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On stage at Llangollen Eisteddfod

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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

Celebrating Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards success

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Sixty Derwen College students were recognised for their achievements in the Duke of Edinburgh’s awards at a special event at the college on Saturday, 30th June.

Our learners complete their awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels this term, and marked their success at a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Celebration.

It was a phenomenal achievement for students – reaching the standard required for the awards takes a great deal of time and effort on the part of students and staff.

The event saw 200 people attend including students, families and sponsors. Several charities supported students’ efforts donating funds for expeditions and residential activities such as a walking expedition through the Snowdonia Mountains and activities in the Lake District.

In May, five current students and two former leavers were invited to Buckingham Palace to collect their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards from last year.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards were launched in 1956 by Prince Philip, and are aimed at developing young people’s skills for life. The awards require students to choose one sport, one craft or skill and to take part in voluntary work. It has taken students six months to complete the Bronze and Silver and one year to achieve Gold.

Derwen College’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award sponsors this year included The Basil Houghton Trust, Cae Glas Lodge, Fitz Alan Lodge, Lodge of St Oswald, Shropshire Masonic Charitable Association, Rotary Club of Oswestry, Elthorne-Hillington Rotary, Rotary Club of Ascot and Rotary Club of Deeside. While Shropshire Paddlesport kindly loaned equipment and supported with training.

Steve Evans, Sports Coordinator at Derwen College said: “We are very proud of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme we run at Derwen College; the level of commitment needed from the students, their parents and college staff is immense but it’s worth all the hard work. This event was a fitting celebration of students’ achievements.”

“We are very grateful to our sponsors who have helped make the awards possible and to Kev Homewood of Shropshire Paddlesport who loaned us all the equipment for the Silver canoe expeditions and supported with training and the practice expedition.”

Derwen College Principal Meryl Green said the college was delighted to celebrate the achievements of so many students and to recognise the dedication of their fantastic staff team.

She commented: “More than 200 people attended the event including students, families and sponsors. The number of students participating in the awards this year has been higher than ever, growing from just a handful of students when we first started offering the awards to the 60 who have been successful this year.”

“We would like to thank students, staff, families and sponsors who have contributed towards these amazing achievements. The awards take a great deal of commitment to complete and we are very proud of the students and staff who put in time, effort and a lot of dedication to make this happen.”

Lifeguard training at Derwen

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Budding lifeguards are invited to join an accredited course at Derwen College this summer.

Swimmers looking to add to their sport and leisure skills or considering a change of career, can gain an industry qualification in one week at the specialist college near Oswestry, in Shropshire.
From 25th July to 1st August, the college will be teaching the Royal Life Saving Society’s (RLSS) National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)

The course, run by the college’s national award-winning lifeguard Kelli Smith, is an excellent foundation for a career in the leisure industry and for sportsmen and women involved in any type of water sports.
Covering 37.5 hours plus an external assessment, the course qualifies individuals to work as a lifeguard in a public pool and costs £199.

Previous lifeguard graduate Hattie described the course as: “Very informative whilst enjoyable, making me feel confident around the pool and in general first aid.”
The NPLQ course is recognised by all the professional bodies in leisure, and will help employers and operators meet their legal requirements to provide qualified and competent lifeguards. The skills and knowledge gained are also valuable outside of work for anyone involved in water sports and may help save someone’s life. The course that we run at Derwen College includes training to use an Automated External Defibrillator which we find most employers look for when hiring new lifeguards.

The course includes training to use an Automated External Defibrillator, a valuable asset that many employers look for when hiring new lifeguards.

For more details go to https://www.derwen.ac.uk/event/lifeguard-qualification/
To book please contact Caroline Morris, 01691 661234 or email: Learnwith@derwen.ac.uk

Derwen at Shrewsbury Half Marathon

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Volunteers from Derwen College were out in force to help out at this year’s Shrewsbury Half Marathon. Ten volunteers from the specialist college were given the task of handing our medals to all the runners who took part, and giving them refreshments as they came over the finish line.

This is the first year that Derwen College – a residential and day college for students with learning difficulties and disabilities – has helped out at the popular event, and each volunteer said they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

More than 2000 runners signed up to run the Shrewsbury Half Marathon, two of whom were running to raise funds for Derwen College.

Georgi Cleveley from Shrewsbury and Katie Griffith from Morda, near Oswestry, completed the run and were presented with their medals by Derwen College volunteers. Georgi has already raised more than £500.

Well done to both runners!

There’s still time to sponsor Georgi at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=GeorginaCleveley&pageUrl=1

or Katie at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=KatieGriffith&pageUrl=1

 

Tribal Empower Conference award winners

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Derwen College picked up the award for Outstanding Student/Learner Experience at the Tribal Empower Conference this week.

Joy Rush collected the award and said she is surprised and delighted that Derwen has won this.

Tribal Empower Conference award winner

The award is for the institution/organisation that has done the most to improve the positive experience of their students or learners through the use of technology. Examples of this could be increased engagement through the introduction of smarter recruitment processes or the introduction of a personalisation strategy.

We have also heard this week that the Student Union Board has been shortlisted for the Democracy Award and Sarah Laszlo is nominated for the Simpson King Staff Achievement Award in the NUS Awards. Good luck and we look forward to hearing the results!

Pictured above – Joy Rush with the Outstanding Student /Learner Experience Award.

PUBLIC NOTICE UNDER SECTION 121(2) OF THE CHARITIES ACT 2011

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The Trustees of Derwen College (registered charity number 1153280) hereby give notice that they propose to dispose of the properties known as:

No.s 1 & 2 Walnut Croft and land, Whittington Road, Gobowen
No.s 1, 2, 3 & 4 Twmpath Cottages, Twmpath Lane, Gobowen
Land off Southlands Avenue, Gobowen

by way of sale of the freehold. The property to be disposed property/land is held on designated charitable trusts.

Any member of the public wishing to make representations on the proposed disposal is invited do so by 15 July 2018. Representations must be made to Carol Thompson, Clerk to the Trustees

By post to: Derwen College, Whittington Road, Gobowen, SY11 3JA

By email to: carol.thompson@derwen.ac.uk

For the Trustees

Ruth Thomas
Chief Executive

15 June 2018

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A big well done to the students for their achievements and to Derwen College who play a big part in their success. https://t.co/KePRK1e0oo

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Our hard-working students were rewarded for their efforts when they were presented with awards, certificates and medals to mark their achievements in Derwen College’s Annual Prizegiving ceremony. Principal Meryl Green praised all students for the progress they had made during the year, making Derwen College proud. Learners had achieved in many different ways whether through their work, sport, arts or independence skills. Well done, everybody! ... See MoreSee Less