Eluned Watson

New crop of preserves for British Food Fortnight

18th September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Jake shows off the new Pear and Walnut Chutney

Derwen College, near Oswestry, marks British Food Fortnight from 19th September to 4th October by launching a new range of [email protected] seasonal jams and chutneys.

Using British produce, some of it grown on site, students at the college, in Gobowen, have been busy helping to produce a new range of [email protected] chutneys and jams. These are inspired by the college’s autumnal crops.

Because of Derwen’s own harvest of plums, pears and apples, the college is proud to produce British fare using local ingredients.

Hospitality & Housekeeping students at the college for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have supported Derwen Food Centre cook Tracey Southern. So, between them, they have peeled, chopped, boiled and stirred to create new recipes. These include Pear and Walnut Chutney, Cinnamon Scented Plum Jam, Beer Mustard and Deluxe Mincemeat.

The range will be added to current [email protected] favourites which include the college’s Great Taste Award-winning Raspberry Jam and Spiced Apple Chutney.

Cook Tracey Southern said: “We were keen to use the abundance of fruit we have growing in our orchard which included pears, plums and apples. So, I came up with some seasonal recipes which are perfect for autumn, and will make lovely Christmas presents.”

Derwen College supports Love British Food

Derwen College jams and chutneys are sold in the college’s Garden Centre Shop alongside home-made cakes and bread. The shop also stocks cards and gifts, as well as seasonal plants to brighten up an autumn garden.

Derwen College Made@Derwen chutneys and jam — Sam with the new [email protected] Beer Mustard and Deluxe Mincemeat

Derwen’s Garden Café serves up a traditional British menu seven days a week. The menu offers English breakfasts, scones with butter and jam, home-made cakes and light lunches.

Derwen College gives students the opportunity to learn new skills in real work environments. They learn life skills which will enable them to live as independently as possible. Students learn skills in Hospitality & Housekeeping, Horticulture, Retail or Performing Arts.

For more information regarding Derwen College’s Garden Centre and Shop click here.. To find out more about learning at the college click here.

Meet Lucy Harrison – Satellite Lead at [email protected]

16th September 2020 by Eluned Watson

New [email protected] satellite lead Lucy Harrison.

Lucy Harrison has been busy preparing for the opening of Derwen College’s new satellite site at Telford’s Stafford Park. The site welcomes 11 new day students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) this term to learn business and employability skills, as well as independence skills.

We asked Lucy a few questions about her new role, her plans, and a little bit about herself.

What was your previous job before starting at Derwen College?

My previous roles have all been in the Telford and West Midlands areas and involved working with young people from a variety of backgrounds. Primarily, I have held teaching roles and in more recent years, I have been able to expand on this by offering pastoral support in helping students to develop additional life skills and address their wider needs.

What attracted you to the job at [email protected]?

I have been on the lookout for something that I can really get my teeth into and use all my skills to full advantage. I was in a role where there was limited opportunity to move up the ladder or progress/develop and I was feeling it was time to look for somewhere that I can do that and make a difference. I saw the job advert and applied straight away, even my sister saw the job and emailed it to me telling me to apply.

Two interviews later and I’m working with Derwen College.

What will your job entail?

I imagine it will be incredibly varied. It has already been an amazing journey. I’ve been working closely with Derwen’s Head of Curriculum Zoe Wood and we have 11 students ready to start. I have been keeping in contact with them and their parents whilst we were getting ready at Telford, making sure they had everything they needed before starting with us. This included co-ordinating transport, timetables, risk assessments, care plans and learning plans to make sure they had the very best start.

I’ve also been letting everyone know about Derwen at Telford – visiting schools and making marketing videos. My diary is starting to fill up very quickly. I’m loving it!

What are you most looking forward to in your role?

I am so looking forward to getting to know the students and starting their journey with them, it’s going to be exciting and we are going to do so much. The day we look back and say, ‘look how far you have come’, that’s the most rewarding part. Being able to support students to grow and learn and develop, it’s what I have enjoyed in the past and I can’t wait to do it again.

What expertise and traits do you have that make you right for the role?

