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Students sparkled in evening wear, black tie and even a tiara or two for Derwen College’s 2018 Prom.

The red carpet event saw learners dress up to the nines for the annual end of year celebration at the college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. There were tears of joy and sadness as students celebrated another academic year of hard work, learning and new friendships; with many enjoying their last prom before moving on to pastures new.

The event, held at Derwen College, in Gobowen, was organised by the Student Union Board, and made possible due to support of local businesses and dedicated staff; Oswestry architects DPA, Stan’s Superstore in Oswestry, Sainsbury’s Oswestry, and Jamie Ward’s Traditional Family Butchers donated funds to help create a special and memorable occasion for the students. Money was also raised through the sale of home-made fudge by Derwen College baker and food operative Angharad Davies.

Learner Voice Co-ordinator Sarah Laszlo thanked everyone involved in making the Prom such a fabulous occasion.

She said: “Thanks to all the students who went the extra mile to create a prom that was full of glamour and fun. It was a wonderful farewell to our learners who are leaving us this year, and a celebration of all the work that we’ve done over the past academic year.

“Thanks also to our sponsors who helped make the evening special with their generous donations, and to Angharad for making delicious fudge that sold out almost as soon as it had set.

“A massive thank you to everyone who contributed to make Prom such a lovely event this year. The students had a great evening with lots of fabulous memories made!”

Derwen College works with young people with learning difficulties and disabilities, providing inspirational learning, development and care to enable the achievement of aspirations which transforms lives.

The college has received three consecutive Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ gradings, and recently won a National Union of Students Democracy Award for the work achieved through its Student Union Board.

Creative students from Derwen College will be exhibiting their technological artwork at an exhibition in Oswestry.

Students will display artwork created on tablets and mobile phones at an exhibition which opens for a private viewing on Friday 3^rd August and is then open to the public until 3^rd September.

The Derwen artists, from the college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, have been invited to the official opening of the Painting by Pixels exhibition in the art gallery at Qube, in Oswald Road, Oswestry.

The work showcased in Painting by Pixels has been created at workshops run by Paul Kielty and Nadia Kingsley of Fair Acre Press at Derwen College and social enterprise Designs in Mind.

Their work will be displayed alongside that of leading artists Giancarlo Facchinetti, ‘Isaac’ from Birmingham, and Paul and Nadia’s.

The exhibition is part of an Arts Council for England-funded programme which also includes an e-book on how to paint by pixels, with examples of work created by the lead artists and other participants.

12 students took part in the workshop in May, learning to use Sketchbook Pro to create patterns and pictures and learning different techniques.

Creative Studies Programme Co-ordinator Jennifer Fawcett-Jones said that students relished using the new app.

She said: “They picked up the app very quickly, using it on their own devices and experimenting with patterns, images and some of their previous artwork. It’s a quick way of producing artwork which some of our students really enjoyed.”

Student Rachel Pickford said she enjoyed using the app, producing work inspired by Harry Potter.

“My artwork was based on Gryffindor,” she said. “I had never used the app before but found it quite easy to use. It’s great that our work is going to be displayed in an art gallery for the public to see.”

The app makes art accessible to everybody and can be used on many different levels. Student Mathew Jenkins, who has dyspraxia, particularly enjoyed being able to produce work independently without support.

Students who took part in the workshop were Kelsey Hardy, Alexander Hall, Rachel Pickford, Olivia Asterley, Caitlin Wedgwood, Anna Howell, Caitlin Kelly, Lauren Morgan, Mathew Jenkins, Keeley Wood, Ben Waldron and James Pyne.

For more information visit www.qube-oca.org.uk and www.derwen.ac.uk

Creative Studies students from Derwen College were proud to be part of a celebratory performance at this year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod.

The Llangollen Eisteddfod celebrated 10 years of its Inclusion Project with the commission of a brand new performance piece, SEND A Message, which was performed on 4th July.

The project, which promotes harmony and accessibility for all within the performing arts, celebrated its tenth year with a performance piece written by poet Aled Lewis Evans and composer Owain Llwyd.

The college’s Derwen on Tour (DOT) group, which performs Makaton sign, song and dance performances and workshops, worked alongside children from St Christopher’s School in Wrexham, Ysgol Tir Morfa in Rhyl, Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn in Denbighshire, and the Theatretrain Regional Choir in Mold. SEND A Message promotes the idea of spreading love and peace via music, song and dance and showcases a range of diverse talent from across Wales.

Each group represents an assorted mix of members of the local community who would not usually have the opportunity to perform at international events such as the Llangollen Eisteddfod. With many participants actively overcoming different challenges and managing a range of physical disabilities, special educational needs and mental health issues in order take part in the Inclusion Project; members of the group represent a gamut of local society.

Music Director of the International Eisteddfod, Vicky Yannoula, said: “As an organisation renowned for welcoming a multitude of global visitors, year-on-year, the Inclusion Project is something which is close to everyone’s heart here at the Llangollen Eisteddfod.”

Speaking of Derwen College’s involvement in the Inclusion Project, Maryanne Evans, said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for the students at Derwen College. Being able to be a part of such an amazing festival is a real privilege!”

SEND A Message was composed by Owain Llwyd and the performance has been choreographed by Angharad Harrop, with Leslie Churchill Ward as Artistic Coordinator.

See the Getting to Know you session with DOT and Ysgol Tir Morfa on YouTube https://youtu.be/2z_o_SW92Fo