<p><em>“Happiness is not complicated. It is simple. It is a choice.”</em>&nbsp;– Shane Dean<o:p></o:p></p><p>On 27th February, Shane Dean delivered an uplifting and insightful talk as part of Weston College’s and University Centre Weston’s new Lecture Series—an initiative introduced by the College’s new Principal and CEO, Pat Jones.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><p>This series was designed to give staff and students access to inspirational speakers who can offer fresh perspectives,&nbsp;and to create a shared space where they can come together as a community and engage in thought-provoking discussions, and grow collectively.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Shane, an award-winning news journalist and founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodnewspost.co.uk/"><em>The Good News Post</em></a><em>&nbsp;</em>and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodnewstonic.com/"><em>Good News Tonic</em></a>, has dedicated his career to spreading positivity and helping people find happiness in a world often dominated by bad news.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><p>Drawing from over 30 years in journalism and his own personal journey—from facing mental health challenges in his youth to discovering the power of positive thinking—Shane’s mission is clear: to empower people to reframe their mindset and embrace a happier, more fulfilling life.<o:p></o:p></p><p>At the heart of Shane’s lecture was a simple yet powerful idea—happiness is a choice. Through his Good News Tonic framework, he shared three key ingredients for rewiring the brain toward joy and resilience across mind, body and spirit.<o:p></o:p></p><p>In a world flooded with negative headlines and 24/7 news cycles, Shane challenged the audience to “black out the bad” and actively seek out the good.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><p>Throughout the session, the room buzzed with energy.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Members of staff wiping their eyes from laughing too hard&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84ddde29-e054-4eaa-84c8-f32d5b72b7f5" 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><o:p></o:p></p><p>At times, laughter filled the space as Shane shared engaging videos—including a baby’s contagious giggle and TV presenters breaking into fits of laughter.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><p>He even introduced laughter yoga via UK expert Alison Orr, encouraging attendees to interact with each other and experience the immediate mental boost that comes from shared joy.<o:p></o:p></p><p>More than just entertainment, Shane’s message was deeply practical.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><p>He demonstrated how small, intentional actions—like limiting bad news, practicing gratitude, and prioritising moments of joy—can reshape how we see the world.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><p>By consistently choosing positive thoughts, he explained, we can literally rewire our brain’s structure to be happier and more resilient.<o:p></o:p></p><p>The lecture concluded with a moving message from Dawn Carey, CEO of&nbsp;<em>In Charley’s Memory</em>—a local charity providing affordable mental health support for young people. She reinforced Shane’s call to action: to prioritise happiness, focus on the positives, and never underestimate the power of checking in on others.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Shane’s inspiring and interactive talk left a lasting impression, encouraging everyone to take control of their mindset and embrace the simple but profound truth: happiness is a choice—and it’s one we can all make.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>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 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="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>. 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>We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding success of&nbsp;<strong>William Palmer</strong>, a former <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/art-design-gra… Art &amp; Design</a> student at Weston College, who has been recognised with the top award at London Fashion Week. William was honoured with the prestigious&nbsp;<strong>L'Oréal Professional Creative Award</strong>&nbsp;for his MA show at the renowned&nbsp;<strong>Central Saint Martins (CSM)</strong>.<o:p></o:p></p><p>William’s exceptional talent and creative vision shone through at the&nbsp;<strong>Central Saint Martins MA Fashion press show</strong>, where his work captivated the industry’s leading figures. The winners were selected by none other than&nbsp;<strong>Yu Masui</strong>, the eccentric Japanese influencer and talent scout for the esteemed&nbsp;<strong>LVMH Prize</strong>, further solidifying William’s place among fashion’s rising stars.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Since his Foundation year at Weston College, William has built on that knowledge and had a lot of experience with products before landing a place at&nbsp;<strong>CSM</strong>. He was hired by&nbsp;<strong>Dover Street Market</strong>&nbsp;to produce collections for&nbsp;<strong>Gosha Rubchinskiy</strong>&nbsp;and later oversaw the product development of brands under the Dover Street Market Paris umbrella, such as&nbsp;<strong>ERL</strong>.<o:p></o:p></p><p>During the show, William was one of the very few who showed clothes that could be immediately sold on a shop floor, including an oversized duffle coat, a check shirt, and a trench coat.<o:p></o:p></p><p>It was a fun collection, too. “I took the tongue-in-cheek attitude of lad culture, subverting it through funny fabrics, like the tea towels, and the teacup hats. I use humour a lot also. I drew parallels between adolescence and adulthood. I’m trying to make a more playful, carefree type of guy. The world would be better for everyone,” William added.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Three of William&apos;s designs on models: 1 in a large, oversized duffle coat, 1 tea towel flannel shirt and a teacup hat, and 1 in a brown coat and a hoodie jumpsuit&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="47299540-b2e8-4281-aee3-facf3cca9cb4" 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><em>Image courtesy of Women's Wear Daily</em></p><p>The <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/art-design-gra… Art &amp; Design</a> course at Weston College provided William with the skills and techniques required to get into Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts London, saying, “My pre-degree course provided me with essential foundational skills, basic knowledge, and the opportunity to develop a portfolio that ultimately helped me secure further studies.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p><p>It was during my A-Level studies at Weston College that I first discovered my drive to pursue fashion design. Following that, I enrolled in an Art Foundation course, which became one of my most memorable years. Surrounded by a diverse group of creatives from various backgrounds, I had the chance to specialize in fashion for the first time. This focused approach allowed me to take my passion seriously, equipping me with the skills and confidence to continue my studies in London.