<p>In a heart warming six-week project that bridged generations through creativity, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… College Level 1 and 2 Art and Design</a> students partnered with residents of Beach Lawns Care Home to explore the world of ceramics.</p><p>This unique collaboration, which took place from the end of March through April, formed part of Weston College’s ongoing social impact work.</p><p>The project began with an idea sparked by the care home, who reached out with an interest in running creative workshops. After coordinating around both the students’ and residents’ schedules, a plan was put in place to run weekly sessions that would grow in complexity and creativity.</p><p>During the initial sessions, students and residents worked side-by-side to create clay coasters—an accessible introduction to working with the material.</p><p>As confidence grew, the group moved on to crafting trinket dishes, with some residents showing remarkable skill and enthusiasm.</p><p>In the final three weeks, the focus shifted from forming to painting, as the co-created pieces were brought to life with colour and personality.</p><p>Feedback from both students and care home residents has been overwhelmingly positive. Students shared how valuable it was to engage in real conversations with the older generation—something they rarely experience in their daily lives.</p><p>For the residents, the impact was equally profound. At a later museum event showcasing the group’s ceramic creations, emotions ran high as they proudly viewed their work on display.</p><p>Chrystal Bliss, Art Lecturer at Weston College, said: “This project stands as a joyful reminder that when we make space for collaboration across generations, we not only craft beautiful objects—we build community, understanding, and lasting memories.</p><p>“Throughout, students developed more than just artistic skills. The project offered a meaningful opportunity to build empathy, improve communication, and gain confidence in unfamiliar social settings. It has been a very rewarding experience.</p><p>“There have been many highlights of this project, but one of the standout moments came when student Harry gave up his seat to support one of the residents, Eddie, and began guiding others through the process. His thoughtful gesture reflected the kindness and maturity that the project inspired among the learners.”</p><p>Eva Jarvis, Art Lecturer at Weston College, added: “We also created Easter decorations with the residents, giving them the opportunity to share their creativity with loved ones during visits. This brought a real sense of comfort and celebration—not just between the residents and their families, but also for our students, whose own families could see the confidence and joy they had helped to nurture through the creative process.</p><p>“This project didn’t just highlight the importance of community and intergenerational connection—it demonstrated the truly transformative power of art.”</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… out more about our Art and Design courses, by clicking here.</a></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:inherit;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><strong style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College </strong></span><a style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(16, 108, 177);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(55, 121, 123);font-size:inherit;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;"><strong style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">here</strong></span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:inherit;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><strong style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.</strong>&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>Weston College learner, Gracie Donaghy, recently won the <a href="https://www.sparks-magazine.co.uk/sparks-female-skills-competition-2025… Female Skills Competition 2025</strong></a>! This intense competition challenges participants to complete a live electrical installation from start to finish, testing their knowledge, accuracy, and time management under pressure.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Gracie standing between two SPARKS Professionals holding two large cheques&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1cd8ad7-51af-4a30-b662-07f3f3cd63bf" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Gracie is currently in her third year of an <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships/electrical-co… Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation Apprenticeship</a> with Wessex Water. This apprenticeship has allowed her to develop skills in installing and testing cabling systems, containment, and a range of electrical components.</p><p>Gracie secured her place in the final of the competition after impressing the judges during the South Regional Heats and achieving first-place. Her precision and skill were demonstrated throughout both competitions, gaining recognition from her peers and competitors as well as the judges for her excellent accuracy, time-management and attention to detail.</p><p>Having taken part in the competition last year, Gracie came into this year’s event with a clear goal to beat her previous performance. She dedicated time to practicing installations that she felt less confident with, including lighting circuits and unfamiliar wiring setups.</p><p>After winning the South Regional Heats and securing her place in the final, Gracie added, “During the competition, I felt very nervous as I wanted to do well and demonstrate my best work. After the competition, I felt very proud of the work I had completed. I performed better than I did last year and that was my main aim.”</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Gracie using a screwdriver to secure her electrical installation at the competition&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="113e8e26-ea84-4d56-9acb-7dba27e8c741" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Not only did Gracie show massive improvements from last year’s competition, but she also did herself and Weston College extremely proud. Gracie was stunned when she not only received the amazing title of <strong>SPARKS Female Skills Winner 2025</strong>, but she also got a range of tools and goodies and a fantastic cash prize to put towards her future.</p><p>The <strong>SPARKS Female Skills Competition</strong> is a great way for young females from all over the country to show their skills and compete with likeminded individuals. Competitions like these encourage future generations to take up trades courses and break down stereotypes in largely male-dominated subject areas.</p><p>Gracie also highlighted the fantastic benefits to the competition, saying, “it gives you a chance to meet others going through the same journey, and to push yourself to see what you can achieve under time constraints.”</p><p>Andy Fisher, one of our Electrotechnical Lecturers, has worked closely with Gracie throughout her time at Weston College, saying "Gracie is an exceptional student who works extremely hard in every task she completes. Her place in the final reflects the quality of work she produces. She is always millimetre perfect and very tidy with her installations and has always been such a pleasure to teach.</p><p>"As a lecturer, it’s an amazing competition to get the chance to attend with them and you can tell it means a lot to them too. Not only this, it’s also a phenomenal thing to put on their CV and Gracie has gone above and beyond with her achievement!"</p><p>Well done to all of the students who took part, and a massive well done to Gracie for this fantastic achievement and for representing the college with an amazing display of professionalism and maturity throughout both competitions!</p><p>If you would like to find out more about our Electrical Installation courses, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan… here</a>.</p><p>If you are interested in apprenticeship opportunities, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships?utm_source=ma… here</a>.