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Lowestoft College - News and Events

College Open Evenings
Wednesday 10th November 2010
Tuesday 15th March 2011

Plumbing Awards for College Students
A Lowestoft College student has picked up an award from the Norfolk Branch of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE).

Daniel Small scooped the award for his ‘outstanding achievements in plumbing studies’ after being nominated by his tutor David Cooper. As well as receiving a CIPHE trophy, Daniel also picked up a signed certificate to mark his achievements, as well as a year’s free trainee membership of the Institute, a copy of the internationally recognised Plumbing Engineering Services Design Guide and a £50 voucher sponsored by plumbing merchants PTS.

The award was also presented to students from the College of West Anglia, Gt Yarmouth and City Colleges.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, founded in 1906, is an educational charity with around 10 000 members. Its primary purpose is to maintain and improve standards of plumbing and heating engineering and to this end it works closely with the government and its agencies. Apart from Trainees, its members are fully qualified plumbers and or heating engineers.
Recognising the Best in Welding Skills
Joe Coleman is England’s best apprentice welder in 2010, winning this year’s BOC English Apprentice Welder title against stiff competition in the finals held at Castle College Nottingham, on 6-7 July.

22 year old Joe, from Lowestoft, had progressed through his local welding skills competition at Lowestoft College and the regional heats as well. Joe, who works for Derick Services UK Ltd in Great Yarmouth, was delighted to receive the award from the President of The Welding Institute, Richard Sadler. “It’s great to have won – but I hadn’t expected to. Some of the welding tests were very difficult and I was up against the best apprentices from around the country,” he said.

The competition is part of the UK Apprentice Welding Scheme sponsored by the industrial gases and engineering company BOC. Separate events have been held in Wales and England.

For BOC, a member of The Linde Group, encouraging the next generation of engineers and welders is a key part of its planning for the future. “As a nation that excels in engineering and high quality manufacturing, it is essential that our young people have the right skills to maintain that tradition,” said Mike Dennis, BOC’s Business Director. “Britain is investing in major infrastructure developments over the coming years and we are proud to be supporting the young people who will deliver that future.”

Richard Sadler, the President of The Welding Institute, stressed the vital importance of welding skills for the future as he presented the prizes to the winning students. “Welding is a leading-edge technology providing solutions to some of the most complex and difficult engineering challenges,” he noted, “To employ these techniques effectively, we need highly-talented, highly-motivated young people. That is why I am delighted to be able to publicly recognise the skills and efforts of these young people tonight.”

Colleges across England took part in the competition which seeks to recognise the highest level of skills in this area. The finals event at Castle College represents the culmination of a great deal of hard work. Mal Cowgill, College Principal, said: “Further Education is a vital element in preparing the highly skilled engineers and craftsmen of the future. We are a college with strong links to the engineering and manufacturing sectors. So we are delighted that the College has been chosen to host this important event.”
Art Show 2010
The work of Lowestoft College’s Art and Design students is on display at the end of year exhibition.

The exhibition showcases a range of different art and design techniques including graphics, textiles, animation, illustration photography, 3D design, sculpture and fine art. The work is by students on the BTEC National Certificate, Diploma and Foundation Diploma courses, as well as those on the Access programme.

Lecturer Nigel Colebrook said: “The show is a celebration of the hard work many of the students have put in to their courses. Many of the students are now waiting for their results and have their sights set on developing their skills further with courses at Universities and Colleges around the country.”

The exhibition is open weekdays from 10-4.30pm until July 9 and is in the Lowestoft College campus on St Peter’s Street.
Rotary Club Award
Lowestoft College lecturer Mike Rainton (left in picture) has been named as this year’s winner of the Lowestoft Rotary Club’s Service Above Self Award.

Mike, who lives in Oulton Broad and teaches students on the Foundation Studies and Psychology courses, received the accolade for his charity work which has seen him raise over £10,000 in the last four years. Mike has raised the money by cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats for the Bishop Simeon Trust which helps children in South Africa who have been affected by HIV/AIDs.

The Rotary Club award has been presented annually since 1971 and Mike is the latest in a long line of people and organisations to receive it. Mike was given the award at the Club’s meeting just days before leaving Suffolk to tackle the 874 mile route for the fourth year running.

John Hunt, President of the Rotary Club of Lowestoft, said: “Mike’s approach to helping his students raise funds at the college and his indefatigable efforts on his annual bike rides are a shining example to the Community, and are qualities Rotary is proud to endorse. We wish him all success on his forthcoming sponsored ride.”

Mike said: “It was a wonderful surprise to be nominated and it is an honour to be presented with the award by the Rotary Club. I would also like to thank the Club for their kind donation to the Trust.”
Showing Suffolk
Students from Lowestoft College’s construction department were on winning form at this year’s Suffolk Show.

The College scooped the top spots in the Carpentry and Joinery and Brickwork categories beating off competition from Otley and West Suffolk Colleges.

Matthew Youngs and Callum Parker had to work as a team to build a hand cut, hipped porch roof supported by dovetailed gallows. The pair’s traditional skills and ability were tested and both lived up to the challenges well, while fielding questions from visitors to the show.

Darren Bareham and Dominic Smith also impressed with their bricklaying skills. Working as a team, Darren and Dominic had to follow plans to build a garden wall with a plinth base and a twisted soldier pattern between the piers which had decorative panels inserted.

Lecturer Kevyn Stow also played a major role in the competition acting as judge for the painting and decorating category and also supported the College team for the two days.
Competitive Welding
Welding apprentices from Lowestoft College were firing on all cylinders at the BOC Eastern Region Welding Competition.

Joseph Coleman, James Cook and Chris Goldsmith took on apprentices from the Colchester Institute and scooped the top three places. Working against the clock, the apprentices had to complete a range of tasks designed to test their welding skills. Keeping a watchful eye on the competitors was judge Les Ness from the BOC.

Joseph who works at Derrick Services Ltd in Gt Yarmouth and James who works at Richard Westerns in Framlingham came first and second respectively and will now head to Castle College in Nottingham in July to take part in the next stage of the competition – the Apprentice Welder, England Final. Chris, an apprentice from S&G Fabrications Lowestoft, will be the College’s reserve for the competition.

Ferlin Quantrill, curriculum manager for engineering, said: These competitions really test the skills and nerve of the apprentices. To be placed first, second and third was a great result in what was a closely fought competition.”

Image: Left – Right, Chris Goldsmith, Joseph Coleman and James Cook
Diversity Event
Students and staff from Lowestoft College were invited to take part in a Diversity Event to discuss and share ideas about a range of issues faced by different groups within the community.

The event was jointly hosted with the Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality (ISCRE) with the aim of working towards eliminating discrimination and encouraging equality and diversity.

In the morning groups were asked to think about issues surrounding race, gender, age, disability and religion, while the afternoon included the chance to try some Egyptian dancing and art sessions.

Tessa Triumph, Race Equality Development Officer based in Lowestoft for ISCRE said: “During the day the students had a chance to discuss a range of issues including race, disability, faith, sexuality and more. They experienced and celebrated the notion of ‘difference’ at first hand, whilst having fun, as opposed to being lectured at.”

Jenny Carter Head of Learner Services said: “The students were really keen to get involved in the day. They really had some good ideas and thoughts and many of them had wanted extra time to discuss the different issues. The afternoon sessions were a fun way of learning something new and finding out more about other cultures.”
Students Crew Cabins
Four Cabin Crew students from Lowestoft will soon be taking to the skies having successfully gained jobs in the industry.

Stevie Dunton and Rachel Kernick have begun flying with Ryanair and Easyjet respectively, while Rachael Boydell has been taken on by Easyjet, and, Mihai Apostol is to begin flying with Thomas Cook from Manchester.

Cabin Crew lecturer Sue Woodward said: “It’s great that our students have already gained work with these airlines particularly in this tough economic climate as only a few airlines are really recruiting at the moment. The cabin crew course we offer is a great stepping stone towards the airlines’ courses and really gives the students a good head start. During her training, Stevie has already taken an exam and gained an excellent mark of 96 per cent.”

The College’s air cabin crew course all aspects of the job including Health and Safety, Emergencies, on board services, security, aviation operation, team working and interview procedures.
Working for Jamie Oliver
Working for Jamie Oliver is a dream for many chefs but for Isaac Heffernan, a former Lowestoft College student, it’s a reality.

The 27-year-old from Lowestoft is carving out a career for himself in one of the celebrity chef’s latest ventures; Jamie’s Italian in Cambridge.

