hospitality

Happy to serve up delicious dishes

13th October 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College’s Garden Café has been open since July, providing a delicious menu of home-made lunches, breakfasts, snacks, cakes and drinks.

The café has been adapted to ensure visitors, staff and students are kept safe. But you can still expect the same quality fare and service with a smile that we’ve always served up. Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Customers to the café are expected to wear masks until they are seated at their tables, with service now all provided at the table. Tables are limited to six unless a group are all from one family bubble. And all surfaces and facilities are regularly sanitised.

Regular customers have said how nice it is to see homemade meat and vegetarian specials are back on the menu again, alongside a variety of fresh, home-made food. The usual Garden Café menu includes lunches, light bites, breakfasts, cakes and drinks.

Front of house shift leader Fiona Owen says that customers are getting used to the new way of eating at Garden Cafe. She says, most are really happy with the measures in place.

She says: “Customers are welcomed by the main door by a member of staff. We then take contact details or asks visitors to scan the ‘track and trace’ barcode if they have it on their mobile phones. We take everybody’s temperatures before showing to a table.”

Fiona and the team have been delighted with comments from customers who have appreciated the efforts they’ve gone to.

Here are just a few:

“The café was well presented and I felt it was a safe environment,” – a visitor who works locally

“It’s so nice to see that homemade specials are on the menu again” – a regular customer

“ I feel safe and welcomed, “ – a customer with COPD

“I think this is the cleanest place I’ve been to!” – a first-time customer

“That was the best homemade veg pie I’ve ever had, and the scones are delicious” – lunchtime customer

Gold standard for Derwen College

30th September 2020 by Eluned Watson

Students Tom and Courtney with Work Experience Co-ordinator Abi Baker.

Derwen College has been awarded a top Gold standard award in recognition of its work experience opportunities and work programmes for students.

The specialist further education college, near Oswestry, has received a Gold certificate and trophy from Fair Train – an organisation which champions high quality work-based learning throughout the UK.

Derwen College, in Gobowen, provides vocational learning and work experience for 16-25 year olds students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The College has developed strong external business opportunities with national and local businesses.

Hospitality and Housekeeping students work in Premier Inn housekeeping and Gobowen Station Café in a partnership with Severn Dee Travel; Horticulture students work at Oswestry Cemetery and Treflach Farm; Retail students work at Spar, in Llanfyllin and Severn Trent Water; and Performing Arts students work at Gobowen Playgroup, and as part of sign, song and dance group Derwen on Tour and inclusive storytelling group DC NarraTours.

The college also offers internal work experience on site in commercial areas which are open to the public including the Karten Print Shop, Garden Centre and Shop, and Garden Café.

The college houses a Premier Inn training facility where students learn the skills needed to work in a Premier Inn hotel. This experience then leads to work experience at Premier Inn hotels in the area. This has gone on to become paid work at Premier Inn for 20 former Derwen College students.

Derwen College has achieved Fair Train’s Gold Standard.

Derwen College’s Work Experience and Transition Team are pleased to have received the nationally respected Work Experience Quality Standard at the highest Gold level.

Abi Baker, Work Experience Co-ordinator, said she was delighted that the hard work of staff and students at Derwen College had been recognised at the highest possible level.

“We are really pleased to have received the Fair Train gold quality standard award which shows we are following Fair Train’s high standards of practice at the top Gold level. Fair Train’s Work Experience Quality Standard is a widely and highly respected accreditation. We have worked closely with Fair Train to ensure we maintain the highest possible standards.”

Fair Train was created in 2009 by a group of people from the voluntary and community sector to address the lack of availability and uptake of apprenticeships in the sector. More than 400 organisations – employers, learning/training providers and facilitators – have now achieved Fair Train’s Work Experience Quality Standard. Sadly, this is Fair Train’s final year of operation, due to the impact of Covid-19 on the sector.

