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874-mile walk in aid of Derwen Charity

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Intrepid teams of Derwen College Charity students, staff and supporters have signed up to a virtual walk which covers the length of Britain in just one month.

Teams of six are walking 874 miles in 31 days. That’s an average of five miles every day throughout August for every participant. Walkers are taking on the challenge to raise money to support students at Derwen College.

Each walker will be logging individual walks every day to make up the distance from Land’s End to John 0’Groats (LEJOG).

So far four teams of six are taking on the challenge to walk and raise funds to support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at the Gobowen college. The funds help finance their learning, work placements and independence skills.  And it’s not too late for anyone else keen for a summer charity challenge to join #DerwenLEJOG! Just email fundraiser Anna at [email protected]

Some of the teams are students and their families, keen to do their bit to support Derwen College Charity while keeping fit over the summer months.

Fundraiser Anna and daughter Gweni made it to the top of Oswestry Hillfort as part of the Derwen LEJOG Challenge.

Many of the walkers joined after a planned Snowdon charity challenge was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The charity has also suffered losses from the cancellation of its top fundraising events, the annual Sponsored Walk and Summer Fete.

Derwen College fundraiser Anna Evans is taking part, and is keen for supporters to join in the challenge or back walkers by making a donation.

She said: “Like most charities, we have felt the impact of the pandemic with a huge loss of funds in 2020. Sadly, we have had to cancel our main fundraising events. We estimate that we have lost more than £50,000 in donations this year.

“I am over the moon that students, staff and other supporters have agreed to take on this difficult challenge to help recoup some of our losses. With the backing of sponsors, we believe the blisters will be worth the effort.”

You can make a donation to Derwen College Charity LEJOG walkers here.
To find out more about entering a team or joining an existing team, email [email protected]

Nest Box Week at Derwen’s Garden Centre

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Derwen College National Nestbox Week
Retail students have created a Derwen Nest Box Week display and a special bird lovers’ hamper.

We’re marking Nest Box Week at Derwen College Garden Centre with shopping, activities and special offers for fans of Britain’s much-loved feathered friends.

There’s something for ornithologists of all ages to do over the school half-term holiday week. Because, at Derwen College Garden Centre Shop, we’re celebrating Nest Box Week from Monday 17th February to Sunday, 23rd February 2020.

We’re calling on young ‘twitchers’ to enter into the spirit of National Nest Box Week with a bird-spotting competition of our own.  So, there will be five metal robins hidden around the shop for you to find. Every person who manages to identify all five will receive a sweet treat. Then all entries will be entered into a prize draw to win a special mini Nest Box Week hamper.
The shop is also offering 10% off the college’s upcycled birdboxes. These birdboxes were created by students as part of their work experience. There’s also a ‘buy one get one free’ offer on bags of bird food. So shoppers can to keep bird feeders and bird tables stocked through until spring.
Derwen College National Nestbox Week

Bird spotting

Over the winter months, Derwen College staff and students have been filling bird feeders outside the Garden Centre. Because of our effort we have spotted many regular visitors. These include two robins, a couple of plump pigeons, Great Tits, jackdaws and a little Jenny wren.
Garden Centre Shop commercial supervisor Sharon Jones says the team have enjoyed getting to know their winged visitors.
“We have lots to do over the half term week for bird lovers. We’d love shoppers to come and join in the competition, support birds in their own gardens, and spot some of the regular birds who visit the Derwen bird feeders. We even have a huge buzzard who regularly flies over the football field. We think he’s after the moles.”
Derwen College commercial areas provide work placements for students with special educational needs and disabilities. The site offers a Garden Centre and Shop, Garden Café with outdoor play area, Orangery Restaurant and a popular Woodland Walk.
National Nest Box Week is an annual event that takes place every year from the 14th to 21st February. It has been running for over 20 years and is now an important part of the ornithological calendar. St Valentine’s Day was chosen for the start of National Nest Box Week as it’s the traditional date when birds pair up for the new breeding season.