Around Christmas Isaac saw the restaurant was opening and was looking to recruit staff. He sent off his CV and heard nothing so forgot about his application until he received a call in February inviting him along for an interview. Two days later he made the move to Cambridge and began working in the kitchens of the 220 seat restaurant.

Since then his feet have hardly touched the ground thanks to the long hours and the fast pace. But, in the three months he has been working there, Isaac has already moved up in the ranks: “When I first started I was working on the preparation side of things, but now I have moved to the service line so have more of a role in cooking the dishes. It’s very fast paced and each section has their own touch screen monitor so you can keep a track of the orders and know whether you’re falling behind.”

On the menu are rustic Italian styled dishes including freshly made pasta, anti pasti, salads and a grill section known as ‘under a brick’ which uses bricks heated to high temperatures to cook the meat. Isaac continued: “The menu is typical of Jamie’s style and what you see him cooking on the TV. Jamie has visited the restaurant every month so far and Gennaro Contaldo also regularly visits to help with the training. Although it’s been busy things are going well and I’m really enjoying it.”

Catering lecturer Chris Baker said: “It’s always great news when a student finds work but it is really special when we see our students go on to work for some of the top names in the industry. People like Isaac inspire our other students and show them what they could achieve when they work hard and have the talent.”

Image: Chris Baker (left), Isaac Heffernan (centre)and Adam Vass (right)
Become a Governor
Lowestoft College is looking for new people to join the Governing Body and have an input in to the strategic running of the organisation.

The College is hoping to build on the expertise its members already offer and is keen to hear from people with a background in renewable energy, marketing or public relations. Members are expected to take an active role in meetings and use their experiences within industry to help the College develop an exciting curriculum to meet current and future demands. By having governors from diverse industries members can ensure the College offers a broad range of courses to meet the needs of the local and business community.

Working alongside Simon Summers, the College Principal who takes up the reins in September, the Governors will continue to improve the College and make sure it achieves its targets. Bob Mee, Chair of Corporation, said: “We are really looking forward to working with Simon who, I’m sure, will challenge the governors in moving the College to the outstanding status it deserves. Being a college governor is a challenge but is an exciting and constructive way to contribute to the local community. We are always trying to improve the effectiveness of our decision making by ensuring our membership contains key areas the community represents so we are interested to hear from people who feel they want to contribute and help to take the College forward.”

The role of governor is taken on on a voluntary basis with the College meeting any expenses incurred while members fulfil their duties. A term of four years is served although members can reduce that time if necessary or choose to sit for more than one term. To find out more about the role visit the Lowestoft College Corporation website or ring Charles Reynolds, Clerk to the Corporation, on 01502 525009.
Rotary Young Chef of the Year
Students from Lowestoft College competed in a catering cook-off in the Lowestoft East Point Rotary Club’s Young Chef of the Year competition.

The College’s Training Restaurant ‘East’ provided the venue for the three-course dinner which included a choice of 11 dishes produced by seven students on the two-year catering course. Among the guests at the black tie event were Rotarians, representatives from the College and Peter Hoyle, General Manager of the Hotel Victoria, who was the guest speaker and presented the awards.

The prize for the best starter went to Jay Harris for his risotto with king prawns and a spicy sauce and Craig Whall picked up the prize for best dessert which was a Baileys and milk chocolate cheesecake with coffee ice-cream. It was a double win for Ben Herrod who produced a winning main dish of pork fillet, mushroom sauce, parsnips wrapped in Parma ham and vegetables and also scooped him the title of Rotary Young Chef of the Year.

Everyone who took part was presented with a certificate to mark their achievements and the winners also received vouchers to spend on catering equipment at Burgess.

Lecturers Chris Baker and Adam Vass said: “The students had worked hard, both individually and as a team and had enjoyed the valuable experience.”
Wella Professionals Xposure Competition
The hairdressing skills of a Lowestoft College student will be put to the test on Thursday at the National Finals of the Wella Professionals Xposure competition.

22-year-old Pippa Sturman, who lives in Beccles and is on the Level 3 Hairdressing course, will travel to London where she will battle it out against 19 other students from around England, Wales and Scotland.

Pippa made it through to the final stages of the competition after impressing the judges at the Eastern Region Final held in London. Over 200 entries were received for the Eastern Region heats and just 20 were chosen to take part in the live Final. Four of those – Pippa, Kelly Bullard, Claire Cliff and Verity Wilson - came from Lowestoft College.

Four Regional Finals were held with each picking five finalists to go through to the National Final. Each competitor had an hour to finish their model’s hair which they had cut and coloured before the competition. They were awarded marks for the different elements of their hairstyle and for their mood board which included details of what inspired their hairstyle. Judging the Eastern Region Final were people working in the industry including representatives from Toni and Guy, the Francesco Group and Hob Salons.

Hairdressing lecturer Jo Brooks said: “We’re really proud of all four of our students who made it through to the Regional Heats – they really were a credit to the College. The competition’s organiser Paul Oscroft told us that our region was tough and the bar had been raised because it included London. The students were under a lot of pressure on the day and had to finish their model’s hair in a tight time frame. All of them are an inspiration to others studying hairdressing at Lowestoft College. The standard of Pippa’s work is a reflection of the high quality of colour working achieved at the College.”

Miss Sturman, who works in Lowestoft’s WAGs salon, said: “It was the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever done. I was really shocked to win and didn’t realise to begin with that they were calling my name.”

In the final Pippa will take on students from as far afield as Bournemouth and Poole, Moray and South Lanarkshire Colleges. The finalists will, once again, have a limited time to finish their model’s style. This time the stakes are high and up for grabs for the winner is a day shadowing a top hairdresser as well as £1000 Wella Professional Training Vouchers and a tool kit worth £500.
Exercise Long March
A total of 26 Level 2 Uniformed Services students have successfully completed an Exercise Long March.

The two day exercise was designed to test the students’ team work, problem solving, fitness and map reading skills. A range of activities were organised including a 15 mile cross country hike in Waveney Forest giving the students the chance to draw on their navigation skills as they made their way to a number of different points.

After camping at the Suffolk Education Adventure Training Centre, a brand new purpose built facility for outdoor education, the students’ problem solving and practical skills were tested with raft building challenges and team tasks. Many of the students’ strength of mind was also tested when they were forced out of their comfort zone with a high ropes course.

Tutors Andy Gass, Steve Laws and Sara Guymer said: “It was an excellent two days with the students really giving their best.”
Race for Life
Uniformed Services Level 3 (Year 1 and 2) students from Lowestoft College donned pink on Saturday to take part in this year’s Race for Life event in Norwich.

The six female students were joined by Paula Webster, Jude Parr and Liz Davies who work at the college and also did their bit for Cancer Research UK by taking part.

The group thoroughly enjoyed the day and are set to raise around £200.
Exceptional Lowestoft student honoured at education Oscars
Learners and training providers paid tribute to the outstanding achievements of one of Lowestoft’s most exceptional learners at the prestigious national Lion Awards, dubbed the ‘education Oscars.’

The City & Guilds event, presented by the host of BBC’s Formula One and Sports Personality of the Year, Jake Humphrey, took place at The Lancaster hotel in London. It celebrated the country’s top achievers who have gone on to attain phenomenal success in their chosen careers. The ceremony is the culmination of the coveted Medals for Excellence regional awards programme run every year since 1879. Named Further Education Sector Learner of the Year, Lowestoft winner 44-year-old Laura Morgan was one of just ten lucky recipients at this year’s Lion Awards, chosen from 118 Medals for Excellence regional winners for their exceptional accomplishments.

Chris Jones, Director General and CEO, City & Guilds said: “The Lion Awards celebrate the cream of the crop of the nation’s students and trainers. It is humbling to hear our winners’ inspirational stories, some of whom have achieved extraordinary results against all odds. At a time when the country is preparing for an upturn, it is talented and motivated people like Laura Morgan who will contribute to future economic growth and prosperity.”

Jake Humphrey added: “As a sports presenter, I am used to being around some of the world’s most driven and successful sportsmen and women. For me, the Lion Awards winners have just as much ambition and determination. Although they come from different walks of life and parts of the country, they all share a remarkable passion to be the best they can possibly be.”

Laura, a Customer Service Assistant at Waveney District Council, proves it’s never too late to start again. After her A Levels, Laura started working in the family fish and chip shop business, but when her daughter was born with a serious form of diabetes she had to give up her job to become a full time carer.

