Latest News

Monday, 20th January

is Blue Monday – a day that has been reported as one the ‘saddest’ of the year. With cold, wet weather, debt problems after Christmas, failed New Year’s Resolutions and the end to Christmas joviality, many people find themselves feeling down.

Derwen College counsellor Carol Shields works with students and staff as part of our ongoing commitment to wellbeing and therapy alongside learning. She offers some pointers which could help you deal with the Monday (or indeed, any day) blues.

1. Get active – take a walk, book into a gym session or go for a swim. Exercise releases endorphins and is a great natural mood lifter.
2. Eat healthily – a balanced healthy diet will give your immune system a boost and make you feel better about yourself.
3. Schedule in time to catch up with a friend – it will make you both feel happy. Meet for lunch or a snack at our Orangery Restaurant or Garden Café.
4. Get outside and enjoy nature. Take a stroll around Derwen’s Woodland Walk, climb a hill or pop into your local park or garden (have you been to our Garden Centre recently for some lovely ideas to brighten your plot?)
5. Organise yourself. Making a list of work or home priorities, and decluttering by sorting your ‘miscellaneous drawer’ or  taking unwanted clothes or toys to the charity shop will make you feel more positive about the day or week ahead.
6. Talk about it. If your feelings are having an impact on your life, and you’re feeling anxious, depressed or struggling to cope, talk to friends or family, look towards counselling sessions or make an appointment with your GP.

Derwen College counsellor Carol Shields runs sessions for staff as well as students. Staff are invited to come along to the next Mindfulness session on Wednesday, 22^nd January, from 5-5.30pm in Studio 1, and the next Resilience Workshop on Thursday, 30^th January from 1.30pm-3.30pm in the Hub.

Find out more about learning at Derwen, working at Derwen, or about visiting our varied shopping and eating facilities.

Wishing everyone a Happy Monday!

Talented students brought the house down when they performed Peter Pan as the end of term Derwen College Christmas Show.

Derwen College provided yet another successful Christmas Show this year, entertaining guests, students, families and staff with their production of Peter Pan.
Among the guests were supporters of the college, local dignitaries, parents and students from neighbouring schools and nurseries.
The Performing Arts team have yet again written and produced the show which is always a popular event and a highlight in the College’s calendar as well an amazing opportunity to showcase the talent of all the students involved.

“We were delighted to have a packed audience for the show which is always keenly anticipated by those attending. The students put so much hard work in to this, not only those starring in the production but those who worked on the props and costume. A fantastic achievement for the students and a real ‘hit’ to end the term with,” said Jen Fawcett-Jones, Curriculum Manager at Derwen College.”

The matinee show was attended by Hope House, Peter Pan Day Nursery, St Martin’s School, Woodside School, The Derwen School and Overley Hall School.

Local VIPs included Shropshire Lord-Lieutenant Anna Turner JP and Oswestry mayor John Price and Mayoress Joyce Barrow.

Well done to everyone involved in this fabulous show – the perfect way to celebrate the end of term. Happy Christmas.

Icing sugar snowmen, stars and gingerbread men were amongst the festive decorations adorning stunning Christmas cakes created by Derwen College hospitality students for a competition.

Teams of catering students competed in a competition which saw them bake and decorate Christmas cakes from weighing out ingredients to the magical finishing touches. The winners were picked by guest judge Mark Fisher owner of Sebastian’s Restaurant, in Oswestry.

Due to the high standard of entries, Mark found judging the cakes exceptionally hard, eventually awarding joint first place to the ‘Northern Stars’ and ‘Team Seals’.

The Northern Stars impressed with a classic white and cold star themed creation, whilst Team Seals opted for a jolly gingerbread man theme.

Mr Fisher, who has been a chef for 46 years, said that the standard of entries was very high.

He said: “It was very difficult to judge. The attention to detail on all the cakes was excellent. Students have obviously spent a lot of time creating intricate decorations, all of which were completely different and original.”

Students started making the cakes back in October, and were tasked with baking the cakes, feeding them brandy, and covering them in marzipan before icing and decorating.

Hospitality and housekeeping students learn catering skills in the college’s food production centre, Orangery Restaurant and Garden Café.

Christmas cakes handmade by students are available to buy in the Garden Centre shop along with Christmas gifts, cards, plants and decorations.

For more information regarding Derwen College’s shopping and eating facilities go to www.visitderwen.co.uk

A creative student has won a competition to see her Christmas design adorn the official greetings card of the nationwide Association of Colleges (AoC).
Amy Jude is a 21-year-old residential student at specialist Derwen College, in Shropshire. She won a Christmas card design competition organised by the Association of Colleges. As the winner, her vibrant design features on the AoC’s official Christmas greetings card for 2019 – both card and electronic GIF versions.
Amy, from Hereford, was awarded with a voucher for her hard work. She said she was happy and surprised to have won the competition with her heart-shaped creation which features iconic Christmas images such as stars, stockings, holly and a Christmas pudding.
She said: “I was really shocked when I was told I’d won. I phoned my Mum straightaway and she was shocked too. I like art and design, and enjoy using bright colours and strong shapes. For this design, I drew a Christmas pudding, stocking, holly, parcels, baubles and stars. I used marker pens to make the colours stand out.”

‘Fantastic design’

Association of Colleges Chief Executive David Hughes picked the winner of the competition.
He said: “We are delighted to be using Amy’s fantastic design on our Christmas cards. It’s great to have talented students designing cards for us and this year the standard of entries was extremely high as always. Amy’s stood out through her use of such vibrant colours and the spirit of giving and a time to celebrate was clear. We’re very proud to be circulating it far and wide this festive season and I am sure everyone will love it!”
The former pupil at Barrs Court Special School, in Hereford, is in her first year at specialist college Derwen College – a further educational college for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She is following the college’s Creative Arts pathway.