Hmmmm, so many things. I know the Telford area and the young people around here. I have good contacts at different agencies and educational establishments. I’m organised and proactive, I like to think that I am thorough and get the job done. I have good experience in all aspects of teaching and across a range of subjects. Then there’s the pastoral side, I think I have the right frame of mind and the balance of patience and understanding along with a pinch of ‘you can’t pull the wool over my eyes’ and ‘you can’t be serious’. I am able to create a good rapport with students, families, carers, agencies and anyone else who might drop by. And I can make a good cup of tea, so when all else fails the kettle goes on.

What do you think will be biggest challenges in the role?

For me personally, Makaton! I don’t use Makaton to communicate right now and it’s something I’m keen to learn, so that’s the first challenge.

Second, I think, will be making sure everything is running smoothly. The role comes with a lot responsibility. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I prefer to get things right first time.

What do you know previously about Derwen College?

I didn’t know a lot about Derwen before I applied for the role. I did my research and was impressed with the history and how the college has developed. Then I visited the site, and I was super impressed. The whole idea of a hotel, café, Garden Centre and print shop being a fully functioning service to the public with so many areas for the students to get involved with is incredible. I went away telling everyone about it. I will be working hard to keep up the outstanding provision already in place and make sure that Telford is going to do Derwen justice.

What do you think is going to make the Telford satellite site so important in the area?

Derwen provides an outstanding provision and is going to be invaluable to so many of the local students here. Derwen already has a big campus at Gobowen and satellites at Walford, in Baschurch, and at Craven Arms, but this is the first time they have come to Telford. This is going to be an amazing opportunity for the area.

What does September have in store for [email protected]?

There are 11 students starting with us in September. The curriculum is Business Support and we will be looking at work placements internally next year and then in the local area the following year. Within the first year we will be building on their business support skills and preparing them for the world of work.

Can you share a fun fact about yourself?

In 2018, I ran the London Marathon for charity and raised over £1500. It was amazing and I loved running around London, the atmosphere was incredible. Is that a fun fact? I can’t do any party tricks or anything!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I’m quite crafty and like to upcycle furniture, make things like bags and toys, my most recent lockdown project was a dress which I’m really proud of. I like to eat out – who doesn’t? I go walking and love to be outside as well as keeping fit and going to the gym. I am going to be trying out wild camping soon which I am looking forward to as well.

New Derwen site opens at Telford

16th September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College welcomes the first students to its new satellite provision in Telford this term, in a partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council.

The leading specialist further education college, which has its main campus near Oswestry, has opened a new Telford site to support young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Derwen College has opened the campus for day students at Stafford Park industrial estate, Telford. The launch comes in response to a need for more options in expert vocational training and independence skills learning for young people with SEND in the local authority.

Derwen College, which is has an Ofsted rating of Outstanding, has converted the former business premises into a new site. From here, a team of expert staff will offer day students with SEND the specialist learning and work placement provision that they would expect from a college with an outstanding reputation.

Zoe Wood, Head of Curriculum, said: “We are over the moon to welcome our first day students to the new Telford site this month.

“We have worked with the local authority, the families and young people who will be joining us in September to make the transition a positive experience.

“Our work in providing successful smaller satellite provision at Craven Arms and Baschurch has proved what young adults with SEND can achieve given the right teaching, work experience and independence learning. We look forward to getting to know our new Derwen students over the coming months and supporting them towards achieving their aspirations.”

Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Children, Young People, Education and Lifelong Learning, said:

“We have worked with Derwen College to launch this new satellite which will support young people with SEND in developing work and independence skills and work placements which will prepare them for employment and a more independent future.

“Along with the college, we have identified a suitable location, and alongside families been able to select students who we think would benefit most from the experience.

“Our SEND team share Derwen College’s mission to educate, inspire and empower young adults to lead the lives they choose.”

[email protected] Satellite Lead Lucy Harrison welcomes new students.

Newly appointed [email protected] Satelllite Lead Lucy Harrison has been liaising with the students who will be starting at the Telford site this month, and is eager for the new term to begin.