When Laura wanted to return to employment, she was unable to find work as she lacked the relevant experience for the travel and tourism roles she was applying for. Instead of settling for a job that she would find unfulfilling, Laura decided to bite the bullet and return to learning almost 20 years later joining the college’s Advanced National Diploma in Travel and Tourism.

Laura said: “Like most mature students, I was nervous at the thought of returning to college after being away for so long, but within weeks I had caught the learning bug and my confidence soared. I am so excited to have won the title of FE Sector Learner of the Year at this year’s Lion Awards.”

Gwen Parsons, Principal of Lowestoft College, said: “We are really proud that Laura has won this award as it recognises her hard work and commitment. Returning to college as a mature student can be a daunting experience but Laura really did embrace the opportunity and even took on extra responsibilities including the role of student governor and mentor. Laura’s positive attitude also meant that she was a finalist at the College’s Celebration of Achievement Awards last year and won an Adult Learner Award at The Big Skill Awards for Suffolk.

“Although this is the first time a student has won a Lion Award, previous Travel and Tourism students have won Medals for Excellence and these successes all reflect the high standards of teaching by the lecturers within the department.”

The Travel and Tourism department from Lowestoft College said: "Quite simply, Laura embodies all the characteristics of the 'perfect' F.E. student. Her contribution to College life was second to none and she certainly deserves acknowledgement for her all-round exceptional achievements."
Lowestoft College Appoints New Principal
Lowestoft College has officially announced the appointment of its new principal.

Simon Summers, who currently lives in Hampshire, is set to relocate to Suffolk with his wife and two daughters when he takes over the role on Gwen Parsons retirement. Mr Summers will join the college on July 1 as Principal Designate and will undergo a period of induction during July and August to ensure a smooth handover from Mrs Parsons.

No stranger to East Anglia Mr Summers studied for a degree in Electronic Engineering at the University of Essex. He has a background in engineering and shipbuilding and moved into education where his experiences included working as Operations Director managing over 2000 staff including a further education college providing a full range of courses up to foundation degree for the British Army. More recently he has been employed as a Managing Director of a work based learning company providing vocational courses nationally.

Bob Mee, Chairman of Lowestoft College said: “We are very pleased to welcome Simon to the College and believe that he will be the right person to take us forward.” In paying tribute to Gwen Parsons, Bob commented that she had transformed the college over the last eight years and it is currently in better shape than it has been for many years.

“In Simon we have found a different range of skills and experiences that will complement the work of Gwen and continue to give us strong decisive leadership we have become used to. We believe Simon is the right person to continue the already excellent partnership working with the local schools and to take the college forward on its journey towards excellence which will reflect well on its developing local and national reputation as a leading provider of quality education,” continued Mr Mee.

Commenting on his new role Mr Summers said: "My family is excited about the move and I am very much looking forward to joining the College. Lowestoft College is a very good college having improved greatly under Gwen Parsons’ direction. The next challenge is to consolidate these improvements to transform the College into an outstanding one. I was really impressed by the positive attitude of students and staff which will be essential to ensure that we build on this success”.

"As is the case with all of the education and public sectors, funding is no doubt going to be an issue in the future as the government seeks to reduce the UK's debt. A responsive and diverse provision of education and training will be key to making the best use of this funding. This will be helped through strengthening the College's position at the centre of the community through close involvement with the community and employers in Lowestoft and the surrounding area".
Lowestoft College 1st Annual St Patrick’s Day Fun Run
Over 120 staff and students from Lowestoft College participated in a 5k Fun Run in Normanston Park in aid of the charity Help for Heroes. The fundraising target was £500.00 which will be raised from sponsorships, donations, sale of merchandise and a raffle.

The event involved students from across the whole college, including Uniformed Services, Travel and Tourism, Cabin Crew, Bricklaying, Carpentry and Joinery, Basic Construction and Motor Vehicle Mechanics.

Organisers were the level 3 Travel and Tourism students with their tutor, Judith Williams.

The fastest runner was Joao Alves, with Haydn Green a close second. The fastest girl runner was Sarah Thompson; all three are Uniformed Services students. Leading the warm-up was Amber Guymer-Hoskins, an ex-student who is currently an army medic and training to be an army physical education instructor.

After the event, Sports Massage students gave free sports massages to the first 48 lucky runners to sign up.

The College are planning to make this an annual event as this was so well received and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
3 Peaks Challenge
Lowestoft College’s Uniformed Services students are set to take on their toughest test yet - The 3 Peaks Challenge.

The 30 Level 3 year 2 students are currently preparing for the challenge which will see them scale the three highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland in just 24 hours. To complete the challenge, the group will have to make it to the top of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, climbing a combined height of 3407m.

As well as making sure they are physically prepared for the challenge, which is set to take place in May, the students are also busy collecting sponsorship to raise money for Help for Heroes and The Ashley School in Lowestoft.

Although they will be joined by their lecturers for the challenge, the students are taking on the organisation of much of the trip and will be responsible for planning the route and menus, organising the transport and using their navigational skills to find their way to the top of each peak.

Course Lecturer Liz Davies, who will join the students said: “It is going to be tough but the students are up for the challenge and are busy making sure they are well prepared. The students chose the charities themselves and picked Help For Heroes because of the work it does to help wounded servicemen and women. They also wanted the money they raised to help the local community so decided to help the four Ashley School students in their bid to be selected for the 2012 Paralympics in London.”
Awareness to Wellness Day
UCS Lowestoft’s Holistic Therapies Foundation degree students organised an Awareness to Wellness Day designed to give people the chance to sample some of the treatments available.

The day was free to attend but £60 was raised for the Palliative Care East Centre at the James Paget Hospital through donations. Mary Pretswell, Curriculum Manager for Care and Creative Studies, said: “The day was to give people a greater understanding of the range of holistic therapies that are available. The students worked hard to arrange a variety of treatments and activities including some of the more well known ones like reflexology, massage and yoga as well as the more unusual sound therapy, which is an ancient form of therapy. The students really enjoyed the day and are now looking into making it an annual event.”
Dermalogica Institute Visit
Level 3 Beauty Therapy students from Lowestoft College had an insight into the industry when they spent time at the Dermalogica Institute in Cambridgeshire.

The group was trained in a range of skin care products and specialised facial treatments and were invited to the Institute in recognition of the high numbers of products sold and beauty treatments they have given in the College’s salon.

Mary Pretswell, Curriculum Manager for Care and Creative Studies, said: “The students gained a tremendous amount from their time at the institute. As well as having a glimpse into new techniques and treatments, the day also provided the opportunity for the students to see different ways of working. Only a few colleges are invited to the Institute so it is because of the students’ hard work that they were selected.”
Heats Send Sparks Flying
Sparks flew at the Eastern region heats of the Skillweld competition held at Lowestoft College.

Ten welding apprentices from Lowestoft College, Gt Yarmouth College and the Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education were put through their paces when they were challenged to complete a series of welding tests judged against working industry standards. Each competitor was marked on their work by UK Skills Judges John Pearsall and Les Ness.

Lowestoft College came out on top with two apprentices - Chris Goldsmith, who works at S & G Fabrications and Joseph Coleman, who works for SLP Engineering - claiming first and second spot respectively. Luke Allen from Gt Yarmouth College took third place.

The three will now have to wait for the last Regional final in March to find out whether they are one of the top ten highest scorers nationally who will go through to the final at The Welding Institute in Cambridge, where one person will be crowned the UK Skillweld 2010 champion.

Ferlin Quantrill, Curriculum Manager for Engineering, said: “This competition takes place bi -annually and this year 170 trainee welders from across the country stepped up to the plate to compete. Skillweld is the UK’s premier welding competition and we are proud to have been invited to host this event. All of the apprentices who competed in the eastern region can be proud of their achievements as competitions like this promote and raise the profile of welding within colleges and industry, and highlight the requirements of skilled welders. I would like to thank ESAB Group UK for sponsoring the consumables for this event.’’

Picture shows: Winner of the Eastern Region Skillweld heats Chris Goldsmith and John Pearsall.
Students Make Their Vote Count
Students and staff have been making their vote count by helping to pick Lowestoft College’s entries for a national hairdressing competition.

The hairdressing team asked students and staff to get involved and help shortlist the College’s entries for the Wella Professionals Xposure competition reducing the number from 10 to five; the maximum number allowed per college. The ten Level 3 hairdressing students all had to cut and colour a model’s hair and organise a photo-shoot. The pictures of the finished styles were displayed, in the foyer, for people to vote on. As well as thinking about the hairstyles, the students had to consider make-up and clothing to help complete the overall look.

