Generous staff at Weston College’s Training Solutions are donating money to charity this year rather than sending Christmas cards to one another.

A decision was made by the staff to place one card to all staff members on a communal noticeboard and then make a donation to international charity ‘World Vision’.

Training Solutions, who are one of the largest training providers in the South West, offer a diverse Apprenticeship programme. It was therefore decided that all monies raised would go towards buying ‘Woman’s Apprenticeship’ gifts from the charity.

These gifts pay for less privileged women to learn new skills, from handicrafts to tailoring and baking, and will help unemployed women find a job and earn an income for their family.

High unemployment is hitting women particularly hard in third world countries. They are struggling to gain marketable skills and losing out on opportunities even when they have the qualifications and ability to do the job. This project aims to change this.

The Women’s Apprenticeship, which can be purchased from www.musthavegifts.org, is just £18, and the Training Solutions team are hoping to buy as many of these as they can this year.

World Vision ‘must have gifts’ are special because they are genuinely needed. Other gifts include mosquito nets, birth certificates, chickens and scholarships for children.

Training Solutions offers a wide range of training including Apprenticeships and NVQs, the majority of which are delivered in the workplace. They currently work with more than 1000 businesses and organisations supporting them to achieve significant improvements in overall performance. They achieve this through helping organisations maximise the performance of one of their most expensive resources - their people.

For further information please call Training Solutions on 01934 411594.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

Adults from across Bristol are invited to a free workshop being organised by Training Solutions this month (January) to help them find Apprenticeships with employers.

People aged 16 and above can attend the workshop, which will take place on Thursday, January 29 at Connexions in Bristol city centre, to find out about the Apprenticeship programme run by Training Solutions, prepare for interviews, be more confident and gain overall job search skills.

Anita Al-Zamily, Employer Liaison Officer at Training Solutions, explained: "We are hosting the Apprenticeship workshop on January 29 from 1.30pm until 4pm at the Connexions on Colston Avenue to give people an overview of the Apprenticeship course as well as helping them learn how to find a job and working on their interview skills, which will stand them in good stead for getting an Apprenticeship.

"We are hoping it will help those who are keen to do an Apprenticeship to secure employment with businesses in the area. Those wishing to attend the workshop need to book a place by either calling me on 01934 411573."

Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes, which means the majority of an Apprentice's training takes place in a practical way, directly in the workplace.

All Apprenticeship training will lead to nationally recognised qualifications designed to meet industry standards. Tuition fees for eligible adults are paid for by Government funding.

In Bristol and Somerset organisations and companies who want to develop their staff and their businesses are signing up for Apprenticeship programmes in partnership with Training Solutions. Cadbury House Hotel, Health Club and Spa in Congresbury near Bristol is one of the businesses benefiting from the relationship.

Laura Pengelly from Cheddar, James Day from Clevedon and Andrew Woodley from Worle are all undertaking Apprenticeship programmes and have all recently received job promotions at the Hotel.

Mark Veale, Head Chef at Cadbury House, said: "Laura, James and Andrew are doing exceptionally well in their jobs and have all deserved their promotions. They have handled the pressure of being given extra responsibility in their jobs and have performed better.

"I am very pleased with the structure of their training provided by Training Solutions. They are training on-site at Cadbury House, which means they are learning and improving their skills in a ‘real kitchen' situation.

"Another benefit of their Apprenticeships is the opportunity to gain a qualification. The training provided by Training Solutions has had a beneficial impact on the development of the hotel's staff. There is a long-standing relationship between Cadbury House and the College."

Training Solutions work with more than 1,000 businesses and organisations supporting them to achieve significant improvements in overall performance. It does this by helping businesses maximise their performance of one of their most expensive resources - their people.

Training Solutions also offers a wide range of flexible, business-related training, development and consultancy services including qualifications, professional development workshops and coaching and mentoring programmes.

If you are interested in attending the Apprenticeship workshop, which takes place at Connexions on Colston Avenue in Bristol on Thursday, January 29 from 1.30pm until 4pm, please call Anita Al-Zamily at Training Solutions on 01934 411573 to book a place.

A new and bespoke residential training facility for people on the autism spectrum has now been opened by Weston College, the first of its kind in the UK. 

The centre has been created out of the former Bay View Hotel along Weston-super-Mare's seafront, at a cost of approximately £1.5 million, and is now called Weston Bay. The aim of the facility is to provide training in Life and Social Skills and independent living skills for those on the autism spectrum. 

The centre is seen as a welcome development for parents of young people who want them to be educated in North Somerset and not at a specialist 'out of county' college. 

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Weston Bay has eight bedrooms and four flats, allowing residents to get used to living away from home, manage tasks including cooking and developing their social skills. Length of stay ranges from one night to three months, depending on individual requirements, and all residents are students on Weston College courses. 

Some of these students are hoping to go on to university, but aren't confident about their ability to deal with the Social and Life skills required for living away from home. Weston Bay's individually-tailored programmes allow each student to develop their independence according to their particular needs. 

The centre itself has been refurbished to a standard suitable for people on the autism spectrum, including subdued lighting, analogue and digital clocks on the walls and minimalist decoration which promotes a low arousal environment. 

Two main rooms downstairs are multi-functional for both leisure and learning use, and each student has their own bedroom. There is an IT suite for evening study, four kitchens and a laundry and a programme of activities throughout the week. 

Weston College has an excellent reputation for its work with students with LDD. It has just received a prestigious Beacon Award for its work in the field and it is the only centre in the UK which offers their support staff a career structure which involves specialism to graduate level. In 2010 OFSTED's Special Education Needs and Review Team stated Weston College has an ‘exceptionally well qualified team’.

The College began its provision for students with learning difficulties or disabilities in 1981, with just eight enrolments.

Now there are 980 Further Education students and 57 Higher Education students receiving various levels of learning support at the College. Provision for students with learning difficulties or disabilities is classed as 'Outstanding'.

College Principal and Chief Executive Dr Paul Phillips said: “Weston College is seen as a centre of excellence for LDD provision and we pride ourselves on our professional approach. This new provision will enhance our reputation in this field enormously, and will offer a ground-breaking model of support that other colleges will surely follow.”

Rachael Bastin (Co-ordinator) said: “Weston Bay presents a challenging new venture; totally innovative in its approach to working with individuals on the autism spectrum, in a general College of Further Education. As a staff team we are excited and motivated by the results we are seeing on a daily basis. Students and their parents are keen to work in partnership with us to make a success of this provision which is aspirational for autism”.

Earlier this year the Ambitious About Autism charity highlighted a lack of accessibility to Higher Education among autistic adults. Only one in four school leavers with autism go on to further education, and 15 per cent of adults with autism have a job.

The charity's chief executive, Jolanta Lasota, said: "Less than one in four people with autism currently access further education, which is a waste of their potential and puts a strain on families. Many parents feel they are staring into a black hole when their child approaches school leaving age, because the options for further education are so limited.

“We want to give them the opportunity to be part of their community, to stay close to family and friends and enter meaningful employment."

The charity, which Weston College works closely with, has now launched a campaign - 'Finished At School' – that aims to secure more and better educational options for all young people with autism aged 16 – 25 to enable them to develop skills, gain employment, live more independently and ultimately to live the life they choose.

For more information about the new centre for people on the Autism Spectrum contact 01934 411411.