Derwen College continues to work with businesses to provide quality work experience opportunities for students working in Hospitality & Housekeeping, Retail, Performing Arts and Horticulture.

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 Made@Derwen 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 Made@Derwen 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 Made@Derwen 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 Made@Derwen 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.

Teresa takes on sponsored slim

17th July 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College Teresa Richards sponsored slim Station Cafe — Teresa plans to lose four stones through healthy eating and exercise.

A Derwen College teacher is determined to lose more than four stones in a charity weight loss challenge, despite being surrounded by delicious home-made food and cakes in her daily job.

Teresa Richards works at the specialist further education college, near Oswestry. She is best known for supervising students in their work placements at Gobowen’s popular Station Café – which is temporarily closed. She is embarking on a sponsored slim to raise funds for Derwen College Charity. Money raised will go towards providing vital experiences, equipment and independence for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Teresa wants to become fitter for her own health, but is keen for supporters to encourage her in her endeavours. She hopes to raise £500 and even to recruit other slimmers who may want to shed a few extra lock-down pounds.

Teresa, from Oswestry, wants to lose four stones over the next 12-18 months through healthy eating and exercise. Her biggest weaknesses, she says, are chocolate, sweets and wine with friends. Being surrounded by the tempting home-made food that she makes in the Station Café and college Food Centre and bakery, make the challenge even more difficult.

She says: “I have been fighting with my weight for most of my life. My joints are failing and even doing the slightest physical activity has become challenging. My main focus is on my weight loss journey but I would love to see how much money I can raise for such a great charity which helps the fantastic students I work with in so many ways.

“I would to love to inspire others to make a donation towards Derwen College Charity. Or even to join me on this challenge if they want to lose weight and get healthy.”

Teresa Richards Derwen College Station Cafe — Teresa is a familiar friendly face at Gobowen’s much-loved Station Cafe.

High Sheriff Community Award

Teresa is a familiar face to many commuters and the Gobowen community. Last year she won a High Sheriff of Shropshire community award for her tireless work and continued commitment to the popular Gobowen Station Café.

She continues: “I am lucky to know many lovely people through the Station Café. Customers helped me to raise £300 for our annual sponsored walk two years ago. I hope they might support me again as the college’s usual fundraising events have been cancelled for 2020. I can’t wait to see all our customers again soon when we are able to safely reopen.”

You can follow Teresa’s weight-loss journey on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/troser64/ or support her efforts by donating at https://www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/teresa

There are many other ways to support Derwen College Charity, including a challenging Virtual John O’Groats to Land’s End team walk which takes place throughout August. Find out more here.

The walk must go on

12th June 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College Charity sponsored walk — Carter and mum Pam walked 10km.

A Derwen College student and his family have raised more than £1500 for the college on a sponsored walk around their home village.

Student Carter Gough, who is a Hospitality and Housekeeping student at the specialist Shropshire college, took on the 10km challenge when the college’s charity sponsored walk was cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Student Carter, his parents Pam and Lloyd, and his sister Madison decided to honour their commitment to the Derwen College Sponsored Walk by walking 10km around their home village in Worcestershire.

The family took on the walk on April 5th, starting at 11am which was the exact time that the original walk had been due to take place. The family were delighted to raise a phenomenal £1500 for Derwen College Charity.

Pam Gough said: “We had already gathered lots of sponsorship before the walk and before the government lockdown measures were put in place. But we wanted to honour the donations made by our friends and family. Also, the event was on the family calendar, and Carter was adamant it had to happen so we did the walk our way.

“We then posted pictures doing the walk on our Facebook page, and other friends and family decided to sponsor us too, therefore we raised even more money.”

This is Carter’s final year at college, and his friends and family were keen to support the college to show their appreciation of his progress.

“Many of our friends and family are aware of how important Derwen College has been for Carter,” said Mrs Gough.

Derwen College Charity sponsored walk 2020 — Dad Lloyd took a selfie of the family sponsored walk.