Kelly Bullard and Claire Cliff, both from Lowestoft, and Verity Wilson and Pippa Sturman from Beccles were shortlisted to represent the College and will now go head to head with other students from the Eastern region. The four used the latest themes and trends as a starting point and looked at ways to make their styles progressive and forward thinking. Kelly used vibrant golds and oranges to create a look which draws on multi-cultural influences from Latin America, while Verity, who has two looks going through to the competition, set out to create glamorous and dramatic styles with rich reds and browns. Pippa created a classic look with a contemporary edge using innovative colours to enhance the design. Claire used 50s pin-up glamour with a rich edge.

Hairdressing Lecturer Jo Brooks said: “We had over 300 votes in just a few days. The student and staff vote counted for 50per cent of the final decision, with the other 50 per cent coming from the hairdressing lecturers and stylists from local salons. We used this approach because both groups of people look for very different things – the stylists and lecturers take into account the technical skills involved, while the students and staff look at things from a more commercial view and base their decision on the looks they like.”

The four have sent off their entries which include pictures of the styles they created and now have to wait to find out whether they will be chosen as one of 80 students to go through to the Regional Heats in April. The heats will take place at one of four locations in England and Scotland and, at this stage, competitors will have one hour to style their models hair for a staged catwalk show.

Pictures show:
Lowestoft College’s entries for the Wella Professionals Xposure student competition.
Student Says Goodbye to His Hair
A 23-year-old Lowestoft College student said goodbye to his hair on Tuesday when he has his head shaved for charity and is set to raise over £750 in sponsorship.

Damien Woodward, who lives in Bury St Edmunds, was roped in to the challenge by fellow Access to Health and Life Science student Kirstie Maguire. Damien said: “Around Christmas time I made a comment in class one day that I was getting fed up with my hair and would shave it off. Kirstie heard and thought it would be a good fundraising opportunity.”

Damien, who has been growing his hair for the last two to three years, decided to take up the challenge and has even grown a beard which will also be shaved off. And, wanting his hair to be put to good use, Damien is going to donate it to Cancer Research who can use it to make real hair wigs.

The money raised from the event will be donated to Megan’s World, which helps those who have lost babies due to stillbirth and parents of stillborn babies who are unable to provide burial plots and head stones due to financial costs, a charity Kirstie became aware of as a result of Born With Wings, a non-profit organisation she founded to offer support to those who have lost babies.

Pictures show:
John Greig hairdressing student shaving Damien Woodward’s hair in aid of Megan’s World.
College Helps Haiti Fund
Lowestoft College has donated just over £400 to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Students and staff were encouraged to give up something for the day – for example a chocolate bar or packet of crisps - and put the money they would usually spend on it in the collection. The collection was organised by members of the Student Forum who also came up with publicity to help promote the cause designing posters and creating a slideshow for the College’s TV screen.

The total of £411 also included money collected from a scone sale by the Employability Group and donations received from a pyjama party held at the Ladybird Day Care Centre in Kirkley.

Picture shows:
Lowestoft College Chaplain Captain Paul McDonough pictured with Aidan Hunt (left), Peter Garrod and Graham Bradford (front)
2010 the Year to Stay Fit and Healthy
Students and staff from Lowestoft College determined to make 2010 the year to stay fit and healthy were given a bit of a boost last week with a special roadshow.

The day featured workshops and challenges with a Health Theme and included stands by visiting organisations which ranged from the Suffolk Young Carers and Stop Smoking Team to Community Nutritionists and Suffolk Constabulary. The students were also able to test their awareness and ability to spot potential hazards on the roads with a computer driving challenge by Suffolk Road Safety. More active visitors were able to hop on the blender bike and make themselves a smoothie using pedal power alone.

Jenny Carter Head of Learner Services said: “The event was designed to answer some questions and provide information about various health issues that affect people. The day was hugely popular with our students and we hope that by giving them access to this kind of event we are encouraging them to think about how they can be a healthier and realise how their actions and choices can have an impact on their lives.”
Fashionable Trip
Lowestoft College’s Air Cabin Crew students had a taste the high life with a short visit to one of the world’s fashion capitals - Milan. The trip gave the students the chance to experience all aspects of air travel including getting to grips with an on-line check in system. They also found out first-hand about their future career by speaking to the air cabin crew team, visited the flight deck, looked around the galley and at some of the equipment such as the jump seats and harnesses. It wasn’t all work for the group though as they had the chance to take in some of the cultural sights of the city and sample some of the fashion with a spot of window shopping at the designer boutiques. Sue Woodward, lecturer at Lowestoft College, said: “These visits always give our students a good insight in to the industry – providing them with a realistic idea of just how short their stays in other countries can be. By talking to people who are working as air cabin crew, the students are also able to find out how people began working in the industry, what their particular company is like to work for and how they find their job.”
M & H Plastics Visit
Beccles company M & H Plastics opened its doors to a group of local students, including a number from Lowestoft College, giving them a glimpse in to the manufacturing industry.

The engineering and motor vehicle students had a tour of the 50 acre site to see all aspects of the plant which produces and decorates plastic bottles, caps, flexible tubes, jars and containers for markets including personal, healthcare, pet care, automotive, food and beverages and household products. Many of the students were also able to get hands-on with the equipment by completing tasks, while under supervision, to help maintain and set up some of the plant’s complex machinery. Managers and staff also talked with the students giving them an insight into the job opportunities and careers that are available within the industry.

Lecturer Chris Baker said: “The day was very interesting and a good chance to see the range of careers that are available within the industry. Many of the students now have a better understanding of how diverse manufacturing work can be.”
Wii Fitness
Foundation Studies students from Lowestoft College are using the latest technology to help improve their fitness, co-ordination and IT skills.

The students have been selling cards and gifts at the college to raise money for the games console and controllers. Their fundraising also had a welcome boost from parents of some of the students who raised £100 towards the cause.

Course lecturer Gill Phillippo said: “The students are really excited about the games console and are looking forward to using it. As part of their course our students have to take part in leisure activities so this will count towards that. The system will also play a role in helping the students to improve their reading and IT skills.”

The fundraising is set to continue as the groups are hoping to invest in additional handsets and new games.
Hair-raising Fund Raising
Students from the North Suffolk Skills Centre have been using their creativity to raise over £600 for a children’s charity.

The Level 2 hairdressing groups held a hair show at Halesworth Middle School, to raise money for Wish Upon a Star, a charity that grants wishes of children aged two to 16 with life threatening illnesses. The event showcased some of the skills and techniques the students had learnt throughout the course and featured styles with past, present, future, weddings and luminous themes.

Over 100 people supported the evening which also included a raffle to help boost the fundraising total, as well as entertainment from local band One Member Short and a Beccles street dance group.

Course tutor Jane Ingram said: “The evening was a huge success. By holding the show and other events including a car wash, market place bake sale and sponsored walk we were able to raise £627 for Wish Upon a Star. The students, staff and models worked really hard to make the hair show a success but really enjoyed the evening and the chance to demonstrate their hairdressing skills and ideas. The students would like to thank everyone who helped to make the evening a success – especially those people who supplied costumes, Bungay High School’s Assistant Head Teacher, Mark Attenburrow, who acted as compere and Halesworth Middle School for allowing us to use the school for the event.”
Autosport 2010
Motor Vehicle students from Lowestoft College had a break from the workshop when they spent the day at the Autosport show in Birmingham’s NEC.

The show, which celebrated its 20th Anniversary this year, featured displays and live performances by some big names in the industry including Dunlop, Radical and Porsche GB, as well as a line up of Formula 1 cars, with Jenson Button’s car the star.

The students also had the chance to rub shoulders with some big names in the world of motorsport including commentator Louise Goodman and Don Wales the land speed record holder for driving a steam driven car at just over 148miles an hour. One student Claire Hart, also had a first-hand experience in a high performance car when she opted to have a lap of the track as a passenger in a Caterham.

Chris Baker, Motor Vehicle Lecturer said: “The students really enjoyed the day and were inspired by the visit. By taking them to the show we are able to open their eyes to how diverse a career in the motor industry can be. The show is also a good chance for us to show the students some of the latest technology and developments within the industry with displays from engine builders and component makers.”
Principal’s Retirement Plans
Lowestoft College’s principal Gwen Parsons has officially announced she is to retire in August 2010.

