Special projects http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/special-projectsCollege returns to Romania for a fifth year/news/college-returns-to-romania-for-a-fifth-year A group of 23 BTEC health and childcare students are set to embark on Redcar & Cleveland College’s fifth trip to Romania to assist in the care of a number of vulnerable groups. The 23 students, who are all studying for qualifications in Childcare or Health & Social Care at the college, along with three members of staff are making their annual trip to the Caminul Felix Project in Oradea, Romania as part of their courses. The Christian charity provides a home for abandoned and neglected children in two purpose-built villages under the care of adults who act as their ‘family’. Children are provided with basic needs such as food, love and shelter which they wouldn’t have ordinarily received. Claire Barwick, a tutor on the college’s Health and Social Care courses, leads the organisation of the week long trip, said: “For our Health and Child Care students to get the opportunity to see first hand different standards of care and offer support to those with often very difficult issues that in some cases include extreme mental and physical disabilities is really important. “I’ve been involved in all the previous trips and although some of the conditions are sometimes difficult for the students to see, the human contact and applied learning opportunities provide a very positive experience for everyone involved. “This year we will be visiting an elderly care home for the first time, as well as the psychiatric hospital in Nucet, a primary age school at Casa Minunata and a Romany community. I’m hoping by including this new element to the trip we will find out more about the huge issue of caring for the elderly in Romania; an area that is not commonly known about or publicised.” A number of the students are returning again after finding previous visits with the college a very rewarding experience. They will also be able to see how 12-year-old Mihaela, one of the charity’s children who the college decided to sponsor last year, is getting along. The students and staff decided to sponsorship after spending time with her and the family who look after her as part of the long term links and commitment they have to Caminul Felix. “We’re all looking forward to getting an update on Mihaela’s life and seeing how things are improving for her. She was one of the eldest children we met in her situation of being abandoned, which is why we chose her to be sponsored,” said Clare. Jennifer Cartwright, 18, from New Marske is a doing the BTEC extended national diploma in Health and Social Care and is hoping to go to university to study a Foundation Degree in Radiotherapy. She said: “This will be my second trip to Romania and although the first time I went I was very nervous, now I’ve been before and know what to expect I’m really excited. “It was such a rewarding experience, at the Nucet psychiatric hospital we met with many people suffering from all kinds of disabilities ranging from quite mild learning disabilities to those suffering severe mental and physical problems. “We played games and gave them a lot of human contact, which I think is the single biggest thing they are lacking. It was really amazing to see them improve in their general well being, despite us only being there for a short time.” Rachel Lillystone, 18, from Normanby, studied for her BTEC National Diploma in Childcare and progressed to studying a Foundation Degree in Redcar & Cleveland College’s Higher Education Centre. She said: “I’m the only student this year going back to Romania for a third time. I’ve found it a real eye opener in terms of some of the conditions, but it has always been great to return and be remembered by the people, both adults and children, I’ve met on previous visits. “We visited a school comprised of children without disability together with those suffering from learning disabilities. We visited a Romany camp which had very poor living conditions and a psychiatric hospital. We brought toys, clothes and played games which included blowing bubbles and using a parachute to stimulate senses. “I really feel that we have made a positive impact and the experience has inspired me to be less selfish and take a more mature approach to my own life; I’m really looking forward to going back.” Supporters of the Romania trips and those wanting to sponsor Mihaela can contact Claire Barwick or Gillian Morgan at the college on 01642 473132.   Photo Caption:  Redcar & Cleveland College students Jennifer Cartwright,18, from New Marske, Gemma Elders, 19, from Ingleby Barwick, Loren Butler, 17, from New Marske and Melissa Ambrose, 18, from Redcar. They are all returning to Romania for a second time. Tue, 08 May 2012 11:25:01 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-returns-to-romania-for-a-fifth-yearCollege employee runs London marathon for local boy Alfie Spraggon/news/college-employee-runs-london-marathon-for-local-boy-alf A Redcar & Cleveland College employee and father of three is running this year’s London Marathon in support of Middlesbrough boy Alfie Spraggon. David Greensmith, 43, an experienced marathon runner is supporting little Alfie, whose family is looking to raise £20,000 for hearing implants that will help transform his life. Following complications at birth the three year old has suffered from severe hearing loss and experiences extreme frustration as result. David said: “I first heard about Alfie’s plight only very recently and it really hit home because I have a young family of my own. “I’m a member of Redcar Running Club and I’ve run five marathons including last year’s London Marathon and I’m hoping that by supporting such a worthwhile local cause will inspire people to donate a lot of money and motivate me to smash last year’s time. “I receive a lot of moral support from my wife and kids who travel to see me run these marathons and support me when I’m training. If I was confronted with a similar situation to the Spraggons I hope I would react the same as them and try to move heaven and earth to give my child the best possible chance in life. “I’ve also received a lot of support already from local people such as Darren Lees of Practical Car and Van Hire in Redcar who wouldn’t accept any money for the hire of one of his cars to get me down to London when he heard about Alfie and the appeal.” David is married to Nicola and has three children Stewart, three, Michael, eight, and Molly, 18. He has worked at the college for four years as their Building and Estates Manager and as a result of his keen interest in running is responsible for organising the college’s ‘Better Health at Work’ programme.  Alfie’s family recently launched the appeal to raise £20,000 for hearing implants which are not available on the NHS, but following the procedure could transform his life. Alfie, who was born at 28 weeks on June 19 2008, has an older twin brother Seth and two other siblings, also twins, James and Matilda, two, who all enjoy normal hearing. Mum Sarah, 27, of Barnaby Avenue, said: “Alfie was born prematurely at seven months and lack of Oxygen at birth damaged his hearing. “He had open heart surgery at six-weeks-old and has chronic lung disease so is oxygen dependent. This combined with his severe sensi-neural hearing loss in both ears means he can hear very little and can get really frustrated. “Despite the challenges he faces he is a very happy, upbeat little boy and we are determined to reach our £20,000 target to buy implants that could result in Alfie having his hearing restored.” If you would like to donate then pleade visit http://www.justgiving.com/alfiespraggonrun    Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:50:52 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-employee-runs-london-marathon-for-local-boy-alfCollege students get a taster of money management /news/college-students-get-a-taster-of-money-management Students at the College were sampling the delights of financial independence recently as part of Barclays Money Skills Week, a programme that has been teaching college students nationwide about the importance of saving their money. College students have took part in tutorials and workshops at the college that were designed to encourage them to be more responsible with their money in fun and creative ways. These included taste tests, a money savings competition and case study sessions about saving. Some of the college’s Student Ambassadors organised a blind taste test comparing branded and non-branded drinks. Ashleigh Harvey, a student at the college, said: “I couldn’t taste the difference between the cheaper drink and the more expensive one, it just goes to show that I can still enjoy my favourite things on a lower budget.” The week also included a workshop where students learned about the costs associated with living independently, in preparation for when they leave college to study at university, or to start work. Ashleigh added: “The session was a real eye opener for me as I didn’t realise that living away from home could cost so much. I learnt about how I can manage my finances to make sure that I’m making the most of my money.” Fun activities and competitions were also included throughout the week, where students shared their money savings tips and discovered how making good financial decisions are important in today’s tough economic climate. Research from Barclays showed that young people felt that they were not given enough advice about finances and budgeting, therefore in order to improve this, schools and colleges across the country were taking part in a week-long series of activities to boost their students’ confidence and knowledge about money. Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “Barclays Money Skills Week has made our students aware about the importance of looking after their money, which is essential for their futures. “The engaging activities and tutorials have provided them with the tools that they need when it comes to managing their finances, the programme has been a great success.” The project was part of Barclays Money Skills project, delivered by Barclays in partnership with other leading UK charities including the National Skills Academy for Financial Services,Action for Children and the National Youth Agency. Redcar & Cleveland were one of the lucky colleges that got involved to try and inform students about responsible financial control.   Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:43:57 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-students-get-a-taster-of-money-managementMayor meets learners studying on new community based courses/news/mayor-meets-learners-studying-on-new-community-based-co The Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland has paid a visit to a community learning centre in east Cleveland to officially launch a range of new courses and meet with students who are studying on them. Councillor Olywn Peters met with students studying on courses including Caring for Children and Training and Skills for Work at the Loftus Centre for Opportunities and saw first hand how the courses are helping to change the lives of those who are studying on them by giving them the chance to gain new skills. The courses are part of a community programme delivered by Redcar & Cleveland College designed to make learning easy for local residents to help improve their job and career prospects. Mayor Olywn Peters said: “I’m delighted that the residents in Loftus have been given the chance to gain new qualifications and high-quality learning on their doorstep. “Having talked to many of the learners today I’ve found out that it would be difficult for them to get to the college but now with this new course they can study a new subject close to home in an environment they are comfortable with. “The courses are in the community for the community and it’s great to see how passionate people are about learning.” Amongst the learners taking part in courses at the Centre was Cain Lunn, from Loftus, who has signed up to the Training and Skills for Work course to help boost his employability skills. He said: “I signed up to the course to hopefully open up a few new doors for me. It’s fantastic to have these opportunities right on my doorstep.” Carol Ann Biggen, from Loftus who is also on the Training and Skills for Work course signed up to learn a new skill. She said: “I really want to start painting and decorating and the vocational part of this course can help me. I was also not very confident about applying for jobs but after only a week I’m not afraid any more thanks to all the help from the tutors.” Tony Gatehouse, Centre Manager at the Centre of Opportunity is delighted to see so many people getting a major benefit from the new courses. He said: “It isn’t practical for people in and around the Loftus area to travel to college everyday and this is where we can help. “Providing these courses to the local people is already proving to be very beneficial and we’re hoping to see the learners go into employment after the course has ended.” Angela Mclean, Head of Division for Wellbeing and Education at Redcar & Cleveland College said: “We’re bringing training back into the community, we can provide a individual and unique programme for all the learners as well as supporting them into future employment.” The courses on offer are Caring for Children CACHE Award and Diploma Level 1 and Training and Skills for Work Award and Certificate Levels 1 and 2, are being delivered by Redcar & Cleveland College at the Centre of Opportunity (the old Co-op building) on the High Street in Loftus. The Caring for Children course is aimed at learners who would like a career in childcare, or would like to know about caring for young children in the home. The ‘Training and Skills for Work’ course gives learners the chance to improve their employment opportunities and also enable learners to develop skills in a variety of vocational areas including taking part in work placements with local employers. For more information on the community based courses on offer in Loftus contact the Student Services team at Redcar & Cleveland College on 01642 473132 or Tony Gatehouse at the Centre of Opportunity on 01287 643019.Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:16:02 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/mayor-meets-learners-studying-on-new-community-based-coNew opportunities to open doors for Loftus locals/news/new-opportunities-to-open-doors-for-loftus-localsPeople living in Loftus and the surrounding areas are being offered a fantastic new learning opportunity as two new short part-time courses are launched in the town. The new courses, which are free subject to eligibility, aim to help local people gain new qualifications and improve job and career prospects, without having to travel into college. The courses on offer are Caring for Children CACHE Award and Diploma Level 1 and Training and Skills for Work Award and Certificate Levels 1 and 2, are being delivered by Redcar & Cleveland College at the Centre of Opportunity (the old Co-op building) on the High Street in Loftus. The Caring for Children course is aimed at learners who would like a career in childcare, or would like to know more about caring for young children in the home. Studying for one day a week over the course of eight weeks, learners who complete the course may wish to go onto study the Diploma in Caring for Children, or into employment. The Training and Skills for Work course gives learners the chance to improve their employment opportunities by helping with maths and English abilities, as well as building personal skills and preparing students for job interviews. It will also enable learners to develop skills in a variety of vocational areas, including construction skills, IT and health.   Studying for three days a week over 14 weeks, learners can progress onto the next level qualification in the same vocational area, an Apprenticeship programme or into employment. Tony Gatehouse, Centre Manager at the Old Co-op Building, said: “This is a great chance for people here in Loftus and the surrounding area to improve their job and career prospects by studying for qualifications. Our building is all about providing important opportunities for local people and I’m looking forward to these new courses starting.” Redcar & Cleveland College Principal Gary Groom said: “By offering these courses in the Loftus community we are giving people a chance to broaden their horizons, as well as trying out something new, without leaving their doorstep.” Courses start on the week commencing 20th February, but there are opportunities for people to join in the weeks following. The courses are free, subject to eligibility, and no entry requirements are needed. For more information on courses call Student Services at Redcar & Cleveland College on 01642 473132 or contact Tony Gatehouse at the Centre of Opportunity on 01287 643019.   Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:03:47 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/new-opportunities-to-open-doors-for-loftus-localsStudents bring festive cheer to sick children/news/students-bring-festive-cheer-to-sick-children A group of talented college students have pulled out all the stops to ensure that sick children who are spending the festive period in hospital get a Christmas visit they’ll never forget.   With Santa due to make a visit to the new Redcar Primary Care Hospital, the students from Redcar & Cleveland College’s Carpentry, Painting & Decorating and Art & Design courses worked together to construct a sleigh to transport the man himself around the wards.   Carpentry and joinery students led by tutor Keith Smith, set about constructing a sleigh that would enable Santa to make his way around the wards delivering presents, whilst students in the college’s Art and Design department held a competition to design the shape and colour scheme for the finished sleigh.   Working in partnership, they managed to complete the sleigh in time for Santa’s visit during the official opening of the hospital on Friday 9th December.   Amongst the students who took part in the project were Painting and Decorating students Nikki Boutell, Laurie White and Robert Sharkey; Art & Design student Emiley Jones; Decorating apprentices Craig Goodall and Gary Langer; and Joinery students Mathew Whitehead and Derek Harland.   Painting and decorating student, Laurie, said:   “This has been a fantastic project to take part in and we’ve all got a great sense of achievement seeing the finished sleigh.   “We hope that the kids enjoy seeing it as much as we enjoyed building it.”  Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:39:49 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/students-bring-festive-cheer-to-sick-childrenLaunch of new eco house enables professionals to stay ahead of the green technologies game/news/launch-of-new-eco-house-at-redcar-amp-cleveland-college Businesses in the north east have a golden opportunity to upskill their staff in emerging renewable technologies with the launch of a fully-operational eco house at Redcar & Cleveland College.   The eco house, named The Greenhouse, is a leading light in the design, installation and maintenance of the most commonly used equipment in the sustainable technologies market, including solar panels, heat pump installers, and rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems.   The residential property, which is based on the Corporation Road campus, will enable students and skilled trades people who are undertaking one of the college’s eco skills courses to see how the latest equipment can be used in domestic situations, and the benefits they bring.   With sponsorship from leading supplier Viessmann, The Greenhouse and the college’s Renewable Energy Centre have been equipped with a range of power-saving equipment, which showcase how the latest technologies can be utilised in sustainable living.   They will enable plumbers and people from the building services engineering sector to enhance their qualifications and skills through a range of new two and three-day courses.      Businesses from around the region were recently invited to view The Greenhouse and Renewable Energy Centre at a special launch event at the college, which was also attended by Redcar MP Ian Swales.   The opening also marked the launch of the National Skills Academy north east hub for environmental technologies, which brings together Narec, Redcar & Cleveland College, Hartlepool College of FE and City of Sunderland College.   Together they will transform the ability of businesses to access key training skills in the design, installation and maintenance of environmental technologies.    College principal Gary Groom said: “Renewable industries are a vitally-important sector for future development and job creation in the north east, and beyond, as a part of the Government’s carbon reduction strategy and we’re delighted that Redcar & Cleveland College is involved as part of the north east hub.   “As a part of our involvement we have developed our new eco skills portfolio and The Greenhouse, which is packed with the latest renewable technologies offering opportunities for the delivery of the very best training for the domestic market to Microgeneration Certification Scheme standards.”   Student John Rooney went to Redcar & Cleveland College to retrain as a plumber after being made redundant. He offered to assist the eco skills team in fitting out The Greenhouse and Renewable Energy Centre in order to gain additional experience.   He said: “This unique classroom is unlike anywhere else and has given me an invaluable insight into the workings of these systems, right from the preparation work to the finished product. Having witnessed the benefits of renewable energy, I am aiming to branch out into this field and plan to return to the college to gain further qualifications.”   Nigel Jefferson, Head of UK Commercial Sales for Viessmann, said: “Viessmann trains more than 100,000 installers across the world every year, so our investment in both Redcar & Cleveland College and its students continues our commitment to education in the energy sector.   “Redcar & Cleveland College now features a full range of equipment to ensure students and tradesmen are given a full training programme on the latest materials available and we will continue to develop the college’s Renewable Energy Centre even further.   “We are extremely proud to be associated with Redcar & Cleveland College and look forward to a long and healthy relationship, delivering training in a dynamic sector of high efficiency and renewable heating products.”   MP Ian Swales said: ‘’I am really pleased to be involved in the launch of The Greenhouse.  It is great to see Redcar & Cleveland College embracing sustainable living and running courses to train future generations in the new technologies. ‘’   For more information about the new eco skills courses, call 01642 777216.    Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:37:17 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/launch-of-new-eco-house-at-redcar-amp-cleveland-collegeRedcar & Cleveland College selected to shine on global stage/news/redcar-amp-cleveland-college-selected-to-shine-on-globa A team from Redcar & Cleveland College will showcase their skills expertise to a global audience later this week, when the UK plays host to the world’s greatest skills competition, WorldSkills London 2011.   The group, consisting of staff and students from the college’s plastering and dry-lining department, will travel to London to deliver a master class demonstration of their skills as part of the international competition, which will see teams from across the globe compete in a variety of skills disciplines.   Over 150,000 visitors are expected at the competition, including members of the public and some of the world’s most highly respected skills experts.   The team’s demonstration will focus on decorative fibrous plastering, which is one of the most difficult and complex areas of plastering and involves the production and installation of ornate moulded cornices and coving.   Josh Wallis, who is one of the students making the trip said, "We're really excited to have been chosen to showcase our skills at WorldSkills London 2011.    “As a student, it's great to be part of something this big and gain recognition for all the hard work we've put in as part of our course at the college.    “Our display is going to wow the audience and I can’t wait for October!”   The WorldSkills London 2011 Competition will take place at London’s ExCel Centre over four days, from 5 – 8 October. It will see over 1,000 of the most skilled young people from all corners of the globe battling it out in 46 different disciplines, competing to be crowned the best of the best in their chosen skill. Showcase colleges and training providers will help to inspire the audience and help them to look at the endless possibilities for their future jobs and careers.   College principle Gary Groom sees this as a chance for young people from the Tees Valley area to have a place in history:   “The last time a WorldSkills competition was held in the UK was over two decades ago – this really is a once in a generation opportunity for our students and we’re delighted that the excellent standards our students achieve will be recognised to such a prestigious national and international audience.    “To be part of an event which recognises skills at the very highest level is truly aspirational and I have every faith that our students will rise to the occasion and help to put on a truly spectacular show.”  Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:24:37 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/redcar-amp-cleveland-college-selected-to-shine-on-globaPresentation marks former Mayor’s time in office/news/presentation-marks-former-mayors-time-in-office The time in office of Redcar and Cleveland’s former Mayor was marked by a special presentation held at Redcar & Cleveland College recently. During his time as Mayor, Councillor Ray Goddard, who also sits on the college’s Board of Governors, took a keen interest in events at the college including the opening of the new Higher Education and Conference centre last September. At a special ceremony held at the Higher Education Centre he was presented with a copy of a book called ‘New Lamps for Old’. This chronicles the history of the college from its roots in the Free School founded in 1709 in Kirkleatham by Sir William Turner. Former college lecturer and trustee of the Sir William Turner Foundation, Peter Chester, who is author of the book was on hand to make the presentation. He said: “During his time as Mayor, Councillor Goddard has witnessed some historic developments within education in the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland, not least the opening of the new HE Centre at the college, which was funded in part by the legacy of Sir William Turner. “Our presentation of the history book is a small token of the appreciation for the role that he has played throughout these events and an apt mark of the possibility that these events may well be recorded in historical texts in years to come. I know that Councillor Goddard has been as pleased as I have been at the interest in the history of both Cleveland Technical College and the Sir William Turner’s Schools and College that this book has generated.” Copies of the book ‘New Lamps for Old - a hidden history of Redcar & Cleveland College 1709-2009’ are available directly from Redcar & Cleveland College, tel. 01642 777187 or via the by clicking here.  Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:16:08 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/presentation-marks-former-mayors-time-in-officeYou Beauty! College students taste success at competition/news/you-beauty-college-students-taste-success-at-competitio A group of students from Redcar & Cleveland College’s Hair and Beauty Division have tasted success after taking part in a regional competition that pitted them up against some of the most talented students in the country. Students from the college’s Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy courses travelled to Gateshead for the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) competition recently, which saw students from across the region compete against each other in a series of challenges that tested their skills to the full. Amongst those taking part from the college was Level 1 Beauty Therapy student Aynslie Robinson who was competing for the first time in the Body Art category of the competition. Up against students on Level 2 and Level 3 courses, Aynslie, a former pupil at Nunthorpe School exceeded all expectations to finish in 3rd place. Speaking after the competition, Aynslie who is 16 and from Ormesby said: “Taking part in the competition was a great experience and was really fun as well. I can’t believe that I managed to come third when it was the first event I’ve taken part in. “I’m already looking forward the next competition in Blackpool where I’m going to try and do even better!” Aynslie’s tutor, Rebecca Hadman, was delighted with the way the students approached the competition and with their performance across the board. She said: “We try to give our students as much experience of what it’s like in the real world while they are with us and taking part in competitions like this gives them a chance to find out what it’s like to work under pressure and produce work of a very high standard. “I’m delighted that Aynslie has done so well and earned a place in the next round of the competition and we’re all hoping that she’ll repeat her performance in Blackpool. “We’re already planning to attend more competitions next year and are aiming for even more success through these.”  Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:39:53 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/you-beauty-college-students-taste-success-at-competitioRedcar students prove that they’re ‘Worth It’/news/redcar-students-prove-that-theyre-worth-it Hairdressing students from Redcar & Cleveland College have proved they’re a cut above the rest by helping out a team of top stylists. Students from the college’s Level 2 NVQ Hairdressing course got the opportunity to assist members of the L’Oreal Creative team when they visited the college to give a demonstration to local hairdressers of the latest trends and fashions. The students worked alongside the team, who helped to demonstrate the latest cutting and colouring techniques, to develop styles based on the Autumn/Winter and transition into Spring colour palettes. Amongst the students who helped out was 18 year old Toni Worton who worked with an L’Oreal stylist to produce a style based on a jungle catwalk theme. Talking about the experience, she said: “To work with the L’Oreal Creative team has been a fantastic opportunity for us to develop our skills and find out what it takes to be a stylist at the top level. “It’s really helped me to focus on what I want to do in my future career and see how the skills I’m learning at college are going to help me when I’m at work.” College tutor Emma Ogelby arranged the visit of the team, she added: “The L’Oreal Creative team are some of the most talented hairdressers in the country and the fact that they have taken the time to work alongside our students is a real coup for the college. “The experience our students get from this kind of partnership is highly sought after and will mean that they have an extra edge when they qualify and start applying for jobs.”    Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:02:33 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/redcar-students-prove-that-theyre-worth-itSuper Sonic experience for students/news/super-sonic-experience-for-students Young people from across the north east had a super sonic experience today (Wednesday 23rd March) when they met the team challenging to break the World Land-Speed Record. Over 200 school and college students took part in the Bloodhound Experience at Redcar & Cleveland College as part of a two day conference focussing on Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning. After hearing from members of the project team, the students got to take part in activities including building their own balloon powered version of the Bloodhound car, having a go at driving at 1,000mph in the Bloodhound Driving Experience and taking a look around the car itself. Andrew Lowe, aged 19 is studying for a National Diploma in Engineering at Redcar & Cleveland College and took part in one of the sessions. He said: “It’s been a fantastic experience to hear from the Bloodhound team about how the skills that we learn in the classroom are being used to put together this massive project. “When you’re sat in the classroom it’s not easy to imagine how what you’re learning can all add up to make something like the Bloodhound car, it’s amazing and it really makes you think about how what you learn can lead to a really exciting career” Thanks to Bloodhound sponsor and FE partner, Protocol National, the conference is the first time that the Bloodhound car has visited the north east in its role as a tool to promote the teaching of STEM subjects to young people. As well as taking part in activities on the day, students and teachers are provided with learning materials that they can use before and after the experience to find out more about the role of STEM subjects in the record attempt. John Dickinson, aged 14 and a pupil at Freebrough Academy said: “Attending the event today and hearing about how Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths have all been used as part of the development of the Bloodhound project has really inspired me to think about a career in a STEM subject. “It was really interesting to see how the same design issues we had to solve when making our balloon powered cars are being faced by the team developing the Bloodhound car.” As well as the activities with school and college students, the two-day STEM conference, which was backed by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), saw teaching professionals and businesses from across the region gather to discuss the role of STEM and share best practice in its teaching and learning. Redcar & Cleveland College lecturer and Regional STEM Champion, Dr Stephen Hill helped to organise the conference. He said: “The LSIS STEM conference was not only about those involved in the teaching of these subjects getting together to hear about the latest developments in the sector, but also about inspiring young people to think about how the qualifications they are taking in science, technology, engineering or maths can lead to much bigger things both in terms of their education and their future careers.” Redcar & Cleveland College Principal and Further Education representative for the North East STEM Board, Gary Groom, said: “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics will play a massive role in the futures of many of this region’s young people. “It is vitally important that we equip learners with the skills they need to do the jobs that will be available right across the north east. We are delighted to have hosted the first Regional STEM conference for the Learning & Skills Improvement Service in Redcar and having the Bloodhound Super Sonic Car right here has made this a truly momentous occasion.” Jonathan Ellis, from Bloodhound and key presenter at the event said: “It’s been great to get the car up to the North East from its base in Bristol and FE colleges like Redcar and Cleveland are a great venue for us to share the project with local school and college students alike, as well as inspiring the local teaching community at this STEM conference.” You can view more photos from the event here. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:30:46 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/super-sonic-experience-for-studentsCollege competition aims to find ‘next Sir Alan’/news/college-competition-aims-to-find-next-sir-alan Budding ‘Apprentices’ from a Tees Valley College have taken part in an innovative programme aimed at developing their entrepreneurial talents – and along the way some future occupants of positions at Sir Alan Sugar’s Boardroom table might have emerged. Over 200 students from Redcar & Cleveland College were taking part in the annual ‘‘Plunge’ programme, an innovative two-day event aimed at boosting their enterprise skills and improving their employability prospects. The students engaged in a number of hands-on group activities to develop a business plan, in such areas as sales and finance, with the help of experts from local business. The experts advised them on their ideas before the teams came back to pitch to them in a Dragon’s Den style meeting. After a gruelling series of meetings, presentations and grillings from the business experts, one team emerged as clear overall winners with their business brainwave of developing a waterproof gadget case. Students Jenna Everitt, Katie Cooper, Simone Wye and Rebecca Tye who made up team Brand New took home the prestigious Plunge trophy as well as the plaudits of the business experts who judged their group. Speaking about the win Jenna, said: “We really enjoyed taking part in the Plunge and to win the overall prize is just fantastic. Everyone worked really hard over the two days and the whole process has really opened my eyes to what you need to do to become a success in business. Katie, added: “Before we took part in the Plunge, I don’t think any of us really understood what was involved in starting a business and making it a success. “I think taking part in The Plunge will be really useful for me as I’ve learnt skills that will be really beneficial to me in my chosen career.” The girls of Brand New were one of six teams which won their group competitions, with the winners all receiving cash prizes. Amongst the business experts taking part in the event was David Copus from Motassist. He said: “Taking part in The Plunge has been an incredible experience. Over the course of the event I’ve seen real progress and achievement from the students who have taken part in the event who have shown bags of ideas and creativity. The commitment they have shown has been phenomenal.” Also acting as an expert was Ian Gowland from Big Blue Interior Design. He said: “It has been fantastic to see the confidence and enthusiasm in the young people who have taken part. I’ve seen a number of people over the two days who I wouldn’t hesitate to offer a job to.” The programme, which is entering its fifth year, took place within the colleges new £3.5m Higher Education Centre. It aims to give students a taste of what it is like to set up their own business along with all of all the associated business functions required. As well as helping students develop commercial awareness, business language skills, negotiation and presentation skills and improving their self-confidence, which all boost their employability, everyone who goes through the programme can receive a formal recognition by an accredited qualification. Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College said: "We have delivered The Plunge programme within the college for the last 5 years and have consistently found that it equips our Level 3 students with a range of highly relevant skills that are more important than ever in the current economic environment. “Every Level 3 student at Redcar & Cleveland College experiences The Plunge and students who went through the programme last year are already seeing the benefits with employers seeking out some of the more innovative students and offering sponsorships for business ideas.”  Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:35:47 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-competition-aims-to-find-next-sir-alanStudents prove they are no robots during USA visit/news/students-prove-they-are-no-robots-during-usa-visit Programming a robot and witnessing the technology behind how the world’s most popular drink is bottled were just some of the highlights of a trip to the USA by students from Redcar & Cleveland College. For the 13th year running, engineering students from Redcar & Cleveland recently visited Cleveland State Community College in Tennessee. During their ten-day visit the young people, who were hosted by local families, undertook a number of activities linked to their college course. These activities included robotics, where they were tasked with programming a robot, and manual handling course, which involved a visit to the local Coca-Cola factory to see how the bottling is automated. Another part of their visit saw them touring a home that uses alternative energy, in this case ground heat, to power the property. It was not all work for the students though. In the last few days of their trip they visited local places of interest and went hiking and mountain biking in the Smoky Mountains, where they stayed in a log cabin. Engineering Course Leader Neil Walker said: “The students all found the trip very worthwhile and they were so well received that their host families have already invited them back. “We have excellent relationships with Cleveland State Community College and the 13 years of visits have proved very beneficial to students, both in terms of their academic programme and the social and cultural experience it gives them. Unfortunately, in recent years, students from the USA have not been able to visit Redcar & Cleveland. However, when we were at the college we discussed resurrecting these trips and we are hopeful of being able to reciprocate the kind hospitality we always receive in Tennessee.” The visit was made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from the Sir William Turner Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Sabik, TTE, and Redcar & Cleveland College’s Aim Higher Fund.  Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:14:44 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/students-prove-they-are-no-robots-during-usa-visitLiteracy scheme breathes fire into learning/news/literacy-scheme-breathes-fire-into-learning Youngsters who took part in an innovative scheme designed to improve literacy among families have been awarded for their achievements. Over 30 children received certificates and prizes from the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Brian Briggs, after taking part in the national Summer Reading Challenge, Quest Seekers, which has been delivered by Redcar & Cleveland College, in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Council’s Library Services team. As part of the programme, which aims to improve literacy through innovative and interactive storytelling, children constructed a giant model dragon at Redcar’s Central Library. For six weeks, children taking part attended workshops at the library where, with the help of the college’s Community Animateurs, they constructed the dragon and completed activities, including story sessions, creating storysacks, arts and crafts sessions and digital imaging, based around the dragon. And children Jack Borrell, Bradley Moore and Hannah Cook each won a competition in their individual session groups to name the dragon, with their suggestions, Ivan, Fireblaster, and Hiccup. Michael Kinder, External Projects Co-ordinator at Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “The Quest Seekers’ programme is just one of the many ways that the library and college are engaging with the local community to help increase participation in learning and boost achievement levels among local people, both young and old. “By working in partnership with organisations such as Redcar and Cleveland Council, we are able to maximise the opportunities available to our young people and develop their core skills in literacy and love of learning from an early age.” Redcar Mayor Cllr Briggs said: “It’s fantastic to be here today to meet with the young people who have achieved so much over the summer holidays. “Programmes such as the one we are recognising today are invaluable in introducing young people to the pleasure of reading books and also giving them something worthwhile to do with their time over the holiday period.” The Community Animateurs Project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and is delivered by Redcar & Cleveland College, in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Council's Library Service. The project has been a huge success, with over 4,000 individuals having been directly involved, and many more gaining knowledge of the project, which has led to further learning opportunities. View more photos from the event, including pictures of all the children who were awarded certificates here.Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:22:49 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/literacy-scheme-breathes-fire-into-learningCollege celebrates year of success in new campus/news/college-celebrates-year-of-success-in-new-campus Students and staff at a Tees Valley college were giving themselves three cheers following a highly successful first year in their new campus. Twelve months ago Redcar & Cleveland College opened the doors of its £26m new campus on Corporation Road in Redcar and what followed has been a year of fantastic achievement for staff and students alike. In February the new campus received a Royal seal of approval when it was officially opened by HRH the Duke of York and in June it was recognised as being an officially ‘Good’ college by Ofsted inspectors. College Principal, Gary Groom, was joined by student Grant Davies, who celebrates his birthday with the college, to share a slice of special college birthday cake. Mr Groom said: “It hardly seems like yesterday that we were stood here with the Right Honourable Vera Baird MP watching the first students come through the doors, twelve months on and with an Ofsted report that identifies our building as ‘outstanding’ and our provision as ‘Good’ we are looking to the future with our phase 2 development programme already well underway. “We are determined not to stand still and we want to continue to grow and improve the range of courses and facilities available to our students, we are already on the journey to becoming an outstanding college. Student Grant Davies, who celebrated his birthday on the same day as the college, only recently started on a BTEC Diploma in Information Technology at the college. He said: ““The new college is really successful and this was a big reason for me choosing to come and study here, but I didn’t realise that I shared a birthday with it. “I’m really looking forward to my time here at the college and hope that I can do well on my course and develop a career in IT.” Timeline: It’s been a busy year at Redcar & Cleveland College. Below are just some of the highlights: September 2008 – The new Redcar & Cleveland College opens its doors to its first students November 2008 – Staff, students and former pupils gather for the rededication of the college’s war memorial, which was repositioned as part of the new development. November 2008 – Olympic Pentathlete, Katy Livingstone, visits the college to present a sporting masterclass to students. December 2008 – The college is visited by teachers from a Polish primary school as part of a cultural exchange programme. January 2009 – Students from the college’s Public Services Preparation course take part in a residential course with the armed forces at Barnard Castle. February 2009 – The new college campus gets the Royal seal of approval at an official opening by HRH the Duke of York. March 2009 – The college hosts the regional finals of the UK Apprentice Plumber of the Year competition. April 2009 – The college launches a new Foundation Degree qualification in Chemical Science aimed at boosting the skills of local people working in the chemical and process industry. April 2009 – The seeds are sown for the college’s new state of the art sports pitches with the help of students from the college football team. May 2009 – The achievements of students on the college’s Curriculum Enhancement Programme June 2009 – Students from the college’s Art and Design course show off their work at a special exhibition. June 2009 – An Ofsted report grades the college as being officially ‘Good’ July 2009 – College students from the CACHE Childcare course visit Romania. July 2009 – Students John Atkinson and James Brownless scoop gold medals at the regional SkillBuild competition. August 2009 – Student Heather McLeod celebrates after landing a place at university following a course at the college.  Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:07:41 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-celebrates-year-of-success-in-new-campusRedcar trainees are best in the North East/news/redcar-trainees-are-best-in-the-north-east Two students from Redcar & Cleveland College have nailed top titles at the regional heats of a prestigious national skills competition. John Atkinson and James Brownless proved that they are two of the best trainees in the North East, following success at the regional heat of this year’s SkillBuild – the UK’s biggest construction skills competition. John, 21, who is studying for an in NVQ Joinery and Carpentry won a gold medal in the Joinery category of the competition, whilst James, 19, who is also an apprentice with Mitie, won the gold medal in the Junior Painting & Decorating category at the North East heat, which took place on 1st July at Newcastle College. Talking about his success at the competition, John, who has been supported throughout his studies by his employers PM Straw Builders, said: “The award is fantastic as it reflects the hard work that I’ve put in during my course and also the support I’ve received from my employer and tutors at college. “I really wasn’t expecting to win today as the level of competition was so high, but we’ve worked hard in preparation for the competition and that really helped me to handle the task we were set.” The lads weren’t the only Redcar & Cleveland College students to taste success at the event - Lucie Nicholson, 19, placed 2nd in the Junior Painting & Decorating category and Stephen Read, 26, and Glenn Jones, 19, achieved 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the Carpentry category. Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, Gary Groom, said of the student’s success: “To have so many of our students competing and finding success in the SkillBuild event highlights the college’s strengths in Built Environment disciplines. The college is clearly providing the very best training you can find anywhere in the UK. Staff and students put in a tremendous effort to attain such high standards and we are very proud of them.” “This is the third year in a row that students from Redcar & Cleveland College have won gold medals on a regional level and we hope that they will now go on to National success ” John and James will now be flying the flag for the North East and will have their chance to compete against the other UK regions at the SkillBuild national final, which will take place 7-9 October at South Lanarkshire College in Scotland. National winners from this year’s competition will then have the opportunity to represent the UK and compete in the 2011 international WorldSkills competition in London. SkillBuild, which is organised by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, aims to find the UK’s best trainee across a variety of trades including: bricklaying, carpentry, joinery and painting and decorating. The students competed against each other in their given trade to complete a set of work within the day. The competition challenged the trainees to produce accurate and high quality work within a strict timescale – all essential requirements for today’s construction industry. The work was assessed by a panel of technical experts at the end of the day when the winners in each trade were announced. The competition, which has been running for more than 20 years, is an opportunity to recognise the importance of apprentices and full time trainees, and their skills. It also provides a platform for companies to highlight the quality of their workforce and commitment to training – which is essential in the current climate to provide businesses with a competitive edge.Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:12:27 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/redcar-trainees-are-best-in-the-north-eastMoving experience for Redcar students/news/moving-experience-for-redcar-studentsStudents at a Tees Valley college were so moved during a trip to a Romanian orphanage – they decided to present the young people with a most prized gift. The 15 students from Redcar & Cleveland College, who were overseas as part of their Children’s Care, Learning and Development programme, donated Racco the cow to the Bratca orphanage, in the hope it would provide much-needed milk and interest. The teenagers spent seven days in Oradea, meeting and working with disadvantaged and abandoned children. However, when they visited the Bratca orphanage, which cared for young people with mental and physical disabilities, they felt so touched by what they saw, they decided to do something extra to help. First of all, the students went to the local market and bought 27 new pairs of shoes for the orphans, before turning their attention to how they could help out in the long-term. After a frenetic exchange of communications with staff back at the college, the group got the OK to spend £200 of their funds from the Sir William Turner Foundation Trust to buy the cow, which, it is hoped, will provide milk for many years to come. The cow, aptly named Racco (Redcar & Cleveland College Overseas), was presented to the staff and residents of the orphanage before the students returned home last weekend. The orphanage will use Racco not only to provide milk, but also to produce other dairy products, such as cheese, which they would not otherwise be able to afford. Liam Cowan, 18, who is studying Level 3 Childcare, said: “The trip has been the best experience of my life so far and the experiences I have had while in Romania will stay with me for the rest of my life. “Visiting the orphanage was the highlight of the trip for me and what I saw and learnt there will prove to be invaluable when I go to university to study childcare next year. “The conditions that the children live in out there really make you appreciate the life we have in the UK and it was so rewarding that we were able to make a contribution by purchasing Racco for the orphanage.” This is the second year that the college has been invited by the Caminul Felix charity to help out at its two family villages for abandoned and neglected children at Oradea. While on the visit, the students also had the opportunity to visit the Universitatea Din Oradea to experience how students studying similar courses to themselves are taught in Romania. Angela McLean, the college’s Head of Health and Wellbeing, said: “The idea behind the international visits is to improve our students’ employability skills and help them to become more rounded individuals by taking them away from the environments they now take for granted. “During our experience in Romania, we saw our students bond with each other and Romanian people. Their time there was full of laughter, joy and tears.” Early Years lecturer Irene Walker said: “We all experienced a complete change of culture and lifestyle. Students grew in maturity quickly and brought back new skills and experiences that will stay with them for ever.” The students now hope to pass on some of the lessons and experiences from their Romanian visit to children at nurseries and schools in the area. And planning is already underway for next year’s visit, with the team actively seeking local businesses and organisations to provide sponsorship. Staff and students at the college would like to thank the Sir William Turner Trust Foundation, Aimhigher North East, Arriva North East, Hollywood Bowl, the Saltburn Rotary Club and Morrison’s Redcar, who gave students the opportunity to bag-pack to raise funds for the visit. More photos from the student's trip can be found here.  Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:01:08 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/moving-experience-for-redcar-studentsCarpentry students produce model of Victorian pier/news/carpentry-students-produce-model-of-victorian-pierProud carpentry and joinery students have seen their handiwork go on public display after reproducing a scaled model of Saltburn pier. The replica of the Victorian landmark has been built from recycled materials by the craft students at Redcar & Cleveland College. Jackie Taylor, chairwoman of Saltburn in Bloom, asked the college to help out after the first model of the pier, produced in 2000 to commemorate the refurbishment of the real thing, fell into disrepair. The college took away the old model and has spent weeks working on a new version, which is exactly the same as the historic pier, right down to the dark red Tudor cladding. “The college produced the original model for us in 2000, which was fantastic, but, of course, it was made of wood, and it suffered some vandalism, so it was in need of repairing,” said Jackie. “The college very kindly said it would make us a whole new model, and we were extremely grateful. We knew it would be just as brilliant as the first one. “It is used as part of our floral display on Marske Road for Saltburn in Bloom, and we are very proud of it.” Carpentry student Jamie King, 16, from Dormanstown, Redcar, said: “We have all really enjoyed making the model, and it has involved us in things we wouldn’t normally do, such as drilling through steelwork. It’s been a lot of fun and it’s great to see it on display.” Lecturer Alan Hodgson said the project also demonstrated to students how old materials could be used again for new projects. He said he was very proud to see it on display in Saltburn. “It has been hard work, but enjoyable, and the students have got a lot out of it,” he said. “It’s involved them working with the community, which is nice. We were very happy to help.”  Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:31:11 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/carpentry-students-produce-model-of-victorian-pierCollege lecturer becomes world skills expert in plastering/news/college-lecturer-becomes-world-skills-expert-in-plasterLecturer Peter Moore is going global after being appointed as a World Skills expert in plastering and drywall systems. The Redcar & Cleveland College tutor has been appointed to the role of UK Training Manager in plastering and drywall systems for UK Skills. The role involves taking selected young trades people and training them to international standards in order to participate in the World Skills competition in London 2011. The next competition is taking place in Calgary, Canada, in September, where Peter will be one of the experts for the plastering final, where the winner will be chosen from the 40 competing countries.  Peter, who worked in the plastering industry for 25 years before becoming a college tutor, said he was thrilled to have been selected for UK Skills. However, his appointment was made even sweeter when Redcar & Cleveland College was selected as one of UK Skills’ training centres, where nationally- selected competitors are trained by specialist training managers in order to make the British team for Calgary. He said: “I was absolutely thrilled to be given the role of Training Manager, and from that I will be involved in the World Skills competition in Canada. “I’m really looking forward to going to Calgary to see what other countries are doing in terms of plastering and dry wall systems, because not every country does traditional wet plastering, like us. “It will give me an opportunity to talk to other experts in the field, and hopefully bring some useful things back that we can include in UK competitions.” Peter said it was great to have the week-long UK Skills training workshop at Redcar & Cleveland College in the spring, just after his appointment.  “I am so proud that the college has been named as a training centre for UK Skills, which confirms our position as a leader in this field, and recognises the excellent facilities and equipment we have to offer,” he added.  UK Skills recently visited the college to prepare for their visit to the World Skills Competition in Calgary, Canada. Find out what they thought of the college's facilities and staff in the video below.       Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:13:23 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-lecturer-becomes-world-skills-expert-in-plasterStudents raise Cash for Kids at charity event/news/students-raise-cash-for-kids-at-charity-eventChildren in difficult circumstances across the North East will benefit from the hard work of a group of students who have raised money to help them. Students from Redcar & Cleveland College joined forces with local businesses recently to stage a charity fashion show in aid of the Cash for Kids charity. From the stage, which was constructed by students from the college’s Built Environment faculty, through to the finishing touches for models which were done by students studying hair and beauty courses, students from all curriculum areas were involved in staging the show which took place in the atrium of the new £28m campus. Local businesses showcased their latest collections alongside the creations of students studying art & design and graphics at the college. Over £200 was raised on the night, which will be donated directly to the Cash For Kids charity which supports local children of Tees Valley, North Yorkshire & County Durham who are either sick or under-privileged.  College Principal Gary Groom, said:   “The evening was a fantastic showcase of talents from all the staff and students involved who gave up their own time to arrange and put on the fashion show. “Our thanks also go to the local businesses from Redcar and across the Tees Valley who helped us to put on what was a very entertaining evening. “We’re delighted that such a significant amount of money has been raised and that it will go to such an worthy cause.”Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:40:53 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/students-raise-cash-for-kids-at-charity-eventStudents pitch in for new college development/news/students-pitch-in-for-new-college-developmentA pitch fit for the finest sportsmen and women, capable of staging a large number of events at the highest level. You might be forgiven for thinking that this statement refers to how the playing surface at Wembley Stadium should be, but staff and students at a Tees Valley College are hoping that in a few months’ time, their sports fields will be the envy of the national stadium. Redcar & Cleveland College is investing a considerable sum of money in constructing new sports pitches alongside its new £26m campus on Corporation Road, following the demolition of its previous home on the site. Students studying sports and fitness courses at the college will be able to use the pitches for a variety of outdoor sports including football, rugby and hockey. As landscaping work on the pitches is completed, the college’s football team kicked off the growth by sowing the first seeds of the football pitches they will soon be playing on. Captain of the college football team Gary Sharples, who is studying a BTEC National Diploma in Sport said: “The new pitches will be a real benefit to the college and will be a massive improvement on what we are used to playing on. “By having top quality facilities outside as well as inside it will mean that, as students, we can achieve so much more in our studies and extra curricular activities as well. Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College said: “These new facilities will be amongst the best in the area and will give all of our students the opportunity to remain fit and health during their time with us. “We have worked closely with Sports England to ensure that the pitches will provide a top class playing surface and with over 100 students currently studying sports and fitness courses at the college the new facilities will allow us to expand our offer to them and new students who start at the college this coming September. Further images to accompany this story can be found here. Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:47:28 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/students-pitch-in-for-new-college-developmentStudent flying high in charity fundraiser/news/student-flying-high-in-charity-fundraiser-1 A student from a Tees Valley college made one giant leap on Sunday (19th April) to raise money to fight against and care for those suffering from cancer. Hannah Calvert, aged 23 and a student at Redcar & Cleveland College, jumped from a plane at over 10,000 feet above the north east countryside as part of a fundraising drive for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Hannah, who is studying an Access to Health course at Redcar & Cleveland College, found out about the work of the Marie Curie charity through her studies and decided that she wanted to do something personally to raise awareness about it in her hometown. She was spurred on in her endeavours by her friends, family and work colleagues who worked tirelessly to help her fundraise in preparation for the day. She is going on to begin a course in Nursing at Northumbria University next March and one of the career routes she is considering is becoming a Marie Curie nurse. Speaking about the event, Hannah said: “I wanted to do something a bit different from the usual kinds of fundraising activities you see and when I found out about the opportunity to skydive it seemed the perfect way to raise money and awareness. “The Marie Curie charity does such fantastic work not only in caring for those who are suffering from cancer, but also in working towards finding improved methods of treatment for it and hopefully one day even a cure. “If I’m honest I’m a little scared of heights, but the support that I’ve had from my family, friends, tutors and local businesses has been amazing and it was a fantastic experience which I’d love to repeat.” So far Hannah has raised over £1000, but is hoping that this figure will increase significantly as people can still donate to her appeal. Amongst those who have already donated are: ·      Staff and management from Consteel, Saltburn ·      Customers, managment and staff from The Fox & Hounds, Slapewath ·      Staff and customers from Steve Windross Buchers ·      Staff from Stoneacre, Durham  Anyone wishing to sponsor her in her efforts can do so by calling into Redcar & Cleveland College and completing the sponsor form at reception. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:57:02 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/student-flying-high-in-charity-fundraiser-1Student flying high in charity fundraiser/news/student-flying-high-in-charity-fundraiserA student from a Tees Valley college made one giant leap on Sunday (19th April) to raise money to fight against and care for those suffering from cancer. Hannah Calvert, aged 23 and a student at Redcar & Cleveland College, jumped from a plane at over 10,000 feet above the north east countryside as part of a fundraising drive for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Hannah, who is studying an Access to Health course at Redcar & Cleveland College, found out about the work of the Marie Curie charity through her studies and decided that she wanted to do something personally to raise awareness about it in her hometown. She was spurred on in her endeavours by her friends, family and work colleagues who worked tirelessly to help her fundraise in preparation for the day. She is going on to begin a course in Nursing at Northumbria University next March and one of the career routes she is considering is becoming a Marie Curie nurse. Speaking about the event, Hannah said: “I wanted to do something a bit different from the usual kinds of fundraising activities you see and when I found out about the opportunity to skydive it seemed the perfect way to raise money and awareness. “The Marie Curie charity does such fantastic work not only in caring for those who are suffering from cancer, but also in working towards finding improved methods of treatment for it and hopefully one day even a cure. “If I’m honest I’m a little scared of heights, but the support that I’ve had from my family, friends, tutors and local businesses has been amazing and it was a fantastic experience which I’d love to repeat.” So far Hannah has raised over £1000, but is hoping that this figure will increase significantly as people can still donate to her appeal. Amongst those who have already donated are: Staff and management from Consteel, Saltburn Customers, managment and staff from The Fox & Hounds, Slapewath Staff and customers from Steve Windross Buchers Staff from Stoneacre, Durham Anyone wishing to sponsor her in her efforts can do so by calling into Redcar & Cleveland College and completing the sponsor form at reception.Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:52:31 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/student-flying-high-in-charity-fundraiserStudents get into Christmas spirit with festive fundraiser/news/students-get-into-christmas-spirit-with-festive-fundraiA group of Redcar & Cleveland College students have spread some Christmas cheer this week by raising money for a charity that helps children with developmental difficulties.   