hospitality

Students star in Down Syndrome campaign

14th March 2021 by Eluned Watson

Derwen College is privileged to have worked on a project promoting a message that we feel very strongly about.

Derwen College has worked with NHS Acute Trust in Croydon to raise awareness of people with Down Syndrome in the workplace.

The foundation was keen to promote and support opportunities for work for those with learning difficulties. Like Derwen College, they recognise that people with learning difficulties have important skills to offer and are a valuable addition to the workplace.

Derwen College, in Shropshire, is a further education college for young adults with a range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We support students to develop work and independence skills. Equipped with these skills, students can aspire to their ambitions on leaving College. Currently, a quarter of our 121 students have Down Syndrome.

So, for Down Syndrome Awareness Week (from 15^th to 21^st March, incorporating World Down Syndrome Day on Sunday, 21^st March) students in Performing Arts, and other work pathways, were challenged to create a video as part of our Performance Production work experience placement.

Performing Arts lead Jessie Vaughan said:

“Students were tasked with creating a short clip from home to promote the many abilities that they have. We all have something amazing to offer, and our students are absolutely no exception!”

Derwen College is an award-winning specialist further education college. Students, aged 16-25 years old, receive the learning and work experience to support them into employment and supported living. Work-based pathways offered at College are: Performing Arts, Retail & Enterprise, Gardens & Plant Production, Hospitality & Food, Learning for Life.

This video is being showcased in the Croydon area. We also wanted to share it on our social media sites.

Virtual competitions to highlight student skills

4th February 2021 by Eluned Watson

Specialist colleges across the UK are signing up to an exciting week of national skills competitions hosted by Shropshire-based Derwen College.

The specialist FE college has launched Skills Live @Derwen, a week of virtual competitions showcasing the vocational and independence skills of students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Judging will take place from 1^st to 5^th March to coincide with National Careers Week.

Careers Week will finish off on Saturday, 6^th March with the College’s Virtual Spring Open Day.

The college has been excited to already hear from a number of specialist and mainstream colleges from across the UK. keen to sign up for the competitions which focus on skills in Horticulture, Hospitality, Performing Arts, Retail, Work Skills, Independence, Work Skills and Functional Skills.

Creating opportunities for young people with special needs to work and live as independently as possible is at the heart of all learning at Derwen College, near Oswestry. With this in mind, the college has been part of national competitions showcasing the vocational skills of people with SEND for ten years.

Competitions will be held virtually

For 2021, the college has had to rethink the competitions around Covid-19 restrictions, and is preparing for virtual online competition. Entries will need to be submitted by 25^th February to be judged by industry experts from 1^st to 4^th March.

The competitions are open to young people aged 16-25 years old with SEND who are currently in mainstream or specialist colleges or schools. The competitions are aimed at students working up to Entry Levels 1,2 and 3. Only two students from each organisation can participate in each competition.

Derwen College Principal Meryl Green said that the college was proud to be able to hold online Skills Live competitions for 2021.

She said: “The college has had to adapt to the times, finding innovative ways to improve opportunities for students, now more than ever. We have become used to working, teaching and learning virtually, and have already held successful virtual Open Days, graduation ceremony and teaching sessions. The virtual Skills competitions were the natural next step.

“At Derwen, we are privileged to have the facilities and industry connections to run competitions to showcase the skills demonstrated by students following vocational pathways. We are able to bring together students from a variety of schools and colleges to compete in a professional way and demonstrate their learning and employability skills.

“We are looking forward to welcoming students from schools and colleges across the UK to showcase the vocational skills they are learning in preparation for employment after college.”

For more information or to register to take part go to www.derwenskillslive.co.uk or email skillslive@derwen.ac.uk

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.

hospitality

Students star in Down Syndrome campaign

Derwen College is privileged to have worked on a project promoting a message that we feel very strongly about.