The talented soap makers at HMP Eastwood enjoyed a bumper day at the Gloucestershire WI’s AGM last week.

They sold their entire stock of 100 bars of Eastwood Soap before lunch-time at the event held at Cheltenham Town Hall.

Eastwood Soaps produces a range of luxury and novelty glycerine soaps, handmade by the women at HMP Eastwood Park Prison. The women enrol on a four-week craft and retail course, and once they are trained in soap-making they get the chance to make some of the luxury soap, which then goes out for retail sale.

The soaps are sold by three retailers:

• Berkeley Castle (GL13 9PJ)
• Leyhill Grounds Coffee Shop (GL12 8BT)
• Jail House Café, The Verne (DT5 1EQ).

To find out more about Eastwood Soaps, click here

Weston College’s Hair and Beauty Centre has been selected to host the regional stage of the WorldSkills event for the second year running.

Around 80 students from across the South West will visit the College on Tuesday 18th June to put their hair and beauty skills to the test.

WorldSkills is a prestigious international competition designed to create excitement and passion for learning in young people. Competitors take part in regional and national events before progressing to the international finals.

Experts design the industry-specific competitions, which help equip apprentices and students with the skills UK businesses need to compete globally.

Sandra Bull, the College’s Lead for Hair, Beauty, Barbering, Hospitality and Catering, said: “Each year colleges apply to host these prestigious competitions, so it speaks volumes for the quality of our hair and beauty facilities that the regional event is returning here.

“The Hair and Beauty Salons were refurbished recently, which makes it the perfect setting for the competition.

“As well as hosting the event, we’re also proud to have four learners – Ella Aston, Zoe Clark, Chloe Williams and Emily Spence – competing for a place in the national finals. We wish them the best of luck!”

The day will include competitions in hairdressing, beauty therapy, beauty therapy practice, creative media make-up, commercial make up and nail techniques.

The four College competitors have been putting in hours in addition to their College timetable to train for the event. Local employers have also helped them prepare by providing feedback and coaching. They secured their regional places after submitting photographic entries.

Winners of the regional heats are announced in September and the national finals take place in mid-November. The UK finals involve 1,000 young people aged 18–24 competing in 40 skills areas, from mobile robotics and graphic design, to carpentry and catering.

An upsurge in the number of apprenticeships arranged by Weston College is being matched by a dramatic growth in vacancies.

In October, the College helped to fill 35 vacancies, a 120 per cent increase on the same time last year and a record for the College.

The areas of business administration and catering/hospitality are particularly busy, with more vacancies cropping up every day.

In addition, Weston College has taken on 10 apprentices of its own in various roles.

James Wilmot, Weston College's Apprenticeship Recruitment Co-ordinator, said: “We've worked very hard over the last 12 months to improve the recruitment rate and that work has really paid off. Vacancies are increasing all the time and show no signs of slowing down.

“The good thing is that these are not ‘low grade’ jobs that have no worth. They are with strongly-performing companies committed to the training and development of all their staff, including apprentices, which shows the calibre of companies we are working with.”

Employers include North Somerset Council and Weston Area Health Trust, along with a wide variety of restaurants, hotels, garages, hair and beauty salons and estate agents.

James describes it as a 'win-win' situation. He said: “Employers get young people who are enthusiastic, eager to learn and willing to show a keen interest. The apprentices gain on-the-job experience, qualifications and an income while they learn.”

Emily Taylor, 18, from Milton, is currently working as an Apprentice Receptionist and Business Administrator at Weston College's Training Solutions in Locking Road.

In her teens she lived in the United States and when her family returned to the UK she wasn't sure what career path to follow. After an interview with Weston College she decided to take up their apprenticeship offer.

“I never thought I'd work in an office,” she said, “but I was attracted by the combination of work and study. Being a receptionist is a much more involved job than I expected, but everyone at Training Solutions is very helpful and supportive.

“I see the apprenticeship as a platform for what I'd like to do in the future. I'd like to be a PA, and maybe go back to America to work. For now, this is a fantastic way of gaining work experience and qualifications at the same time. You're given a lot of support and I can't recommend it highly enough.”
 

For more information about studying at Weston College visit http://www.weston.ac.uk or call 01934 411411. You can also visit http://www.facebook.com/apprenticeshipvacancies for the latest apprenticeship vacancies with Weston College. 

WESTON College has started work on a £1 million development  that will provide state-of-the- art facilities for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

The two-part scheme at Knightstone Campus, to finish in September, includes a dedicated workshop for a range of courses including motor vehicles, painting, decorating, carpentry and bicycle maintenance. 

The second phase will create a dedicated sensory learning base for students with profound and complex learning disabilities (PCLD) and includes specialist classrooms, independent kitchen-dining area and sensory room – the first of its kind in the region.

LInda Burlison, Assistant Principal (Systems and Resources) said: “This is the first time we have been able to totally adapt facilities for PCLD students and it’s wonderful they can now come here rather than have to go out of district.”

Strategic Lead Inclusive Practice, Ben McConkey, added: “The development demonstrates the College’s commitment to partnership working with the local authority, schools and special schools.

“The key element is about involving learners and their circles of support at all stages in planning, managing and shaping their provision from their first point of contact with us.

“We are committed to enhancing our outstanding provision through supporting outcomes that are appropriate for each individual learner.”                                                                                        

Student Matthew Barrett, 18, of Worle, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Matthew will be joining the Preparation for Work and Life programme at the new centre and said: “I was hooked from my taster days at the College. I have already learnt so much here, I love the College.”

