Our Community Weeks bring together students and staff from across the College, to engage in social action projects which give back to the local community.
This week serves as a valuable opportunity for students to apply the skills they’ve learnt and are continuing to develop, whilst completing a project to help others.
Here’s a glimpse of the work the College has been involved in throughout the week:
Beauty | Christmas Cards for Residential Homes
Level 2 Beauty Therapy students put their arts and craft skills to the test, as they created a range of Christmas cards for local residential homes.
Designed to uplift spirits during the festive season, all cards made will be delivered to the residents by our Beauty team later this term.
This activity was a great way for our learners to test transferable skills they learn in the Salon all year round, including teamwork, communication and design.
Every design was unique, with Christmas trees, Santa Claus and gifts aplenty. Student Alicia created a card with a design of Santa’s face, complete with googly eyes.
For Alicia, Community Week is an important time to focus on giving back to local people. She said during the session: “It’s great to give people who need it some festive joy. I really like being able to give back to the community in a way that’s meaningful but also fun.”
Fellow learner, Ella, also said: “For some residents, this time of year can be really hard. Making cards for them is a nice way to give back and I like that we can make them as pretty as possible.”
Early Years | Raising awareness of charities
As part of Community Week, our Level 2 Early Years learners have been raising awareness of charities close to their hearts by designing informative posters to be displayed across the College.
Each poster highlights a local cause, explaining what the charity does and how students and staff can get involved. From supporting families to helping vulnerable individuals, the aim is to inspire others to take action and make a difference in the community.
To add an extra layer of excitement, the department is running a competition for the most impactful design. The winning poster will influence which charity the department champions next, ensuring that students’ voices help shape future fundraising efforts.
Employability (Level 1) | Blankets for the homeless
Level 1 Employability students have been learning a new skill this Community Week, in the form of knitting.
Together with Head of Professional and Service Industries, Zoe Kersley, they’ve worked together to start making blankets for the homeless.
From a range of colourful wool, they’ve taken on several different techniques to start these designs, which will be ready for the winter to keep people warm.
This is part of a project that the students are currently doing around homelessness, with the aim to donate these later on in the term.
Hairdressing | Free hairdressing treatments
As part of Community Week, our Hairdressing students have been putting their skills to good use by offering free blow-dry and styling treatments to local charity workers.
By offering these client sessions, our learners had the chance to refine their customer and communication skills, while showing appreciation for those who dedicate their time to helping others.
Each appointment was tailored to the individual, with students creating a range of looks designed to boost confidence and bring a little joy to the day. From sleek blow-dries to soft curls, every style was finished to a professional standard.
Speaking about how she worked with her client, Level 2 learner, Katy, said: “We’ve done a series of tasks today such as washing hair, using mousse and combing. It’s been great to do this and take part in sessions with clients as it really boosts my confidence in my skillset.”
Employability Skills | Made hampers and spend time with an Age UK group
Our Level 1 Employability students collected donations to create thoughtful hampers. Students added their own personal touches, including handwritten affirmation cards and word searches, to make each hamper feel extra special.
This class took the finished hampers to Age UK in Ashford, where they spent an hour and a half chatting with the ladies and gents there. The conversations flowed easily, and it was clear just how much the residents enjoyed having the students visit. The hampers were very gratefully received, but it was the time spent talking and listening that made the biggest impact.
Before they left, Age UK asked if the students would like to make this a monthly visit, with the idea of pairing each student with a resident as a regular buddy. It’s a wonderful opportunity for ongoing connection, something both students and residents are already excited about.
It has been great to see so many projects happening this Community Week, with some to develop further over the coming weeks and months.
If you’d like to become part of our College community, with a curriculum focused on developing core skills and making a difference, explore your options online or at an Open Day.
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