“The independence skills and confidence he has gained has been huge. We have gone from a young man who mainly communicated using sign language, pictures and very limited speech to now having conversations. It has been amazing. He is leaving college with real work and life skills, and we know he is capable of working independently.

“For Carter, being able to communicate his thoughts and feelings, and frustrations, has been vital. He can tell us how he feels and what he wants; it has made such a difference to his confidence. That is how much of a game changer Derwen College has been for Carter.”

Thank you to the Gough family

Fundraiser Anna Evans said:

“We are so grateful to Carter and his family for thinking about Derwen College during these very uncertain and worrying times. To have raised this amount for the college is wonderful, and we will be using this donation to boost our Agnes Hunt Village project appeal, which is still ongoing.

“We aim to refurbish and renovate our unique complex of bungalows at Derwen College which provide students just like Carter with the setting to learn how to live independently and to care for themselves. Carter himself has lived in the Agnes Hunt Village, and he knows just how important these facilities are for young adults with SEND. We thank the Gough family for their wonderful support.”

National Careers Week

8th March 2020 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College celebrated National Careers Week, from 2nd to 7th March with a host of fun and informative activities to support students towards future employment.

Students at the specialist further education college for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) took on work-related tasks and challenges in Horticulture, Retail, Hospitality and Housekeeping, and Performing Arts.

The week also saw the official launch of a ground-breaking new CV Builder ‘app’ that the college has developed to enable people with SEND to create and send their own CV to potential employers, as well as the launch of the College’s Skills Live @Derwen 2020 Competition which take place on 23rd June.

See more pictures from across the College in our Facebook Careers Week album.

Derwen College CV Builder app developed with Hunter Bevan and Marches LEP funding — Derwen College’s new CV builder app which is supporting students to independently create and send a CV to potential employers.

Poster competition

Students were invited to take part in a poster competition highlighting the work and independence skills they had learnt with us. The ‘I couldn’t, but now I can …” competition received 47 entries which demonstrated a huge variety of skills. Themes varied across employment, independence and social skills. They included skills such as using a till in the Orangery Restaurant, learning lines for a performance, making sandwiches, using kitchen knife skills, folding clothes and going out to work in the community.

Of the competition, Derwen College Governor Barbara Court said: “It was inspiring to see such a large number of entries covering a diverse range of skills and knowledge that students recognised they had acquired whilst at College. These were transferable skills that will serve students in their work and independence skills at College, and in the future.”

A Future Aspirations workshop explored the key concept of ‘hope,’ to help battle anxiety and stress devised from the anticipation of post college life. Resources and video material were provided by #NCW to help inspire and challenge positives expectations and aspirations for career development.

Supporting students towards employment

Derwen College works hard to equip students with the skills and tools necessary to support them towards employment. We have an on-site restaurant, café, print shop, Garden Centre, Shop and mini Hotel 751 that offer work experience for students. Derwen also works with national and local businesses to provide relevant off-site work placements for students, preparing them for employment when they return to their home area.

With technical support from app developers Hunter Bevan Ltd, the college has created and developed innovative new apps to further support students into work. We have developed a suite of apps as part of a ‘Support Work’ project, funded via the Marches LEP Growth Deal with Government for capital skills projects.

The College is now looking forward to further promoting work skills during Skills Live @Derwen competitions on 23rd June. The College is hosting competitions to showcase student skills for potential employees across the UK, with entries welcomed from this week. For more information visit www.derwen.ac.uk/competitions/

Derwen College Quality Manager Samantha Brown said that the College is constantly supporting students in the pursuit of suitable employment, and they were pleased to focus on National Careers Week.

She said, “Careers Week provides a platform to celebrate the wider world of work. By embracing an across-college approach to career guidance and providing an insight into future work or learning possibilities through positive and fun exploration, we hope to empower students to develop and express their own aspirations.”

hospitality