Mrs Parsons joined Lowestoft College in 2002 making the move from Wolverhampton where she was Vice Principal at the city’s College. With a strong background in Education she has worked in the sector for almost 37 years and enjoyed a successful career, at colleges in England and Wales, taking on many different roles ranging from Maths Lecturer, Assistant Principal to Acting Principal.

During her time at Lowestoft College Mrs Parsons has worked hard to build the reputation of the College and increase the quality and range of courses offered in a bid to meet the needs of local people and the business community. Throughout her career she has been passionate about the role of education and training in changing people’s lives. Under her leadership Lowestoft College has developed Centres of Vocational Excellence in Offshore, Technology, Energy, Care and Construction. Lowestoft College is a founder partner in University Campus Suffolk with over 200 Undergraduates studying at UCS Lowestoft.

The College works with the voluntary and community sector at venues throughout Waveney. Young people from rural schools can now access vocational education at the North Suffolk Skills Centre in Halesworth and in Lowestoft the long term partnership work with local high schools has led to the development of a sixth form college which will open alongside Lowestoft College in 2011.

She has also played a major community role in the Chamber of Commerce, Waveney Economic Partnership, Waveney Local Strategic Partnership and represents FE colleges on a range of committees with other education partners.

Mrs Parsons said: “My decision to retire has not been taken lightly but I feel that the time is right for the College to have a fresh impetus so that it can become the outstanding institution that this community deserves. We have come a very long way together over the last eight years from being inward looking to outward facing. The renaissance of the College has been mirrored by the redevelopment of the town and the area. There are many exciting times ahead and I will be staying in the area in the immediate future and hope to be able to contribute in some way to realising Waveney’s ambitions. It will be good though to be able to spend some time with family and friends and rekindle the interests I used to fit into my life.”

Lowestoft College is now beginning the process of finding a replacement to take on the role of Principal when Mrs Parsons retires.
Laura Scoops a Medal for Excellence
A former Lowestoft College student has scooped a prestigious award in recognition of her work and contribution to college life.

Laura Morgan (seated, middle), a Travel and Tourism student from 2007 to 2009, will be presented with a Medal for Excellence by awarding body City and Guilds at a special ceremony in Cambridge.

Laura, who lives in Lowestoft, was nominated for the award by the Travel and Tourism team who thought she fit the bill of being an ‘Exceptional Student’. Throughout the Level 3 course Laura produced a high standard of work and consistently achieved distinctions even when juggling home and family commitments. Laura became the Chair of the Student Forum, a Student Governor and a Student Mentor, a role which saw her sacrifice many hours of her own time to help other students with questions about coursework or exams.

A keen fundraiser, Laura also organised charity collections for the homeless, raised money for a local children’s home by securing a donation of fortune cookies to sell and collected around 30 prizes for a raffle in aid of course’s chosen charity Palliative Care East.

Course tutor Jo Hiller, who will accompany Laura to the awards ceremony, said: “Laura has made an enormous impression on her tutors and peers alike. Her work has been an absolute pleasure to read and her contribution to college life has also been remarkable. We are delighted that this Medal for Excellence acknowledges her achievements.”

This is this third award Laura has received this year. In June she was a finalist at Lowestoft College’s Celebration of Student Achievement Awards and won the Adult Learner Award at The Big Skill Awards for Suffolk, hosted by the Learning and Skills Council in partnership with BBC Radio Suffolk.
Paralympian Visits College
Mel Clarke, Bronze medallist at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, visited Lowestoft College to share her experiences as an athlete with Sport and Leisure Level 3 students.

Also ranked as World Number 2 in the sport, Mel explained how she became ill with Lymes Disease, a condition that left her in a coma for five weeks and paralysed her from the waist down. She was told she would never walk again but after three weeks of recovery, Mel shot her first arrow and within weeks she was competing again and became World Champion in the sport.

Course Tutor Melissa Young said: “Part of the course is to learn about working with disabled participants in various sports from grass roots up to the elite level. It was a great experience for the students to not only hear about a disability but how that person had adapted in their daily life and what they can now achieve.”

Andy Hood, a coach for disabled Archery participants, also visited the college to demonstrate how training can be adapted to different disabilities. The students were then given the challenge to shoot with one arm, being blind folded, attempting to use their feet and experiencing what it’s like to shoot from a wheel chair.

Mel Clarke said: “It’s weird to say this but becoming a paraplegic has changed my life for the better as so many opportunities have come my way. I have travelled the world, participated and won prestigious competitions and the best so far was not only competing for my country at the Beijing Para-Olympics but also bringing a bronze medal home.”

The students also got to see the Olympic medal and watched video footage of the various events Mel has competed in.

Student Jordan Hockold said: “It’s awesome, I can’t believe we have just had a World Number 2 sitting in our classroom!”
In at the Deep End
Learners on the new Energy Skills Foundation Programme were in for a surprise this week when they were thrown in at the deep end of Lowestoft College’s environmental sea survival training tank.

The students are all on the year long course which runs at Lowestoft College in conjunction with the ECITB, Cogent and Skills for Energy East of England. The course, which is currently in its pilot year, has been set up in partnership with a range of partners and employers from the East of England’s energy sector and aims to give young people a broad practical and theoretical insight into current and emerging career paths available to them in the region’s vibrant energy sector.

As part of a team and confidence building exercise, the group had to jump off a four metre high platform into deep water, climb up scramble nets and right upturned offshore life rafts before climbing inside and battling against high winds and waves.

Student Harvey Wright from Bradwell said: ‘’ I couldn’t believe it when they told me that I had to jump into that pool, it was so realistic and after a while in the life raft I started to feel a little bit sea sick!’’

Ferlin Quantrill, Head of Engineering at Lowestoft College, commented: “The objective of this exciting new training programme is to give people an insight into the energy business that we have on our doorstep in the East of England.” He added, “We are introducing learners to the practical hands on engineering skills that underpin engineering careers in the oil and gas, marine, nuclear and renewable energy sectors.”

Ian Pease, Head of Maritime, Offshore and Energy at the College was delighted that the learners experienced the training tank first hand: ‘’Our facilities here at Lowestoft are vital to the local offshore and marine industry and the tank is a safe and exciting way to introduce people to the importance of safety at sea without the associated dangers of the real North Sea.“
Students Pushed to the Limit
Uniformed Services students from Lowestoft College were pushed to their limit by the Royal Marine.

The students travelled to Lympstone in Devon where they stayed at the Commando Training Centre for three challenging days. During their time the group took part in a range of physically and mentally demanding activities that ranged from the endurance course, assault course and gym tests.

Course Lecturer Nick Smith said: “The students had a great time at the training centre in Devon – it was a chance for all the students to really test their endurance levels and get a better understanding of what life and a career with the Royal Marines is really like.”
Can They Stand The Heat?
Welding apprentices and students are being asked if they can stand the heat by signing up to take part in the Skillweld 2010.

The Eastern Region heats take place at Lowestoft College on 11 February and the competition will see the welders working against the clock to complete four tasks. Each test will be marked by a team of independent judges.

There are ten heats being held throughout England, Wales and Scotland and the ten highest scores from the heats will go through to the national finals at The Welding Institute in Cambridge where the winner will be crowned UK Skillweld 2010 champion.

Ferlin Quantrill, Curriculum Manager Engineering, said: “This is a really prestigious competition in the welding industry and we are really pleased to be chosen as the hosts for the Eastern Region heats. The competition for Skillweld is high and it is tough for those taking part, but I’m hopeful that we’ll have some strong competitors who can stand up to the challenge.”

Competitors in the Skillweld final could be in with a chance of representing the UK at the next Worldskills International competition which takes place in London in 2011.

For more information about the competition visit www.airproducts.co.uk/ukskillweld
College Week
Students from Lowestoft College are being given the chance to take part in a number of special space-themed activities to mark National Colleges’ Week from 9 and 15 November.

Among the activities is a Mars landing challenge which will see the students developing a method to successfully land a landing module – or egg – without breaking it using certain materials which range from lolly sticks and bubble wrap to straws. Other activities include building rockets using different size marshmallows and dried spaghetti and a moon exploration exercise to decide which items would be most useful in helping a team get to a rendezvous point.