She said: “It has already been an amazing journey! I’ve been working closely with Derwen’s head of curriculum Zoe Wood, and we have 11 students ready to go. I have been keeping in contact with them and their families whilst we were getting ready at Telford.

“What we are offering in Telford is not only outstanding, it’s also unique to Telford. This is going to be an amazing opportunity for the area. Within the first year, we will be building on students’ business support skills and preparing them for the world of work.”

Derwen College offers vocational pathways and independence skills for 16-25 year olds with SEND. The college has a main site for residential and day students in Gobowen, and satellite sites for day students at Baschurch, near Shrewsbury, and Craven Arms.

Hydrotherapy pool is building awards finalist

11th September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College’s state-of-the-art Bradbury Hydrotherapy Pool was a finalist in the LABC West Midlands Building Excellence Awards.

The specialist further education college, in Gobowen, Shropshire, was shortlisted in the Best Public Service or Educational Building category. It was alongside some strong competition including eventual awards category winner Keele University’s Central Science Laboratories. The team behind Derwen’s bespoke hydrotherapy centre were thrilled to be recognised alongside other cutting-edge projects.

LABC chief executive Lorna Stimpson introduced the virtual awards ceremony. She congratulated all the short-listed building teams for going the extra mile to create innovative new building projects.

Events co-ordinator Jodie Nash said: “We run the LABC Awards because we want to recognise good technical work and good people within the building industry. Being part of the awards is a fantastic achievement. So, congratulations once again to all our winners, highly commended and shortlisted finalists.”

The hydrotherapy pool building was designed by Gavin Porritt of Oswestry architectural practice DPA Design in collaboration with the college’s therapies team. It was constructed by builders Jones Brothers of Weston Rhyn. The building opened to students in September 2019.

Setting the standards for the future

Derwen College estates and facilities manager, Paul Lindop said: “Although we weren’t the winners on the day, we are all very proud that the Bradbury Hydrotherapy Pool was shortlisted in such a strong awards category. The Bradbury pool was built to support students in their physiotherapy and sensory needs. Everyone involved went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the building project met the needs of students, therapists and the Derwen community.”

“Thank you to architectural designer Gavin Porritt and Jones Brothers builders for all their hard work. Thank you also to the generous donations from many community groups and leading grant makers that made the project possible.”

DPA Director Gavin Porritt said: “Through good collaboration between The Derwen College’s Estate Team led by Paul Lindop, the contractors Jones Bros of Weston Rhyn, together with the quantity surveyors SPProjects, we at DPA were delighted to see this project completed to a high standard, on time and on budget. The Bradbury Centre will serve the pupils of The Derwen College well into the future. It will provide them with a fantastic facility which I believe will set the standards for future hydrotherapy pools around the country.”

Derwen College students stride to success

4th September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College Charity LEJOG challenge — Student Tom and his family covered 874 miles in August.

Students and staff at Derwen College, in Shropshire, have been celebrating the success of their first ever virtual Derwen fundraising challenge, which has raised more than £5,000 for the college.

The specialist further education college, near Oswestry, saw teams of six take on the challenge of walking or running 874 miles during the month of August in the college’s Land’s End to John O’ Groats (LEJOG) Virtual Charity Challenge.

Each Derwen team had to complete the miles by working together. With each person walking at least five miles every day throughout August to stand a chance of completing the virtual challenge.

Derwen College Fundraiser Anna Evans said: “Walking five miles every day, for 30 days was a real challenge for many of us. It meant you had to keep up the pace continuously otherwise you were dangerously behind.

“I, for one, missed a few days of walking due to rain and bad weather. Before I knew it, I had 20 miles of walking to catch up on. It was quite a challenge in the end to complete the mileage. But because you are part of a team, you don’t want to let anyone down. On the last day of the challenge, I walked over 18 miles. I still have the blisters to prove it!”

Two students and their families also took part raising more than £3,000 between them. Tom Alexander and William Chapple took to walking, running and cycling around their local areas. Tom from Hanwell, London, discovered many new walks and pathways in London. He kept everyone at college updated with lots of photos and descriptions of his outings.