Happy birthday Hotel 751

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Derwen College’s ground-breaking Hotel 751 training hotel celebrates its third birthday; and what a busy and exciting three years it’s been at the Derwen training hotel.

The Premier Inn-supported mini hotel was launched on 27th January 2017; its purpose, to provide on-site training and work experience for students before finding them work placements off site. The model has been a huge success, and has seen Derwen students learn the skills needed to leave college to go into paid work at Premier Inn and other hotels.

Over three years, Hotel 751 and Derwen College’s relationship with Premier Inn has blossomed and grown. We are proud to report that:

  • 20 Derwen students have gone on into paid employment at Premier Inns in their home areas.
  • 58 students have worked in the Training Hotel since January 2017
  • 14 students currently have work placements in local Premier Inn hotels

The other exciting progression is that Derwen training hotel Hotel 751 is now officially open for business, welcoming its first paying guests to the hotel in June 2019. Students are proud to welcome guests including students’ families, visitors to the nearby Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and Shropshire tourists.

Our special relationship with Premier Inn has seen students invited to attend catering sessions at the Whitbread Training Kitchen. Derwen was also honoured to host a Disability Awareness Day for Premier Inn staff to help them feel supported and confident when working with learners and staff with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Premier Inn have been involved in the college’s innovative new Support Work Project suite of apps, supported with funding by Marches Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) as part of their Investing in our Future Workforce initiative. Supported and brought to life by marketing, graphic design and app development business Hunter Bevan, these ground-breaking apps are supporting people with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) into work.  The ‘Premier Inn app’ provides a step-by-step guide to making up a hotel room which is used to support students in the training hotel, work placements and, ultimately, in their paid work.

The partnership with Premier Inn has been such a success that the training hotel model has been replicated at Hereward College, in Coventry – a national further educational college specialising in skills training for independent living and employment for young people with disabilities and additional needs. Last year, saw Hereward College open its own three-bedroom Premier Inn training centre.

Our partnership with Premier Inn has been life changing for many of our students:

Former Derwen College student Adam works at Premier Inn for four shifts a week.

He says: “I like my job. Everyone is really nice and helpful and they chat to me. Guests say ‘Good Morning’ and I say ‘Good Morning’ back.”

“I use the app on my phone. The app has helped me a lot to get things in the right order. Sometimes I do forget things and I can use the app for a prompt.

“I like using the videos. It means I can work independently without support. I can work pretty much on my own now. Although other staff are always interested in the app. It’s really good to have a job with money!”

Adam’s mum says:

“Adam was excited to be able to start work at Premier Inn immediately after leaving Derwen College. He finished college on the Friday and started his first paid shift immediately the next Monday. Support from Derwen College and the team at Premier Inn has enabled him to find a job that he loves.”

Simon Ewins, Managing Director, Premier Inn, says:

“Premier Inn couldn’t be prouder to work in partnership with this life-changing educational establishment and it’s a joy to see the young people learn new skills and flourish under the guidance of the college and our hard-working teams. We’re absolutely committed to giving back to the communities in which we serve so we’re delighted to have students in employment with us across the country. The partnership is about more than simply ‘giving back’ though – we get so much ourselves. We think business excellence is cemented by diversity and this partnership in particular not only enables a pipeline of employees but inspires and motivates our teams.”

Thank you to Premier Inn for supporting us in realising such an ambitious initiative which has had truly life-changing results for some of our students. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

All aboard for surprise award

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 Teresa was presented with flowers and a certificate by the High Sheriff and Derwen College students.

Teresa Richards, who runs Station Café in Gobowen on behalf of Derwen College, received a surprise visit from some very special customers this week.

High Sheriff of Shropshire Rhoderick Swire visited the Station Cafe on the Gobowen railway station platform to present café supervisor and Derwen College learning support assistant Teresa with an award. The High Sheriff Award was presented in recognition of Teresa’s tireless work and continued commitment to the popular Station Café.

Gobowen Station Café is run by Derwen College for independent not-for-profit rail agency Severn Dee Travel, providing work experience opportunities to students training in Hospitality.

