Autumn Community Week Roundup

Community Week is an ongoing commitment where students and staff from across the College take part in social action projects.

It is a fantastic opportunity for students to use the skills they have learnt and are currently learning and putting them into practice to help the local community.

English, Maths and ESOL | Remembrance Afternoon Tea

ESOL students planned a splendid Remembrance Afternoon Tea with entertainment for members of the Royal British Legion. In the morning, students put on their chef whites and helped their tutors to bake delicious scones and dainty finger sandwiches.

The ESOL classroom was transformed into an exclusive café, with students using skills learnt on their course to interact with the guests, serving them hot drinks and explaining the food options. The special guests were impressed with their sweet treats many giving compliments to the chefs!

The students had created placemats and coasters with facts, poems and images to remember the brave soldiers who fought in the wars. The attendees enjoyed looking at these and reminiscing their war time experiences whilst finishing off their sandwiches.

Next came the entertainment! Students and tutors performed some war time poetry which they had written especially for the occasion. There was also a performance of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ from a Music student Amy, which left the guests shouting encore, encore.

Congrats to the ESOL students for such a magnificent afternoon.

Early Years and Education | Fundraising for multiple charities

T Level Education and Early Years students have had a busy couple of weeks, rolling up their sleeves and organising multiple fundraising events that delighted everyone involved.

They kicked things off with a lively tombola for Children in Need, stocked with an assortment of prizes ranging from indulgent luxury beauty sets to handmade crochet decorations. The students also impressed College staff and students their baking skills at their bake sale, raising money for the local cattery.

Every prize and tasty treat was lovingly donated or crafted by the students themselves, showcasing not only their generosity but also their impressive talents. The events were met with great approval from attendees, and the students managed to raise an impressive amount, which will be split between the charities.

It was a purrrfect day of fundraising, leaving everyone with full hearts and even fuller bellies!

Employability Skills | Helping at Charing train station

As part of Community Week, Level 1 Employability Skills students spent the morning at Charing train station. Despite the frosty weather and challenge of a steep hill, their enthusiasm was unwavering as they jumped straight into reviving the stones that spell out Charing. They de-weeded and cleaned the stones, restoring them to their former glory.

Shout out to Tawana, Nyasha and Tanatswa for their strong work ethic and positive attitudes – this was fantastic to see.

Meanwhile, other Employability students brightened up the station by adding vibrant flowers to the planters at the station’s entrance and along the platform, making the station blend nicely with the quaint, cosy atmosphere of the village.

The students joined forces to paint the stones, giving the sign a fresh burst of life before catching the train back to Ashford. It was truly a job well done!

It has been great to see so many projects happening this Community Week, with some to develop further over the coming weeks and months.