Head of Student Services Jenny Carter said: “We wanted to develop a range of fun and interesting tasks which would be out of the ordinary for the students and challenge them. Students from different courses will be working together so it will really test their team working and communication skills, as well as their ability to solve problems. There is also a Learner Conference during the week where the students will be encouraged to make suggestions about what they would like to see happen at Lowestoft College.”

National Colleges’ Week is a celebration of the role colleges play in celebrating the opportunities colleges create for individuals, businesses and Britain. This is the second Colleges Week and the week is co-ordinated and organised by the Association of Colleges (AoC) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). For more information about Colleges Week visit www.collegesweek.org
Dragons Consider Design Pitch in the Den
A Lowestoft College student and his tutor teamed up to take part in Lowestoft’s very own version of the BBC’s ‘Dragon’s Den’.

Course lecturer Nick Tuley enlisted the help of 16-year-old Fred Hoffman from Halesworth to sell the design skills of art students to local businesses at an event hosted by the Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce and Make Your Mark.

The Lowestoft College pitch was asking for money to promote the design services the BTEC National Certificate in Art and Design students can provide which ranges from websites and posters to stationery and interior design.

Five members of the Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce took on the role of the Dragons to question each business and the pitches were also watched by other Chamber members. The college team was up against the Ashley School and Denes and Sir John Leman High Schools.

Mr Tuley said: “Our students are great at coming up with designs aimed are young people so we thought it would be great to develop this and design a plan which uses the money to promote the scheme. We’re looking to gain interest from smaller organisations or charities who may not have considered developing their marketing before.

“Fred was an absolute star on the day and wasn’t fazed by the prospect of presenting to a room full of people. He helped to present a strong case to the Dragons and was a real credit to Lowestoft College,” continued Mr Tuley.

The four teams now have to wait until 16 November for the Student Awards Night to hear whether they were successful in securing the £300 prize money to take their business further.
Question Time
Within just a few days of starting their course, a group of Lowestoft College students has been given a taste of working to deadlines.

The students on the BTEC National Certificate and First Diploma in Art and Design have been asked to create posters to promote a Question Time Event being organised by Waveney District Council. The event is due to take place on October 15 and is designed to get young people involved in politics and talking about issues that matter to them.

Lorraine Light, Member Development and Scrutiny Officer for the Council, contacted course lecturer Nick Tuley following a successful project at the end of last term for the Standards Committee. Lorraine said: “Both Councillors and Officers were very pleased with the quality of the work previously produced by Nick’s students and I had no hesitation in approaching him to help with this project. It is important that in order to interest young people in the Question Time Debate I needed the art and design students help to create eye catching designs that would appeal visually to young people.”

Course Lecturer Nick Tuley said: “Despite being new to the college and the course, the groups were keen to get involved in the project and rose to the challenge. We had many great ideas to submit to the council who are now going to select their favourite designs to be produced to promote the event.”

The ‘Question Time Debate’ will include interactive voting and the panel of experts on the night will include Leader of the Council, a Suffolk County Councillor and a representative from Suffolk Police. Hosted by Rachel Sloane of BBC Radio Suffolk, the debate will take place from 6pm until 8pm at Kirkley High School’s Community Hall.
Lowestoft College Achieves Customer Service Excellence Standard
On 27 May 2009, following a successful assessment by SGS United Kingdom Ltd, Lowestoft College achieved Customer Service Excellence. This Government standard helps those delivering public services put their customers at the core of what they do. The success follows the college’s achievement of Charter Mark in 2006.

As a Further Education college, Lowestoft delivers a wide range of course opportunities to a diverse group of customers, including employers, further and higher education students, schools and partners. “Our key challenge is to meet the needs of all our customers,” says Ruth Harrison, Head of Quality and Workforce Development. “We chose Customer Service Excellence because we wanted to maintain the key customer focus in our organisation: to make sure our customer service was right and that we were maintaining standards.” Lowestoft prepared for Customer Service Excellence by setting up a small team who took the desk-based work they prepared for Charter Mark and performed a gap analysis to see how best to meet the new Customer Service Excellence criteria.

An SGS United Kingdom Ltd auditor visited the college for a pre-assessment, which helped to outline the areas for review. “The assessor was very helpful. This process gave us the evidence we needed and led us to review our existing systems,” says Ruth Harrison. “For example, we looked at The learner journey to find out whether all our learners, no matter which point they entered the college, received a parity of experience. We worked closely with Student Services to monitor the effect on their service.” Now, after the successful implementation of the Customer Service Excellence standard, the college is enjoying the benefits. The new badging has raised the college profile. In addition, achieving the standard has helped to raise staff morale, especially in reception and student services, the front line of customer service.

“Maintaining the focus on customer services in our organisation is of prime importance to us. Sometimes it’s easy in an educational establishment to think it’s all about the education we provide. But there are a lot of people involved in customer service and this standard makes us all think hard about how well we deliver on it,” adds Ruth Harrison.
Standards Design Winner
A series of posters to raise awareness of the ten general principles that govern public life has been designed for Waveney District Council by Lowestoft College student Arran North.

The 19-year-old came up with the winning designs after the Standards Committee contacted the College’s Art and Design department looking for a range of A3 and A1 posters to be created.

Arran decided to take on the project and designed a poster campaign which included the caption ‘we pledge’ and features photographs of local scenes taken by Sam Gee, a BA (Hons) Design (Graphic and Typographic Design) student from UCS Lowestoft. The photographs will be changed throughout the year and the posters will help to highlight the message that all Councillors in Waveney have adopted the Code of Conduct.

The posters have proved to be a hit with the Committee and, as well as receiving a cheque for £100 from Waveney District Council for his creative achievement, Arran will soon see his designs displayed throughout Waveney in reception areas, public libraries and at Town and Parish Councils.

Caroline Nixon, Independent Chairman of the Standards Committee said: “Arran's very innovative approach to the subject of ethical behaviour has been like a breath of fresh air. Members of the Standards Committee hope his ideas will help members of the public as well as elected members have a better understanding of the subject.”

Arran is now coming to the end of the BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and has been offered a place studying for a Degree in Graphic Design at the University of Worcester in September.
Top Travel Students
Working in Travel 3 student Laura Morgan has beaten off competition from around the county to receive the Adult Learner Award at The Big Skill Awards for Suffolk.

Laura was nominated for the award by tutor Jo Hiller for her attitude to learning and for being an inspiration to fellow students. During her time at college Laura took on the role of Chancellor of the Student Congress and class representative, became a student governor and also acted as a mentor to others, which has helped improve the course success rate. Throughout her time at college, Laura has also successfully combined student life with caring for her family.

The judges said: “Her contribution to the college is absolutely incredible and phenomenal. She is a role model to all and goes the extra mile, acting as an inspiring voice for fellow learners.”

Also successful at The Big Skill Awards was 19-year-old Francesca Durrant a student on the Children’s Care Learning and Development course who was nominated by Alister Cooper. Francesca received a commendation in the 17-19 Award category for her motivation and focus throughout the course. She volunteered to speak with Ofsted Inspectors and completed work placements in record time, receiving excellent reports in the process.

Both Laura and Francesca attended a special awards ceremony at the Town Hall in Ipswich. They receive a certificate to mark their achievement and Laura was also presented with a trophy and a £150 experience day voucher by BBC Sport presenter Ray Stubbs.

The Big Skill Awards are run by the Learning and Skills Council in partnership with BBC Radio Suffolk in a bid to recognise and reward those who have improved their life or the lives of others through learning.
Healthy Education
A member of staff at Lowestoft College is trying to encourage students to leave the sofa in favour of a more active lifestyle.

Mel Young is the role of Further Education Sports Co-ordinator (FESCO) at the College and is working to increase participation in sports activities, especially 16-19 year olds.

Since joining the college last year, Mel has been looking to build on students’ fitness and teamwork skills. She has established a football team which trains regularly, as well as a girls football team, organised a five-a-side football tournament for staff and students and has also offered students aerobics, climbing and cheerleading.

The hard work is already beginning to see results as the College as Matthew Prior made it to the final of a county table tennis competition.

Mel said: “The role of FESCO is a government initiative and is something which all Further Education establishments are being encouraged to have. We have made a positive start of encouraging students to become more active and in the next few years I am hoping to be able to build on this success by introducing more opportunities and teams including basketball, cricket, rugby and hockey.”

Mel has a strong background in sports having studied Leisure Management and Sport Science at university before working in a range of sports-related roles including Health and Fitness Manager at several different locations including London. Throughout her career Mel has also built up her knowledge of the industry with courses including Personal Training qualifications and Fitness for Children.