His dad, Garry added: “I’d heard of the College’s great reputation and excellent facilities. Without this specialist facility Matthew would have to go to residential college when he wanted to live at home and study locally.”

In 1981 there were just eight enrolments who required additional learning support - now there are 980 Further Education students and 57 Higher Education students receiving various levels of learning support at the College.

All students with additional needs have access to individualised support programmes from a number of specialist support teams including students on the Autism Spectrum, students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and students with: Specific Learning Difficulties; ADHD/ADD; Visual Impairments and Complex Learning Disabilities.

Weston College also has a unique facility for people with autism – a 10-bedroom hotel – which is the first of its kind in the UK.

Weston Bay Hotel specialises in support for learners on the Autism Spectrum helping them to access and progress to higher education, independent living and employment.

The resource teaches students to understand and manage their learning difficulties as well as promoting independent living and improved career opportunities.

Weston College is the only centre in the UK which offers their support staff a career structure involving specialism to graduate level.

In 2014 OFSTED graded Weston College ‘Outstanding’.

In addition the Special Education Needs and Review Team stated: ‘The College Support for learning is outstanding; support workers are highly experienced and often very well qualified, with specific areas of expertise such as behaviour management or visual impairment. Links to specialist provision and support agencies are very strong.’

Weston College student Libby Bunker, 16, has qualified to compete in a national gymnastic acrobatics and tumbling competition in May. 

Libby, who studies Business at Weston College and is a member of its Academy of Sport, attended the South West preliminary completion for national finals earlier this month where she achieved first place in tumbling. 

The finals, organised by the British Schools Gymnastics Association, are happening in Stoke-on-Trent on 30th April-1st May where Libby will be representing the College in tumbling.

Libby said: “This is a great opportunity to represent the College in a sport that I am passionate about and have been doing for so long.

“I feel like all my hard work is starting to pay off.”

Paul Taylor, Sports Development and Performance Manager at the College, said: “It is great to see hard work and commitment paying off.  It is very challenging combining an elite athletic and academic programme.

“We are really proud of Libby’s achievements.”

The Weston College Academy of Sport provides students with outstanding coaching, training and support. 

The programme is aimed to develop the skills that the students already have within a professional and structured environment.  

Farhath Siddiqui, who studies Film and Media Arts Production at UCW, was recently invited to accept an award on behalf of internationally renowned street artist Banksy, but she didn't celebrate with a glass of bubbly...

That's because Farhath is Muslim, and Muslims don't drink - so how did she celebrate? Read on to find out more...

When I tell people that I’m a Muslim, one of the top things people respond with is the question: “Do you drink?”

When I tell them that my faith doesn’t allow it, my answer is often met with disbelief and further remarks such as: “What, not even a little bit?”

The answer is no – I have never consumed alcohol before and I am not ashamed to admit it.

I'm sure a lot of you reading this who love to party feel that I may lead a boring life, and while that might be true in some respects it isn’t because of the lack of alcohol! Just because I don't drink doesn't mean I don't join in with party. I love to party.

Sober doesn't mean boring.  I have been sober on all of my nights out, and I still have managed to have the best time by the end of them! The hype of intoxication shouldn't be something you feel peer pressured to do.

Not drinking on your nights out is always an option. It doesn't mean you can't still have a good time, you won’t wake up with a hangover, and you’ll remember the whole evening…

You might find that you still make a bigger fool of yourself than any other drunk person. If that's the case, take a long hard look at yourself and make sure you do whatever you did again.

When Weston College bought the Winter Gardens for £1 in 2015, nobody could have guessed they'd do this to it...

We didn't turn the pond into a carpark

We cleaned out the pond on day one, and while the fish were on holiday we repaired the lining and installed new fountains and colour changing lights. We released the fish back in September 2017 and plan to plant the area up in 2018.

We didn't turn the ballroom into a lecture theatre

The ballroom has been refurbished, the floor fixed, and repairs have been carried out to the dome. New technology has been installed to bring the building into the 21st century while retaining its 1920s character. The ballroom is available for public booking, and we are already putting on a range of events for the public.

No more Prince Consort Hall

We have transformed the little-used Prince Consort Hall into a series of classrooms and independent study spaces. 

There's a new entrance (but it isn't four stories tall...)

To keep the education and public side separate, we moved the public entrance back to the front of the building and turned an ugly 1980s concrete block into the new entrance to the education section of the building.

We've restored the iconic seafront facade

We've completely removed some of the 1980s additions to the facade of the building as well as intrusive signage that spoiled the building's aesthetics. We've installed more-subtle outdoor lighting and replaced all of the windows to make sure they match.

The cafe's more cosy

Leather sofas, booths, quality tables and chairs... The Florentine bistro (opened in October 2017) serves a selection of cakes, hot meals, sandwiches and baguettes.

The decor has had a much-needed update

It's more than just a lick of paint too - new lights, a new colour scheme, and new fixtures and fittings were all part of our plan to restore the iconic ballroom.

The restaurant's been moved

Located in the former Tourist Information Centre, Lasseter's Restaurant and Bar interprets the Winter Gardens' 1920s character with a modern twist. Serving a selection of locally-sourced dishes created by Head Chef Dave Newman, Lasseter's at the Winter Gardens brings together top-quality food and service in Weston-super-Mare's most iconic building.

It's got a new identity

On top of all of the upgrades, enhancements and refurbishment, we've updated the Winter Gardens' logo, designed by a former Weston College and University Centre Weston graphic design student.

Are you still unsure on what apprenticeship is best suited to you?

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