Archives for May 2015

Last month the National Union of Students (NUS) held their annual National Conference in Liverpool where over one thousand young people represented their colleges and universities.

Derwen College was represented by three of our trainees who heard speeches and voted in elections and on motions at the event.  Prior to the event Derwen College put forward their own motion to National Conference to request that NUS continue to develop the training programme and offer it to learners with additional needs across the country and also to explore how to make the organisation more accessible to people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Derwen College are the first specialist providers to have put forward a motion to National Conference and the speech for the motion was given by Robin Ferguson, the first man with Down Syndrome ever to have made a speech at National Conference.  Robin was allowed three minutes to make his speech rather than the ninety seconds usually allocated, he received a standing ovation for his speech and the motion was passed unanimously, this means that the motion has become policy for three years and Derwen College is at the forefront of driving forward positive change within the NUS for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Watch Robin’s speech here.

Read the motion here.

Yesterday Maryanne Hodgkinson, Head of Arts, Media and Business Studies travelled to Windsor Castle to receive her MBE from Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge.

Maryanne was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for services to Further Education for adults with learning difficulties.  She has worked for Derwen College for eight years and prior to that worked with adults with learning difficulties in residential settings.

As part of her work in Arts, Media & Business Studies, Maryanne takes students out on tour (Derwen on Tour) to perform at local schools and colleges.  In 2011 she took Derwen on Tour to the World Skills Show in London and showcased the students’ abilities in Makaton Signed Song and Dance

Maryanne said “really the MBE belongs to the students I work with.  They are the ones that do all the hard work.  I am lucky to work within the sector”

Members of the Derwen College Student Council have recently finished filming for a national project with National Rail and Arriva Trains Wales. The project has been entirely funded by the Cambrian Partnership.

They have been making a film about confident rail travel for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities and the assistance that is available to them.

The completed DVD will feature all of the student council and be used to provide a teaching resource for schools and colleges and will also serve as a training resource for rail staff.