Archives for December 2020

Derwen College student Carter Gough has completed his time at College having achieved his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Participation certificate.

Hospitality student Carter was presented with a Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Participation Award after completing his Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections. Sadly, due to the Covid pandemic – like many students across the UK –  he has been unable to finish the expedition part of the award.

Carter worked incredibly hard to achieve his Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, keeping up the volunteering, physical and skills part of the award during lockdown at home. Derwen College Sports and Leisure co-ordinators Steve Evans and Sian Thomas were very proud to present him with this memento of all his hard work.

Steve Evans said: “We are incredibly proud of Carter who worked phenomenally hard to achieve his award, during an extremely challenging year, and also while he was unable to attend College.

“His commitment and enthusiasm never faltered. Even when he was learning from home, he kept ups his gardening skills, took part in exercise and volunteered by weeding at his local village hall and making and delivering cakes to neighbours.

“We have seen Carter grow in confidence, improving his skills and teamwork. We hope he continues to use and develop his new-found skills, and we hope to see him again in the future.”

For his DofE skills section, Carter made a blanket using tie dye techniques. He also grew vegetables, learning to plant, care for, transplant, harvest, store and cook with vegetables.

For the physical section of the award, he attended the college gym three times a week. Whilst at home, he walked 4-5km a day, rode his bike, took part in regular Joe Wicks PE sessions, and attended many sports while back at college.

He volunteered by working in college grounds; tidying up the orchard, picking apples and delivering them to the Food Centre to be made into chutney which was sold in the Garden Centre Shops. While at home, he tended the area around the local village hall, supported his Nanna during lockdown, and made and delivered cakes to neighbours who were unable to go out.

Carter and his family even took part in their own 10km sponsored walk around their home raising more than £1,500.

Derwen College Hospitality and Housekeeping students took part in our in-house themed Christmas table laying competition, creating three stunning table designs that any restaurant would be proud of.

The Christmas table laying competition, which saw three entries by first, second and third year students, was judged by Derwen College industry champion Stephen Conroy from Moreton Hall School.

The winning Christmas table was created by Derwen College students Joseph Glaze, Isabel McFall and William Chapple.

Hospitality and Housekeeping lead Alison Adams said:

“I was extremely proud of all three entries. The students did not have long to prepare, and yet the finished results would have looked beautiful in any restaurant or home during the festive period. Thank you to the teachers and the students for all their hard work, it was a great way to finish off this term.”

Judge Stephen Conroy said: “It was a great competition, and it was great to see some of the students again. Well done to all of those that took part!

“When I showed some of my colleagues they were very impressed. My assistant, who has spent years in the wedding trade, helped me pick the winner. She was very impressed by the level of detail; the amount of care, coordination of colours and styles was second to none.”

Judge’s comments:

Table1:

“Beautiful arrangements on top of the napkin. Very elegant look to the whole table.”

Table 2

“Great coordination of the whole table, best-laid table in terms of cutlery placement etc. Everything seemed tied together.”

Table 3

“This table jumped seemed to jump our of the screen – bright and vibrant use of colour, very festive.”

The competition was good work experience practice and preparation for the college’s national Skills Live competitions which takes place from 1st to 5th March 2021 to coincide with National Careers Week. Find out more HERE. 

 

Nearly 100 students, clients and staff from Shropshire’s Derwen College donned their festive best to join a Santa Dash to launch Derwen College’s festive fundraiser: the DC to Lapland Challenge.

Participants from the specialist FE college, near Oswestry dressed in a range of festive outfits including Christmas jumpers and Santa hats, ran and walked a total of 261 laps around the college: a grand total of more than 200 miles.

It was a fantastic start to the virtual Derwen College to Lapland Challenge, where participants are aiming to walk, run, cycle, wheelchair or swim a total of 1,989 miles in 10 days to raise funds for Derwen College Charity.

Staff and students took turns to run in their separate curriculum-based bubbles to ensure that the event was safe for everyone involved.

The college was also delighted that 23 people from Oswestry company Aico have also signed up to support the event.

Brilliant start

Fundraiser Anna Evans said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick-start this festive charity challenge. Staff, students and clients all got involved, walking or running around campus, many dressed in their Christmas jumpers and hats. What a brilliant start to Day 1.”

She added: “There is still time for people to join us to help cover 1,989 miles in 10 days. The more the merrier! We’re really grateful to all the students and families who have already signed up, and to the Aico team for such overwhelming support.”

Registration for the DC to Lapland challenge is free, and every participant receives a medal, designed and printed at Derwen College.

All donations from this event will go towards the Agnes Hunt Village project to refurbish and renovate the Agnes Hunt Village bungalows which are used by students to learn and develop their independent living skills.

To register, email fundraiser Anna Evans at anna.evans@derwen.ac.uk.

To make a donation to support Derwen College click HERE.