</p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">We caught up with Lily a former learner who studied Media Production and is now working at Aardman Animations!</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">&nbsp;</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><strong>Who are you and what is your current job role?</strong></p><p><em>My name is Lily, and I current work as an Assistant Animator at </em><a href="https://www.aardman.com/"><em>Aardman Animations.</em></a><em> My job role includes testing and animating sequences, creating and preparing puppets and mouth sets.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Can you share a bit about your journey from Weston College to where you are today?</strong></p><p><em>I did my </em><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat… in Media Production</em></a><em> in 2011 at Weston college, as one of the modules focused on Stop Motion Animation which I had an interest in. I then stayed at Weston College to do the </em><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… Foundation Course in Art &amp; Design</em></a><em> so I could continue making stop-motion films and developing my skills. After that course finished, I wasn't 100% sure what I wanted to do next as I felt a bit burnt out, so took a 5-year gap out of education. When I felt I was ready and my heart was back in it, I went to University of the West of England to study Animation. In my third year, I got work experience at Aardman Animations and have continued working in the industry following my graduation. Some recent projects include </em><a href="https://www.aardman.com/film-tv-games/wallace-gromit/"><em>Wallace &amp; Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl</em></a><em> and series 2 &amp; 3 of </em><a href="https://www.aardman.com/film-tv-games/the-very-small-creatures/"><em>The Very Small Creatures</em></a><em>.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Many young people feel pressured to have their entire career mapped out early on. Looking back, how did your own career path evolve over time?</strong></p><p><em>I definitely felt a lot of pressure in that area, I knew I wanted to work in the creative industry but I started to feel a bit burnt out from education, so decided to take a break and gain real-world experience. I've worked in hospitality, I've worked in an office, I've picked up event jobs, fancy dress costume work on occasion, just a range of things that let me live and have fun without the pressure of having everything mapped out. It wasn't until I applied for another office job that I realised I didn't want to do that type of work anymore; it stopped bringing me joy, and I wanted to pursue working in the creative industry again. It felt like the right time to get back into it and pursue it for my own reasons.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Were there any pivotal moments or unexpected opportunities that shaped your career in ways you didn’t anticipate?</strong></p><p><em>I think a big moment for my career path was when I realised, I didn't want to work in an office anymore. Although the job was for a creative company, I realised I missed being the one who created and crafted things. When I had that realisation and turned down that job, I knew I'd made the right decision and started looking into universities that did Animation courses. During my 3rd year when I was offered work experience on </em><a href="https://www.aardman.com/film-tv-games/chicken-run-dawn-of-the-nugget/">… Run 2</em></a><em> with Aardman, it was my first time being in a proper working studio, and it completely blew my mind. The scale, the creativity, it suddenly clicked in me that this was somewhere I really wanted to be and a career I wanted to pursue.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>How important has adaptability been in your career? Are there any specific examples you’d like to share?</strong></p><p><em>Adaptability really is important. In my current job role as an assistant animator, I have to adapt to whatever is required of me on each project. That could be sculpting, animating, rigging or prop making, it all varies. My very first paid job in the industry, I had no experience in a studio or workshop environment, and was asked to do a lot of things I'd never done before. I just tried to be calm, listen and ask for advice if I wasn't sure. It took a while to build my confidence but eventually I started to trust my abilities more and wasn't as scared to ask people for help if I was unsure or had messed something up.&nbsp;</em></p><p><em>The industry is also unpredictable. Even though I'm in my dream job, I sometimes have to jump back into office or hospitality roles. Because animation/film jobs are mainly contract or freelance, there have been times where I've not had constant work so I have to pick-up part-time jobs to fill the gaps. People who've been in the industry for 20+ years and are skilled experienced animators still often have to do this too, so always be prepared to adapt when you need to.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;<strong>What advice would you give to students who feel uncertain about their future career path?</strong></p><p><em>Listen to yourself. If something doesn't feel quite right or you don't feel that you're ready, don't force it. Taking a step back or a little bit of time out isn't a bad thing, it helps give you some breathing space to really look at what it is you want to do, and what's going to make you happy. You'll know when you're ready, so don't force it.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>In a world where industries and job roles are constantly evolving, how can young professionals stay open to new opportunities and remain agile in their careers?</strong></p><p><em>Try not to pigeonhole yourself into one thing. When I applied for Aardman as a trainee assistant animator, they wanted to see evidence that I could animated, but also examples of sculpting and crafting too. I love being creative in a variety of ways so I had plenty to show them and the feedback was very positive. If you stick to just one specific thing, you're missing out on the chance to learn so much more that could actually benefit your area of interest. Talk to people, ask questions, show an interest and people will often respond in kind. It also helps broaden your job opportunities if you've got a varied skillset. It's a tough industry, so give yourself the best chance of standing out.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of career advice, what would it be?</strong></p><p><em>I'd say to my younger self, stop worrying about what you think you 'should' be doing or what other people think you 'should' be doing, and trust your instincts. I'm glad I chose to take that gap in education. I gained a lot of useful life skills, had a lot of fun, made some brilliant friends and learned a lot about myself. I also regained my love for animation so I could pursue it on my own terms when I was ready. I was doing it just for me, no one else.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to add?</strong></p><p><em>I'm grateful to my tutors at Weston College for helping me to pursue my love of stop-motion animation. They let me make an absolute mess of the studios to make my films, gave me advice on workshops and courses to look into and helped me when I was ready to finally apply for university. I never really thought I'd actually end up working in the industry, and although I went the long way about it, I'm so glad that I did it that way.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>A big thank you to Lily for sharing her journey with us!</strong></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_… you would like to study at Weston College, you can find out more about our courses, by clicking here.</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.6em;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px 0px 1em;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;width:1194.25px;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.6em;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;width:1194.25px;word-spacing:0px;">&nbsp;</p>