Nicola Smith and Rachel Cush, both aged 16, are studying hairdressing at the college. They were inspired to raise cash for the Brainwave charity when they read about the work that it does with children who suffer from a range of disorders ranging from Cerebral Palsy to Autism.   They enlisted the support of students across the college to collect cash from their fellow students and staff, raising a grand total of over £100.   Nichola, who along with Rachel, got dressed up in festive outfits for the day said:   “It’s important to remember that there are people out there less fortunate than ourselves and we wanted to do something to put a smile on their faces this Christmas."  Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:38:34 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/students-get-into-christmas-spirit-with-festive-fundraiStudents sparkle in festive hair competition/news/students-sparkle-in-festive-hair-competitionHair and beauty students at Redcar & Cleveland College have tasted what it’s like to take part in a professional hair competition today (Wednesday 17th December) when they competed against each other to produce a variety of spectacular styles.   The competition marked the launch of a range of new short courses which start in January including Nail Treatments, Massage, and much more within Hair, Beauty and Holistics and also the new Junior Hairdressing and Beauty School, aimed specifically at teenagers aged 13-16.   Level 1 and 2 students studying hairdressing competed against each other in a range of categories, creating dramatic hairstyles themed around the concept of Sparkle and Snow.   Entries for the competition included ice queens, elves, and festive characters whose hair was expertly styled by the students under the watchful eye of the college’s staff and industry professionals who were judging the event.   Prizes were awarded to the winning students from each category, as well as an overall prize for the most dramatic style produced on the day.   Winners of the prestigious team event were Sharon Simms and Rebecca Whatmore who gave their model an elf themed style. Other winners on the day included Judith Stephenson, Laura Husband, Sammy Currie who are all studying Level 1 or Level 2 hairdressing.   She said:   “I really enjoyed taking part in the competition and putting the skill I have been learning on my course into practice. The hairdressing course has been really challenging at times, but when you take part in something like this it makes you realise how relevant what you are learning is to real-life work.   “It was just like taking part in a real professional competition and experiences like this, as well as working in the TS10 salon at the college, will really help when I finish my course and start looking to get a job.”   The TS10 salon at Redcar & Cleveland College is a commercial salon which is open to the public, where students studying hair and beauty courses have the opportunity to get real life experience of what it is like to work in a busy salon dealing with members of the public.   Since opening in September this year the salon has seen over 3,500 customers pass through its doors, receiving treatments ranging from hair cuts and colours through to manicures and Indian head massage – all from students who are studying at the college.   Paul Taylor, Head of the Hair and Beauty Faculty at Redcar & Cleveland College, said:   “The students set a really high standard at today’s competition, but we would expect nothing less than that from them. Everyone who took part really excelled themselves and no doubt we’ll see many of them go on to compete in regional competitions in the near future.”  Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:41:04 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/students-sparkle-in-festive-hair-competitionKids visit Santa down ironstone mine/news/kids-visit-santa-down-ironstone-mineSanta swapped the cold of Lapland for the East Cleveland hills yesterday (15th December) when he made a trip to depths of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum for a special festive event.   Children from Handale Primary School in Loftus paid a visit to a specially created grotto 20 metres from the drift entrance, where Father Christmas was waiting to hear what they had on their Christmas lists ahead of the big day.   As well as getting to meet the man himself, the children also took part in a special festive storytelling session with Redcar & Cleveland College’s Community Animateurs who regaled kids with tales of Christmas past.   The session was part of a weekend of activities organised by Redcar & Cleveland College and the Big Lottery Fund at the museum which saw over 200 children take part in a range of activities.   Michael Kinder, External Projects Coordinator at Redcar & Cleveland College, helped to organise the event. He said:   “The session today was great fun for all involved and as well as getting to meet Santa, the kids also got the opportunity to learn some valuable lessons about the history of Christmas through the sessions that were held with the Community Animateurs.   “Redcar & Cleveland College places great importance in getting involved with events taking place in our local community. Our Community Animateurs will be working hard in East Cleveland’s libraries and community centres during the run up to Christmas and in the new year.”Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:09:27 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/kids-visit-santa-down-ironstone-mineCollege students receive sporting master class from Olympic star/news/college-students-receive-sporting-master-class-from-olyStudents at Redcar & Cleveland College found out what it takes to be a professional athlete today (Friday 21st November) when Olympic pentathlon star Katy Livingston visited the college.   Katy, who grew up in Redcar and competed for Team GB at the Beijing Olympics earlier this year, delivered a master class to students studying for their BTEC National Diplomas in Sports and Fitness and answered questions about the time and dedication it takes to be a top level professional athlete.   The students, who are currently undertaking a module on coaching, found out about Katy’s daily training programme and diet, before getting some practical guidance of the kinds of exercises and activities that she goes through every day.   But the session wasn’t just about getting the benefit of some professional experience. A course assessor was on hand to witness the event and the work that Katy did with the students will be graded and count towards the overall mark that they get for their course.   Katy’s discipline of the Modern Pentathlon involves competing in five events – running, swimming, pistol shooting, fencing and horse riding. She talked about her time in Beijing and told students about her hopes for winning a medal on home ground at London 2012.   Talking about her visit to the college, Katy said:   “It was fantastic to be invited along to the college to meet with the students and I hope that I inspired some of them to follow in my footsteps and compete at the Olympics in 2012.   “The students showed that they had really done their homework on the pentathlon and my career and it’s great that my visit today has actually contributed to the qualification they will achieve.   “The facilities that the college has in its new building mean that the students have access to resources that I could only have dreamed about when I was growing up in Redcar.”   Andrew Anderson, aged 21, who is studying for a Level 2 NVQ in Sports and fitness, said:   “We were all really excited when we heard that Katy was going to be coming and we’re extremely grateful that she has given up some of her spare time to talk to us about her experiences.   “The work that we do on the sports and fitness course has given us an idea of what it takes to compete at the highest level, but to hear it first hand from someone we were watching compete at the Olympic Games only a couple of months ago has been a real inspiration.”   Megan Hodgson, aged 16 is studying a Level 1 NVQ in sport. She said:   “It was really inspiring for Katy to come along and show us the kind of things she does as an athlete and talk to us about her experiences.   “After doing some of the practical sessions with Katy I’m seriously thinking about taking up the pentathlon as a sport.”   Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, said:   “We’re extremely grateful to Katy for giving up her time to come into the college and visit the students. Her session with the students gave a fantastic insight into how she has managed to reach the pinnacle of her sport.   “Katy’s visit to the college today has given the students studying sports and fitness something to aspire to and has shown them that they are more than capable of going on to become athletes competing and succeeding at the highest level.   Over 100 students are currently studying sports related qualifications at Redcar & Cleveland College, and with success rates of over 85% many of them go on to gain employment in sports related jobs after completing their courses.   The college is also involved in an innovative regional programme aimed at giving all its students access to sporting activities such as football, rugby, basketball, cricket and table tennis by developing links with local sporting clubs. Neil Young, the Further Education Sports Co-ordinator (FESCO) has developed links with sports coaches and community groups with a view to enhancing the sports provision and widening sports participation in Redcar and East Cleveland.   After moving to its £26m new home in September this year, the college now boasts top class facilities for sports and fitness students, including a new high-tech fitness centre. From early next year the college’s Sports Hall & Fitness Suite will be available to hire by community groups, sports organisations & teams.   Further planned developments including new sports pitches are due to begin construction on the footprint of the old college building in the new year.   You can browse further photos from the event here.Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:13:25 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/college-students-receive-sporting-master-class-from-olyStudents get straight to the point of business/news/students-get-straight-to-the-point-of-businessStudents taking part in an innovative business and enterprise training programme have been commended by local business experts after impressing them with the quality of their ideas.   The Plunge, which was taking place for the fourth year running, took place from the 3rd to the 7th November. Students from Redcar & Cleveland College were put through their paces developing a business plan right from coming up with an initial idea for their business through to financial, sales and operational plans for their company.   Developed in partnership with The Working Knowledge Group, the programme aims to give students experience of setting up their own business through every stage of the process.   The groups held a series of meetings with expert volunteers from local businesses who advised them on their ideas and offered guidance for further developing their plan, before coming back to pitch to them in a Dragon’s Den style meeting.   Over the course of the week over 200 students took part in the programme in three streams. The winners of each of these streams were invited back on the final day of the event on Friday, where an overall winner for the week was chosen.   