Archives for October 2018

Zombies, ghouls and scary spooks danced through the campus of a specialist Shropshire college for some frighteningly fun ghostly goings-on for Halloween.

Students and staff from Derwen College, near Oswestry, were invited to dress up in Halloween outfits to perform Michael Jackson’s Thriller for the national Dance for Dignity campaign.

The event, which will be edited into a film, involved screams of laughter more than fear but had an underlying serious message to highlight dignity in care.

The students and staff performed the moves to Thriller down a path lit up with Halloween pumpkins that students had made during the week.

Other fun Halloween activities included prizes for the best pumpkin carving created in Independent Living Skills classes. The college also ran a special Halloween pumpkin soup offer for visitors to its Garden Café, and organised a Halloween charity quiz to raise funds towards the college’s new hydrotherapy pool.

Helen Owen, Independence, Health & Wellbeing Manager, said that everyone had enjoyed working together to create the shocking showpiece.

She said: “This year’s Dance for Dignity is a whole college event where everyone had the opportunity to get up having a great time to highlight dignity.”

A spokesperson for Dignity in Care said: “Most of us at some point in our lives will be in contact with care services, be that in our work, as a service user, carer, relative or friend and when we do we hope we will be treated with dignity and respect. More than 88,000 Champions from all walks of life have joined forces to provide a more dignified service for everyone.

“The Dignity in care Campaign, which launched in November 2006, aims to stimulate a national debate around dignity in care and create a care system where there is zero tolerance of abuse and disrespect of adults.”

Derwen College, in Gobowen, is a specialist college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. The college offers students the opportunity to learn new skills in real work environments and to learn life skills which will enable them to live as independently as possible. The college has received three consecutive ‘outstanding’ Ofsted gradings.

For more information on Derwen College go to www.derwen.ac.uk or telephone 01691 661234. To see the full video click here.

Challenges involving spiders, slime and a zebra-print sofa have helped a Shrewsbury-based firm of Insurance Brokers to raise more than £250 for Derwen College, near Oswestry.

Rees Astley Insurance Brokers, whose offices are located in Sweetlake Business Village, ran ‘I’m a Celebrity’-style Bush Tucker Trials at Shropshire Oktoberfest. The challenges raised funds towards new health and leisure facilities for students at the college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Students Jamie Bullock, Alexander Thomas and Sam Innes visited marketing assistant Becca Dean at the Rees Astley Shrewsbury office to thank her and the team for their hard work and support.

Becca Dean said: “It was our second year at Oktoberfest, and we made the decision to go bigger and better than last year, launching the Rees Astley Bush Tucker Trials – as sometimes Insurance can be a jungle!

“Visitors to our stand had to take part in a daunting trial which included spiders, slime and a zebra sofa, all to win a prize from our wheel of fortune, whilst also raising money for a wonderful local charity; Derwen College.”

“With donations from generous ‘contestants’, we were delighted to have raised £264.38 for Derwen College, who do amazing work for young people with learning difficulties enabling them to learn and achieve their aspirations.”

Derwen College, in Gobowen, is a specialist college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. The college offers students the opportunity to learn new skills in real work environments and to learn life skills which will enable them to live as independently as possible.

Derwen College is raising money towards a new hydrotherapy pool as part of the college’s fundraising campaign for the Therapy and Fitness Centre project.

For more information on Derwen College visit www.derwen.ac.uk

Derwen College students took part in student elections this week, making speeches and pledges in the hope of being voted on to the college’s Student Union Board.

Students from each department, including first year ‘freshers’ who have been at the college for less than a month, stood up and appeal     ed to colleagues for their votes.

Elected student reps and deputies were announced to resounding applause. The chosen reps and deputies will represent their fellow learners for the next 12 months.

Sarah Laszlo, Learner Voice co-ordinator, said that all the students who took part in the election process should be very proud of their contribution.

She said to students: “Congratulations to everyone who stood today. It’s a really tough job to stand here and talk and everyone has done an amazing job.

For the next 12 months, your reps will be working for all of you. Anyone who didn’t get on the board today shouldn’t be too upset as there are still plenty of ways to help with fundraising and fun activities at the college.”

Sarah paid tribute to the new first year students.

She said: “In my 17 years here, this has been one of the best groups for listening and showing respect.”

Sarah also thanked everyone who helped with the Student Union Board elections through supporting students with their speeches, building confidence, getting learners to their voting sessions and supporting those who didn’t make the final team.

Derwen College is committed to giving students a voice in the running of the college through Learner Voice. Learner Voice work encourages many skills including discussion, negotiation, decision making and problem solving.

Student Union Board members and Student Union Officers are elected through democratic processes across programme areas every October. The Student Union Board meet regularly to discuss issues, suggestions and ideas raised by students, and meet termly with the college’s Leadership Team. 

So, here is the final line up for Student Union Board 2018/2019

Day Students

Oliver Burrows – Representative

Adam Gill – Deputy

Freshers 

Carys Williams – Representative

Shane Bland – Deputy

Living & Work Programme

Alice Hirst – Representative

Ellie Trevalyan – Deputy

Land-based Studies

Matthew Lane – Representative

Amy Wayman – Deputy, Ben Aston – Deputy

Creative and Foundation Studies 

Cerys George – Representative

Thomas Shacklady – Deputy, Maisie Thomson – Deputy

Retail Studies

Sian Walker – Representative

Bethan Charles – Deputy, Taylor Farr – Deputy

Hospitality & Housekeeping

Max Marek – Representative

Adam Ffoulkes Fenner – Deputy, Katrina Beacham – Deputy