbury College, Aimee Kaur, who organised the event said, "It was hugely inspiring for Lesley to share her sporting journey with us. She is an extremely passionate athlete with the ability to influence the lives of many young people given her experiences. One of the key messages from the day was that hard work and dedication will lead to success; everyone has the ability to fulfil their potential. Sport isn't just performing better physically, it has the ability to bring people together, build confidence, and overcome barriers faced by many".
Raised in Ghana, Lesley felt a sense of isolation when she came to England and could not speak the language. The power of sport helped Lesley overcome many childhood barriers including racism, low self-esteem and bullying which encouraged her to pursue her dreams and achieve on and off the track.
Lesley has gone on to represent Great Britain at European, World and Commonwealth levels. She has not only excelled in sport, but along her inspirational journey has also achieved a BA degree in Broadcast Journalism and Literature and an MA in Mass Communications and Political Science.
In celebration of Adult Learner's Week, on Saturday 6th June Newbury College held a free 'Adult Taster Day'. This was a fantastic opportunity for adults to explore the wide range of learning opportunities on offer at Newbury College. Visitors tried out leisure courses via interactive workshops and 'have-a-go' activities or discussed their learning next steps with tutors.
Adult learners can enrol now for leisure courses (from Art & Craft through to Upholstery), for professional courses (from Accountancy through to Web Design), or for free Distance Learning courses (from Common Health Conditions through to Safe Handling of Medicines). It's also easy to improve your English, Maths, ICT and language skills via Newbury College.
Sarah Hughes, Community Learning Manager at Newbury College said, "This was the first Adult Learning Taster Day that the College has held and hopefully it will be the first of many. Over half of our attendees enrolled for a course on the day. Via a raffle the event raised £190 for the Alzheimer's Society."
Newbury College welcomed Shaun Stocker on the 8th June for an inspiration talk to staff and students about his time serving in the Army and how he has dealt with his serious injuries.
Shaun Stocker joined the British Army at the age of 16, but was seriously injured in 2010 in Afghanistan at the age of 19 resulting in him losing both legs above the knee, the loss of his left eye and 70% of his vision in his right eye. Shaun underwent pioneering surgery in Australia to have two special prosthetic limbs fitted to the bones of his remaining part of his upper legs and is the only UK solider to have these special limbs that take just seconds for him to put on and give him more control over this walking.
Shaun hasn't let his injuries stop him and has gone on to become a Motivational Speaker, Charity Fundraiser and Property Developer.
GCSE teacher at Newbury College Michael Taylor, who organised the event, said "My impression of Shaun was that he is such a considered and unassuming character who carries a huge message for all individuals and organisations. He presents a humbling account of having life-changing events thrust upon him and how through his self-acceptance he has embraced a new perspective on life. Shaun's story is more than a journey to a 'recovery'; he is a flagship of example of how perceived limitations can enable possibilities through a 'what if' mentality."
Shaun is currently raising money for Blind Veterans UK, who have supported him in adapting to life after sight and limb-loss. To donate to the charity please visit Shaun's JustGiving page (www.justgiving.com/shaunstocker) or donate by text (txt BVuk50 and your amount to 70070).