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong>Rachel Clayton</strong>, William's former tutor at&nbsp;<strong>Weston College's Foundation Art &amp; Design</strong>&nbsp;programme, shared his pride: "William's dedication and innovative approach were evident from the start. I am over the moon to see him receive such a distinguished honour. His journey from a dedicated <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/art-design-gra… Art &amp; Design</a> learner at Weston College to receiving one of the most coveted accolades in the fashion industry is truly inspiring. This achievement is a testament to his hard work, passion, and innovative approach to fashion design.”<o:p></o:p></p><p>His former tutors and everyone at Weston College are incredibly proud of this remarkable milestone in his career. We look forward to seeing his continued success and influence in the fashion world.</p><p>To see more of William's amazing designs, check out his Instagram <em>@williampalmer_uk</em><o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/art-design-gra… you are interested in applying to our UAL Foundation Art &amp; Design course, click here.</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>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&nbsp;</strong><a 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"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>. 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><span><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Recently, our Year 2&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; target="_blank">Level 3 Film, TV and Creative Production</a> students have been working hard over the last four weeks to create a range of promotional content for local charities. Each group had a different charity, taking into consideration the charity’s aims and goals in order to create meaningful content that reflected the values and integrity of the organisation.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">There were six groups in total with 4 students within each group. With 4 weeks to prepare, each learner took charge of a role whilst making sure they worked together to maintain consistency and create a strong campaign. They had to ensure they considered their target audience when designing their aims and plans, as well as take the branding on board to reflect the charity.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">The six charities included Weston Foodbank, Rainbow Trust, Cleaner Coastlines, You Are My Sunshine, The Space, and In Charley’s Memory. These Somerset-based charities focus on a range of different issues that not only effect individuals and their families but also focus on the community.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">The learners worked hard to create effective promotional content that not only gave them real-world experience in working with clients, but it also provided each charity with additional free publicity that they can also use, including graphics, posters, informative presentations, and long and short-form videos to bring to light what the charity does.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;3 students standing next to their In Charley&apos;s Memory presentation&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8b6658a6-4de1-45ee-88b9-e89ae232dda2" 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 style="margin-bottom:8px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">The long-form and short-form videos were well thought-out and executed professionally, and, in many of them, lots of B-Roll was used to show the behind-the-scenes of the charity and give people a better understanding of what they do. The students also independently organised interviews with members of the charities to add a more personal perspective and get to know the team behind the organisation.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;3 students standing next to their charity presentation, The Space&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eca3c9a9-1f16-4fa3-b5ee-6b22bd30704c" 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 style="margin-bottom:8px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">The research that went into each project was clear, and the relationships they built with these organisations were fantastic, gaining glowing feedback from the charity members who attended the showcase, with many expressing how extremely grateful they were to work with the students and gain some additional publicity and support.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Jenna Meyrick, Social Media Officer from In Charley’s Memory charity, added, “the team were brilliant to work with, very polite and eager to ask all the questions they could. The products they've produced will be very useful for our social media plans and for promoting the work we do. It will help relieve the stress a new client feels.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Dawn Carey (CEO) and I would like to say that being able to work with young people on projects like this is so important to making sure our work remains relevant to the community at large.”</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">One of our Media lecturers, Mel Edmonds, exclaimed how thrilled she was with her students, and the cooperation of the charities, saying, “it has been a privilege to work with these Somerset-based charities. The students have spent the past few weeks working alongside the staff and volunteers as part of their Social Action project.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">It has been a great achievement to produce professional content for the charities to help and support their incredible work in the community.”</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Overall, our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; target="_blank">Level 3 Film, TV and Creative Production</a> students worked extremely hard to produce professional content and publicise these amazing local charities. The learners gained a lot from this project! They now have a better understanding of the impact of giving back to the community and what kinds of fantastic work these organisations do to make our area better in every way. Not only this, it gave them the chance to work together as a team to create many pieces of promotional content that will be used in a real-world setting.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">A big well done to all of the students who took part in this, you did a fantastic job and promoted yourselves and the college in a highly professional manner. We’d also like to thank the charities who took the time to help our learners with this project, educating them about what they do and putting themselves forward for interviews - they could not have done this without your cooperation.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; target="_blank">If you’d like to join one of our Media courses in September, click here.</a></p>