William and his mother, from Stowmarket, Suffolk, did lots of walking, running and cycling. They have said they really enjoyed getting fitter.

Importance of fundraising

In all, five teams signed up to this new event which was organised to recoup some of the fundraising losses faced by the college because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Fundraising events such as Derwen College annual sponsored walk were cancelled. This resulted in fundraising losses of about £50,000.

All donations from this event will go towards the Agnes Hunt Village project to refurbish and renovate the Agnes Hunt Village bungalows. These are used by students to learn and develop their independent living skills. Both Tom and William live in the Agnes Hunt Village when they are at Derwen College.

Tom said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in the LEJOG Challenge throughout August. Well done, job done and dusted! Thank you to everyone who took part and got involved in this amazing incredible journey throughout August.”

There is still time to support the students and staff fundraising efforts in completing Derwen LEJOG. Every single penny helps, so please sponsor them here.

Chance to dance for everyone

2nd September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College is excited to support a dedicated teacher who is launching her own dance school after successfully coaching college students to competition success.

Shrewsbury dance teacher Opal-Jade Trevor is opening a new dance school. It is dedicated to bringing the joy of dance to children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

She was inspired by her experiences as a Performing Arts and Sports teacher at specialist Derwen College, in Gobowen, near Oswestry.

The seed was sown when 25-year-old Opal started an evening dance class for students with SEND at Derwen College last January. She formed street dance crew DDC (Derwen Dance Crew), who went on to perform at a street dance competition in March, just before lockdown. The results were phenomenal with DCC winning a first place as well as individual successes in solo competitions.

Derwen College special needs street dance teacher Opal Trevor — Performing Arts and Sports teacher Opal.

“Our students had the time of their lives and won awards in mainstream as well as SEND categories. The reaction from audience and judges was overwhelming,” says Opal.

“Everyone was blown away by what these students had achieved. We received standing ovations, there were even tears! Judges described the performance as beautiful, moving and a demonstration of the diversity of dance.”

Opal, who has been teaching dance since 2015, realised there was a need for more dance opportunities for people with SEND.

“I have taught in all sectors of education primary, secondary and FE, but SEND is something so special. I just cannot describe it. When you see the students’ faces after a performance then it’s all worth it. I say to anyone, come and watch our shows, dance performances and you will see how much it means to them. Their smiles and happy tears will remain with me forever.

Everyone deserves to follow their passion and dreams

“I think it is so important for any individual to progress and follow their dreams no matter what their ability, age, race or gender. The dance industry is so diverse. Everyone deserves to follow their passion and dreams. Yet there is just nothing out there for SEND.”

The Covid-19 pandemic allowed Opal some time to take a step back from her busy life. She decided to take her career to the next step and create ‘Identity’ school of dance. Her knowledge of teaching in the SEND sector, and training in Makaton sign language, made her the ideal candidate to share her passion for dance.

Identity will offer weekly dance classes for children and young adults from four years to 18 plus, at Shrewsbury’s Elite Dance Studios at Sundorne Youth Centre. Opal aims to start with a focus on street dance, progressing into other styles such as contemporary, lyrical and commercial.

Students will learn choreography, develop their performance skills and social skills. The number one rule, Opal says, is to have fun!

Opal’s love of dance

Opal’s own love of dance started at a young age. She says she knew that she wanted to be a dance teacher from the age of 13. She studied performing arts at college, then university, before taking a break from education to embark on a job as character and parade dancer at Disneyland Paris. Once she returned from Disney she decided to pursue her teaching career further.

Opal continues teaching full time at Derwen, running Identity at evenings and weekends. She hopes that Identity will inspire a love of dance in a new generation of youngsters with learning difficulties and disabilities.

“It took me ages to come up with the name Identity, but it has a special meaning to me. Our identity is what makes each one of us unique in this world. We all deserve a chance in life to fulfil our dreams and talents.”

For more details visit Identity’s Facebook page or email.

Eluned Watson

New crop of preserves for British Food Fortnight

Derwen College, near Oswestry, marks British Food Fortnight from 19th September to 4th October by launching a new range of [email protected] seasonal jams and chutneys.

Derwen College supports Love British Food