A Royal Marine who lost his leg helping a crashed motorist on the M3 visited Weston College to give an inspirational speech to sports and public services students.

Lee Spencer, 47, came across the car accident and began helping the injured driver and passengers using first aid training he had learned during his 24 years in the army.

Suddenly, another car crashed into the vehicle, sending the car’s engine and gearbox flying across the motorway lanes towards him. The impact severed his right leg and dislocated his left.

He used the training he learned as a Royal Marine to instruct a bystander to tie a tourniquet around his wounded leg and got the bystander’s daughter to stop the bleeding by standing on his femoral artery.

He told the students about the impact the accident had on his life, and how he was inspired to help change other people’s lives by raising money through a variety of sponsored walks, marathons and even rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

He gained a place in the Guinness Book of Records for being part of the first disabled crew to sail the Atlantic raising awareness for Row2Recovery.

Rebecca Ranson, Weston College Section Area Manager for Sports and Public Services, said: “This was a fantastic and inspiring opportunity for the students to find out about life in the army, how to act in an emergency situation, and how the training they're undertaking can help in real-life scenarios.”

What is anxiety? It's a word so commonly used within the student population and yet most people can't pinpoint exactly what anxiety is.

We all feel anxious from time to time and, surprisingly, this can actually be a good thing, depending on how you respond to it. Anxiety is the mind's way of telling us the stuff that we aren't aware of knowing - your gut instinct if you like. It's the message that tells you not to laugh in a situation where it wouldn't be appropriate. The voice that says "Change that and do this instead!"

Anxiety can also heighten our focus, more than ever throughout exam season; it's your body's way of raising your arousal, by means of adrenaline, thus sending all of your fighting power to attaining your goals and focusing your sights on success.

Did you know that the physiological and biochemical responses to an event that is incredibly scary are the exact same responses to those you feel when you are loved up and happy? So, the next time you feel anxious about an exam, or a social situation, focus on the way you are responding to the anxiety. Try to use it to your advantage and tell yourself that it is only your body behaving in the right way because you are excited, or you want to achieve your very best in the upcoming test. Turn it on it's head and find the ways that anxiety could benefit you!

Try going for a short run or doing some exercise - you'll be surprised at the positive benefits it can provide.

We are going to spend the next few weeks focusing on Anxiety and the "Mind Matters" sessions that take place every Monday in the LibraryPlus and Bistro at Knightstone and Loxton Campus will be tailored specifically towards anxiety - come along and find out more.

Our Welfare Team is at each campus and can offer confidential and unjudgemental advice, support and guidance, or if you want to talk to someone outside of term time, you can visit www.bigwhitewall.com. The service is free to all students at the College using your @weston.ac.uk email address. Here you can explore a whole toolbox of ways to deal with anxiety and many other issues.

A student at Weston College’s Sixth Form has won a district award at a Young Enterprise event, and will progress to the regional finals.

Ilja Voroncovs, who studies A Levels in Psychology and Sociology and an Extended Certificate in Applied Science, recently took part in the Young Enterprise programme and was nominated by his tutor for a Journey Award. 

The Journey Award is for students who took part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme, and have progressed particularly well not necessarily just within the project itself. 

Elinor John, Lecturer in Photography and Employability Co-ordinator at the Sixth Form, said: “I nominated Ilja due to his increased confidence over the programme. Ilja was extremely shy at the beginning of the course, but flourished as a result of the opportunity with the Young Enterprise. 

“Ilja’s confidence went from strength to strength, and he was really deserving of that recognition. The most rewarding aspect was that not only did his team, business advisors and I see the growth in Ilja, but he recognised it in himself.”

The Young Enterprise programme challenges teams of students to start a business from scratch, selling a product of their own design and making a profit. It requires them to work as a team, alongside real business advisors who help to guide and mentor them.

Wayne Richards, Head of the Sixth Form, said: “The Young Enterprise programme gives students the opportunity to get a feel for real-life business, and start to explore the different aspects of creating and running their own business. 

“We’re so proud of students like Ilja who really challenge themselves, and end up progressing not just within the College but personally, too, as a result of the project. We encourage all our students to grow and develop in any way they can and we’re really proud of what Ilja has achieved.”