While at the college Mel will also teach on the new Foundation degree in Personal Training with Sports Therapy which will be offered through University Campus Suffolk from September.
Suffolk Colleges’ Construction Competition
The skills of brickwork, carpentry and joinery and painting and decorating students from Lowestoft College were showcased at the annual Suffolk Colleges’ Construction Competition.

The competition, which is held at the Suffolk Show, sees students from Lowestoft, Otley, West Suffolk and Suffolk New Colleges compete against one another. Working in pairs the students had to complete a set challenge over the course of the show.

Among those taking part were Darrell Block and Daniel Barber, students on the ICA Construction Award. The pair, who both live in Lowestoft, impressed the judges and picked up first prize for the archway they built. As well as winning £15 each, Darrell and Daniel also received a gift bag from cemex and had their names added to the trophy.

First year Painting and Decorating students David Cone and Matthew Littlemoore also enjoyed success and narrowly missed out on the top spot. David and Matthew used a range of techniques including marbelling and stencilling to decorate a doorway and pillars and also created a sandstone and granite effect using paint.

Second place was also awarded to Carpentry and Joinery students Josh Stephenson and James Poll. The pair, who are both in the second year of the Site Carpentry course, had to construct a truss rafter by hand using green oak, a difficult wood to work with.

Andy Truss Curriculum Manager for Construction said: “The students really impressed at the Suffolk Show with their skills. They worked well together despite facing challenging and technically demanding tasks. Visitors really enjoyed watching the students at work and the carpentry exhibition won the title of ‘best stall’ at the Suffolk Show.”
Award from the National Federation of Builders
A painting and decorating student from Lowestoft College has gained acclaim for his skills with an Award from the National Federation of Builders.

20-year-old Bob Nunney was nominated for the Best in Trade for a Level 1 Student category by his tutors for his skills and ability, along with his willingness to help others in the class. The nomination was supported by the Construction Skills, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the industry. Bob, who lives in Lowestoft, was up against students from colleges in Suffolk for the award.

To celebrate his success, Bob was invited to attend the Suffolk Joint Consultative Committee’s Annual Supper at Trinity Park in Ipswich where he was presented with a certificate, trophy and cheque.

Bob, who currently combines studying with working for Mitie Property Services, is hoping his skills will continue to impress when he takes part in the Norfolk and Waveney Building Apprentices’ Competition which is to be hosted at Lowestoft College on Thursday, June 18.
Holistics in Italy
The internet has helped one woman to land the opportunity of a lifetime; working in a yoga and holistic therapies retreat in Italy.

Feeling the need for a new challenge, 24-year-old Hannah Bridges from Laxfield turned to the internet and searched for ‘Holistic Therapy Retreats in Italy’. She was directed to Sunflower Retreats, which provides yoga and holistic therapy treatments in the heart of Italy.

After visiting the website, Hannah contacted the retreat asking whether they had any work for the summer. It paid off and she is now set to travel to the village of Casperia to work as a therapist from June to September.

Hannah has been a therapist for the last six years after gaining the Diploma in Holistic Therapies at Lowestoft College. Since September she has combined working with a Foundation degree in Holistic Therapies at University Campus Suffolk Lowestoft, located at Lowestoft College.

Hannah said: “I had never had the inkling to do anything like this before but was looking for a change and wanted to work in a different environment to experience a new side of the industry. I’ve never been to Italy before and I’m really blown away about the opportunity I’ve been given.”

Course lecturer Mary Pretswell said: “It will be a really good experience for Hannah giving her the chance to spread her wings. Every training school is different and does things differently so working at the Sunflower Retreat should really help to broaden her knowledge.”
Apprentices in Action
The skills of apprentices from across the region will be put to the test in the annual Norfolk and Waveney Building Apprentices’ Competition on Thursday, June 18.

Apprentices from Carter’s Training Academy, City College Norwich, The College of West Anglia, Gt Yarmouth College and Lowestoft College will compete against one another for a chance to win a gold, silver or bronze medal. The college or academy with the highest overall scores will also win the R E Carter College Award trophy that they will retain for the year.

Brickwork, plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry and joinery and painting and decorating apprentices have all been selected to take part in the competition, which is being held in the Sir Christopher Cockerell Centre at Lowestoft College. The apprentices will all work against the clock as they complete a task relevant to their trade. An independent panel of judges will then mark the standard of the work to decide the top three from each trade.

The competition was introduced in 1976 by the late RE Carter, of construction company RG Carter Ltd, as a way of recognising the role of apprentices within the industry.
Painting and Decorating Success
Painting and decorating students from Lowestoft College proved their skills in the trade when they took part in the Dulux Apprentice of the Year 2009 competition.

Second year student Sophie Able and first year Daniel Purvis travelled to Doncaster College for the heats where they took on ten other students from Gt Yarmouth, Leeds, Manchester, Doncaster and Liverpool.

Working against the clock, they had to demonstrate their skills in different decorating elements including painting, wallpapering, stencilling, marking out, glossing and cutting in. The contest was tightly run and Daniel and Sophie were awarded joint runner-up places, with Sophie narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Both were presented with a prize bag from Dulux for their success.

Pictures show: Sophie Able and Daniel Purvis at the Dulux Apprentice of the Year competition.
Sparks Fly in Welding Challenge
Apprentices may be battling it out in front of Alan Sugar – but it’s at Lowestoft College where the sparks are really flying.

13 trainee welders at the College battled it out in The Apprentice Welding Competition which tested their skills in a series of craft challenges. Up for grabs was a range of quality welding clothing and accessories along with vouchers worth hundreds of pounds to spend at BOC stores.

Head of Engineering Ferlin Quantrill said: “There is a major shortage of skilled welders in this region, and this competition was a great way to raise the profile of engineering among young people while also developing their welding skills.’’

The event was sponsored by BOC Industrial and competitions are taking place in 40 colleges throughout the UK with over 400 competitors. The regional final will take place at Lowestoft College in June and the UK finals in July in Wolverhampton.

The Lowestoft competition was won by Joseph Coleman, an apprentice at Alpine Fabrication Services, 2nd place went to Christopher Goldsmith from S&G Fabrication and James Cook from Richard Westerns came third.

Pictures show: Joseph Coleman with Stephen Haymes, Business Development Manager at BOC.

Stephen Haymes, Business Development Manager at BOC, James Cook, Christopher Goldsmith and Joseph Coleman.
Homemade Home
While TV’s Kirstie Allsopp has been trying her hand at traditional craft techniques, a number of degree students from University Campus Suffolk Lowestoft have been rediscovering some skills for themselves.

Among those to use more traditional techniques is Janet Piehl from Lowestoft. The final year student has created a collection of wood turned pieces using wood she found in skips. The 40-year-old was inspired by a metropolis theme and laminated the recycled pieces of wood together before turning them. Her collection includes vases and bowls as well as lighting systems which use low energy LEDs.

Also using traditional skills is second year student Heather Drysdale from Norwich. 22-year-old Heather has been making her own rag rugs, tea cosies and cushions which have an organic theme and are based on seed pods. She uses recycled materials including potato sacks, old clothing, lining material and old buttons.

Ceramics also feature in the show and final year student Rosemary Pummell, who is also from Lowestoft, has been on a steep learning curve by swapping clay for porcelain for her flint and pebble themed collection.

Course Lecturer Liz Clark said: “The students have been making beautiful things from materials with humble beginnings. A number of them have returned to traditional craft processes and looked at how these skills can create original innovative pieces. Janet and Heather both spent time with local craftspeople to learn these skills and are keen to promote the idea of thriftiness and make-do-and-mend in these difficult times”

The end of year show features work by students on the BA (Hons) Design (Design Crafts) and BA (Hons) Design (Graphic and Typographic) courses and takes place at UCS Lowestoft, at the site of Lowestoft College from 4 to 18 June at 10am-5pm each day (excluding Sunday). The show brings together different disciplines including graphics, textiles, ceramics and three dimensional design.
Welding Demonstrations
Welding and engineering students from Lowestoft College found out about technical side of the industry with a series of demonstrations.

The students saw how precise orbital and pre programmable welding could be thanks to the introduction of digital equipment. The various sectors of industry and types of applications for this amount of precision, accuracy and integrity include food manufacturing, oil, hydraulics, nuclear and aeronautics. The equipment is pre-programmed and allows a joint to be welded up to 360° around a stable object.