Derwen College Principal Meryl Green and Sheila Dee, Community Rail Officer at Severn Dee Travel, were also among those who attended the certificate presentation.

Rhoddy Swire said: “When the Derwen College leadership team put Teresa Richards’ name forward for this accolade, I was very happy to make such an award. What an outstanding lady Teresa is!”

Teresa has worked at Derwen College’s Station Café for three years and prior to that as a teacher in the catering department of the college at the main site in Gobowen for 13 years.

Teresa said that she was moved by the unexpected accolade.

“It was such a fabulous surprise. I can’t wait to put my certificate up on the wall in the café,” she said.

“It was so lovely to have everyone – staff, students, customers and community partners – all involved. This award is recognition for everything we do here and the support we receive from the community, as well as providing valuable work experience for our students. It is important for students to engage with customers in the community, and it’s a great asset for Gobowen too. We all work together and are all constantly learning from each other. It’s a lovely place to work.”

Derwen College Principal Meryl Green said that the college was thrilled to be able to nominate such a worthy candidate.

Meryl Green said: “What a difference one person can make! Teresa runs the Station Café which is providing invaluable work experience opportunities Monday to Friday for Derwen’s Hospitality and Customer Services students. Teresa forms great relationships with the students and this provides an excellent base for learning.

“Under Teresa’s guidance the students are learning work-ready and independence skills through making and serving drinks, snacks and lunches, dealing with payments and developing people skills when serving customers. These skills are essential in order to prepare students for future employment after college. They are supported, encouraged and trained by Teresa whilst she is at the same time running this busy outlet.”

The Station Café was provided to Derwen College from Severn Dee Travel who run the ticket office at Gobowen train station. They saw this as a great opportunity to involve students from the college some six years ago. Teresa has formed an outstanding relationship with Severn Dee Travel demonstrating an understanding of their needs as a business, a local organisation in the community and work experience provider for the college. This has led to some amazing partnership work including nominations and awards from Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACorp).

Derwen College, in Gobowen, is a specialist college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. The college offers students the opportunity to learn new skills in real work environments and to learn life skills which will enable them to live as independently as possible. The college has received three consecutive ‘outstanding’ Ofsted gradings. For more information go to www.derwen.ac.uk.

Sheila Dee of Severn Dee Travel and Shropshire High Sheriff Rhoddy Swire

Principal Meryl Green and Shropshire High Sheriff Rhoddy Swire commended Teresa on her hard work and dedication to the Station Cafe

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sootiemonsterJane Carrington@sootiemonster·
11h

Virtual Walk - LEJOG - Derwen Team 2 a couple of days ago racked up 4 miles walking around #ellesmere @DerwenCollege

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As we enter the second full week of the Derwen College LEJOG challenge - one family is racing ahead of the pack with their donations and fundraising.

Derwen student, Thomas Alexander, and his parents have been doing long walks in the (very hot) sunshine in their home area of West London to fundraise toward the Agnes Hunt Village project... And their efforts have certainly been rewarded!

The total raised so far by all those taking part in the challenge £725.00. With £465.00 in donations on the Team Alexander page, the family is certainly making an impact! 🙌

For Tom, raising funds for the Agnes Hunt Village project is very personal. Here are his words:

"Being in the Bungalows has improved my confidence by learning to look after myself.

I learnt to how to make my own meals. I learnt how to wash my clothes in the washing machine. And I keep my Bungalow and bedroom tidy.

It felt like home to me living in the Bungalows during my 3 years at Derwen College.

I really like being independent in the Bungalows. In my spare time I like to spend time and visit my friends in their Bungalows and to socialise with them.

Thank you very much for supporting us!"

To sponsor Tom with his Virtual LEJOG challenge, please click the link below.

uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Alexanders1

#derwencollege #lejogvirtualchallenge #agneshuntappeal #fundraising #teamwork #teamalexander #charity #cahrityfundraising ... See MoreSee Less

20 hours ago  ·  

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