Taking the overall accolade for the week was the company ‘Stars R Golden’ whose planning and presentation of their idea for an all in one hair styling and straightening tool impressed the judges to such a degree that one member of the group (Rachel Harston) was offered mentoring with one of the business experts.   The group was made up of sports and fitness students Rachel Harston, aged 17, Scott Martin,19, Nathan Buckley, 18, Danny Harland,18 and Josh Young,16. As well as taking home the winner’s trophy, the group also won £200 in cash to share between them.   Rachel Harston, who was the company secretary and administrator, said:   “After some initial trepidation I ended up really enjoying the whole three days of The Plunge and to win the overall prize was the icing on the cake.   “The final day, when we met with, and then pitched our ideas to, the experts gave us a real idea of what it is like to be involved with running a business and I’m now looking forward to getting more experience of what it’s like to be involved in business through the mentoring I have been offered.”   Simon Brown, Managing Director at Calm Asylum and one of the business experts, said:   "I found the day extremely intense and was overwhelmed by the amount of effort and passion being displayed by the students.   “Although it was a team competition there were one or two individuals who really stood out and I believe if they continue with the same drive and enthusiasm then they will become successful."   Gary Groom, Principal of Redcar & Cleveland College, presented the winning groups with their awards. Commenting on the week’s activities he said:   “The standard set by the students who took part in ‘The Plunge’ this year has really raised the bar in terms of the quality of their ideas and their flare for enterprise and business development.   “I have been really impressed by all of the entries that we have seen this week. I know that it was a hard decision for the judges to pick an overall winner, but the winning group showed that they had what it takes to be a real success in business and having developed so fast in just three days.   “Most importantly though, all the feedback we have received shows that the students have really enjoyed themselves and now have a clear insight into business start-up processes.   “We have worked hard with our partner, The Working Knowledge Group, to develop a programme of exciting enterprise activities. Many of the employers involved have expressed their willingness to mentor and in some cases employ our students as a result of the programme. The programme, initially developed at Redcar and Cleveland College is also now being demanded by colleges nationally.”   Andrew Hatcher, Managing Director of The Working Knowledge Group, said:   “Programmes like Ride the Wave have a huge part to play in raising the aspirations and skills of our young people, while simultaneously highlighting the fantastic talent available to employers that exists in our colleges. Our belief is that bringing employers together with young people in a professional and business-like way, rapidly bridges the skills gap as cultural and inter-generational barriers fall away.”Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:27:57 +0000http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/students-get-straight-to-the-point-of-businessDaniel carves out a winning spot at Skillbuild/news/daniel-carves-out-a-winning-spot-at-skillbuildRedcar & Cleveland College student, Daniel Ferguson from Middlesbrough, took the top spot in the carpentry category at the Skillbuild regional finals held at City of Sunderland College.   Daniel, 19, employed by Tolent Construction as part of the Construction Industry Training Board’s mentoring scheme, was one of 14 students from the College entering five of the possible eight trade categories in the junior and senior sections of the competition.   Talking about winning the carpentry award Daniel said, “I had to build a timber stud partition and do a range of tasks against the clock. It was pressured, but I enjoyed it and got to put into practice the skills I picked up on my course. I’m looking forward to the national competition.”   Talking about the Skillbuild entry John Wade, lecturer in Construction at Redcar & Cleveland College, said, “The team we entered into the SkillBuild competition in Sunderland did really well, with Daniel now getting the chance to represent the North East region at the national finals in Leeds later in the year. He has the potential to progress to the British team that will take part in WorldSkills Olympics.   “We were the only college in the region to enter female contestants, with Yvonne Tennant for painting and decorating and Suzanne Winn for bricklaying. Both put in very credible performances in their competitions with Suzanne, who is employed by Barratt Construction, doing exceptionally well.   The College also picked up some other good results, with Andrew Ellsworth cementing a runners up spot in the plastering category, and first year student John Atkinson narrowly being beaten to first place in the Joinery category.Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:49:12 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/daniel-carves-out-a-winning-spot-at-skillbuildStudents go with the flow in boat race/news/students-go-with-the-flow-in-boat-raceStudents with a special interest in health and social care put their backs into supporting the recent bell boat race at Stockton Riverside, raising money for the Daisy Chain autism and special needs care project.   Three teams of students aged from 16–19 years old from the BTEC National Diploma Health and Social Care at Redcar & Cleveland College took part and raised around £1100.   Nichola Garside, lecturer in Health and Social Care at the College said, “The teams had been practicing hard for the event and from their faces and the effort they put in I know they were very keen to support Daisy Chain. My students have been working with the Daisy Chain project to gain an understanding of how services and support for families are delivered. This part of their course and boat race has also helped them to understand how charities are funded.”   Liam Bailey, student on the Health and Social Care course said, “We’ve been doing as much as possible to back the charity and its aim of supporting families who have children with autism and special needs. Getting stuck into the boat race challenge on the River Tees was loads of fun and we got to meet others with similar aims of helping children and families develop and get the most from life.”Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:50:06 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/students-go-with-the-flow-in-boat-raceRomanian experience brings laughter and tears for Redcar students/news/press-release-july-2008Students and staff from Redcar & Cleveland College have been on a life-changing learning experience to childcare projects in Romania.   The 22 Students and four staff from the BTEC National Diploma in Early Years and the Children’s Care, Learning and Development courses at Redcar & Cleveland College spent six days in Oradea in western Romania.   Invited by the Caminul Felix charity to help out at their two family villages for abandoned and neglected children at Oradea, the students had the opportunity to put their child development knowledge and care skills into practice in challenging environments. The group worked with local gypsy families and their children, who have limited access to support and education, to promote child development.   Angela McLean, Head of the Health and Wellbeing Division at Redcar & Cleveland College explained more, “The idea behind the international visits is to improve our students’ employability skills, and help them to become more rounded individuals by bringing them away from the environments they take for granted. During our experience in Romania we saw our students bond with each other and Romanian people. Their time there was full of laughter, joy and tears.”   Irene Walker, Lecturer in Early Years said, “We all experienced a complete change of culture and lifestyle, students grew in maturity quickly and brought back new skills and experiences that will stay with them for ever.”   Emma Stephenson, Lecturer in Early Years said, “The trip widened students life experiences giving them the opportunity to travel abroad for the first time.”   Claire Barwick, Lecturer in Health and Social Care said, “The trip was an emotional, life-changing experience for the students.”   The students hope to pass on some of the lessons and experiences from their Romanian visit to children at nurseries and schools in the area. Their plan is to talk to children about what they did in Romania, and future visits, through photo diaries using teddy bears purchased for them by the College from the Daisy Chain Special Needs Charity in Norton.   The visit to Romania ties into the College’s plans to extend links to other learning centres and projects around the world that will expand and enrich the learning experience for students and staff.   Future visits are currently being explored for the childcare and health students at Redcar & Cleveland College that include China, Poland and Argentina. Fundraising activities will support these events. The team would value any sponsorship or donations to support these exciting and valuable events for students.   The Staff and students at the College would like to thank the following for their sponsorship of the visit to Romania: Sir William Turner Trust, Aimhigher North East, Rowley’s Tyres Middlesbrough; the Freemasons: Saltscar Lodge and Redcar Mark Lodge; Corus (Redcar and Scunthorpe) who provided goody bags for the Romanian children; and Tesco, Morrison and Asda who all gave students the opportunity to bag pack to raise funds for their visit to Romania.   The students organised events such as tombolas, raffles and sports activities on the beach at Redcar to raise additional funds to finance their trip.  Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:13:52 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/press-release-july-2008Horse sense students give money to Saltburn animal charity/news/horse-sense-students-give-money-to-saltburn-animal-charStudents from Redcar & Cleveland College’s Horse Management Diploma course have raised £150 to support the work of Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (SARA). Handing over the fundraising cheque at Eston Equestrian Centre, where the College teaches the students advanced skills in horse management, student Sam Gray said, “We have been raising money by doing gymkhanas and dressage events and wanted to help support SARA in some way. As part of our course we learn a lot about animal welfare and wanted to give something back to a local charity that works closely with animals.” The Horse Management course leader at the College, Maria Parker, was impressed by the student’s initiative and determination to make the gesture to SARA and said, “The students did all the fund raising themselves and they deserve a big thank you, although I am slightly biased towards SARA having found the best dog and great companion in Harry there. The course teaches students how to care for horses and helps them to understand and respect the need for animal welfare as well as learning about aspects of business management, different breeds and animal science.” SARA was founded in 1995 by local animal lovers in the Saltburn area and since that time has earned charity status and rescued over 2000 cats and dogs in the area.Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:48:32 +0100http://www.cleveland.ac.uk/news/horse-sense-students-give-money-to-saltburn-animal-char

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