Welding lecturer Mike Smith said: “The day proved a valuable opportunity for the students who were able to see for themselves just how technical welding can be. It’s not just about heavy industry – the kinds of equipment we saw can be very precise and can radically improve cost efficiency and effectiveness which in today’s economical environment helps industry to be competitive. We were very impressed with the enthusiasm of the students especially those on the Young Apprenticeship programme.”

The demonstrations were made by Orbimatic a company which supplies digital welding equipment. As well as seeing the equipment in action, the students were given the opportunity to ask questions.
Charity Dog Show – 2nd May 20009
The sixth charity dog show, organised by students from the Advanced National Certificate in Animal Management from Lowestoft College, raised over £1000 for charity.

The students organised the show as part of their coursework and it attracted approximately 600 people attending with 142 competitors, and 165 dogs competing. The students were ably supported by tutors, Rebecca Sannick (course tutor) and Rachel Bunn. The total amount raised was £1238.50 and will be divided equally between four charities, namely Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, Pets As Therapy, Cat Protection and Norfolk and Suffolk Animal Trust



The dog show hosted pedigree classes, fun classes, agility and gymkhana games on the Oulton Broad & Beccles Riding Club field kindly provided by Maurice and Terry Read.

There also was an excellent display by the Lowestoft Dog Agility Team, showing off their skills, and thanks to Alex from the More Music Roadshow who provided an excellent PA system and introduced the classes.

Other activities included face painting by an art student from the college, mask decorating and a colouring competition.

There were a large number of exhibitors and thanks have to be given to the judge Mr Bob Crowley whose task was extremely difficult due to the high standard of dogs brought forward. There were 56 competitors in the Handsomest Dog class, imagine having to judge that which was won by S. Buck with George.

Thanks also to the large number of people who sponsored the classes and donated raffle prizes, which enabled such a large amount of money to be raised.

Rebecca and Rachel would like to say well done to the students who ran an extremely professional show and what an impressive amount of money was raised, for your nominated charities.

Best in Show was a Bernese Mountain Dog bitch, Bernarks Super Elise, owned by Yvonne Clough, from High Wycombe, Bucks and the trophy was presented by Mary Pretswell from Lowestoft College.
Wild Meat
Catering students from Lowestoft College improved their butchery skills when they visited game specialists The Wild Meat Company Ltd.

The Level 3 group had a tour of the Woodbridge-based business, watched demonstrations about preparing different types of game and were given the chance to put their own skills to the test by plucking birds and boning out a haunch of venison.


Nick Barrett, Catering Lecturer at the College, said: “Working in a kitchen as a chef can involve many different job roles and skills. These visits offer valuable experiences to our students; as well as giving them ideas about different careers within the catering industry they also help to improve the students’ knowledge building on the skills they learn in college.”

“The visit to The Wild Meat Company was definitely the best we’ve been on. The people there were amazing giving up the whole of the morning to spend with us and answer all of the students’ questions. They were so enthusiastic and nothing was too much trouble.”

Over the years the company has expanded and now exports meats around the world including America, Germany and the Far East. Following the visit Nick is hoping to spend time with The Wildmeat Company Ltd on a placement to develop his skills further.

The students also had a look around Ipswich-based Jimmy’s Farm as seen on TV.
Holocaust Survivor Visit
On Wednesday 6 May over 100 students and staff from Lowestoft College heard testimony from a Holocaust survivor, Eva Clarke, as part of a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET).

Eva was introduced to the audience by Georgia Wicks and Zoe Banns, both of whom are studying on the Level 3 Travel and Tourism course at Lowestoft College. They talked about their experiences, emotions and thoughts of their visit to Auschwitz Birkenau in February which was a major part of the Lessons from Auschwitz Project. They urged people to do everything within their power to ensure that we all stamp out hatred and racism in the future.

The testimony was followed by a question and answer session to enable students to better understand the nature of the Holocaust and to explore its lessons in more depth. The visit was part of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s extensive all year round Outreach Programme, which is available to schools across the UK.

Jo Hiller, Teaching & Learning Coordinator at Lowestoft College, said: “It was a privilege for us to welcome Eva Clarke to our College and her testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced. We are grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for co-ordinating the visit and we hope that by hearing Eva’s testimony, it will encourage our students to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives.” Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust added: “The Holocaust Educational Trust educates and engages students from across the UK about the Holocaust and there can be no better way than through the first-hand testimony of a Survivor. Eva’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and each of us has a responsibility to ensure that we honour the memory of those whose lives were lost and take forward the lessons taught by those who survived.”
Bradford Textile Society Student Awards
Two BA (Hons) Design (Design Crafts) students from University Campus Suffolk Lowestoft have impressed with their creativity in the prestigious national Bradford Textile Society Student Awards.

Jonie Worton and Nicole Suchy received recognition for their entries in the Clothworkers’ Foundation Award, a new category introduced this year. Jonie, who is 19 and from Corton, scooped the first prize and will receive £150, while 20-year-old Nicole from Chediston, near Halesworth, was awarded a commendation. The competition runs every year and is entered by hundreds of students from Colleges and Universities from around the country.

Jonie used knitted copper wire in a variety of colours for her entry and included details of how the pieces could be used to form jewellery. Nicole, a former Bungay High School student, took inspiration for her entry from the surfaces of drain covers and the structure of corsets.

Jonie, who previously studied A Levels at the East Norfolk Sixth Form College, was surprised to win: “I’m really pleased. I had used the copper wire in a previous project and really enjoyed working with it. My lecturer Liz persuaded me to enter the competition using the wire but I thought more traditional ideas and designs would win. I couldn’t believe it when I heard I had won - I phoned everyone I knew up to tell them!”

Both Nicole and Jonie are in the first year of a three year Honours degree at University Campus Suffolk where they study at the Lowestoft Campus, located at the site of Lowestoft College. Boosted by their success in the competition both are now hoping to develop their knitting skills further over the next two years of the course.

Liz Clark, Course Leader, said: “As ever we always have such great success in this competition and I am thrilled these students have done so well against leading universities.”
Graduate Success
A BA (Hons) Design Crafts graduate who has made an impression on a leading British fashion designer has been inspiring budding designers by talking to those currently on the degree course.

Danielle Spelman graduated with a first class honours degree in 2007 and since then has been working hard to establish her collection of non-functional slip cast ceramic forms. Her hard work and persistence have paid off as the pieces, which are inspired by architecture and the relationship between old and new buildings, have made a big impression with the designer Paul Smith.

Danielle first made contact with Paul Smith Ltd when she visited an exhibition in London with friend and artist Cedric Christie. She was introduced to Lance Martin who works on the window displays for the group. She stayed in contact with him and invited him to the Contemporary Ceramics Gallery, an exhibition in London she was taking part in. Lance and a head buyer for the group went along to the exhibition and were so impressed with what they saw they snapped up the pieces for the Sloane Avenue store in London.

Following on from the success of these pieces another order has been placed for Danielle’s work to be sold in Paul Smith shops in Japan, Korea, South Africa, India and Russia. And it looks as though Danielle’s future will include more work for Paul Smith as the group has expressed an interest in buying more.

Liz Clarke course tutor commented “we are very proud of Danielle’s achievement - she is a shining example of dedication and commitment as well as talent. Our current students cannot fail to be inspired by her progress and to realise that it is all possible.”

While talking with the Design Crafts students Danielle shared her experiences of working in the industry and some of the national exhibitions she has taken part in.
Students Meet Their MP
Students from Lowestoft College had the chance make their opinions heard by Waveney MP Bob Blizzard who held a surgery at the St Peter’s Street campus.

The students were invited to speak with Mr Blizzard either on a one-to-one or group basis about things which matter to them. Mr Blizzard said: “We covered a good range of issues during the surgery. National issues were the Credit Crunch, House of Lords reforms and Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA), while local issues included bus services and the third crossing. The surgery was well worth it and is the chance to replicate what happens in the office in the community.”

Bob Kells Director of Learner Achievement at Lowestoft College said: “All Lowestoft College students that were involved with the surgery had a wonderful opportunity to debate issues that concerned them and were impressed how their local MP was able to discuss their concerns in such a way that they came out of each session knowing so much more. Due to the success of this surgery, another date has already been put into the students’ calendar for May.”

Mr Blizzard has also visited schools in the area in a bid to find out about the things that matter to younger members of the community.
Adrenaline Pumping Experience
The adrenaline was pumping for Lowestoft College’s Uniform Services students when they spent a day with the Royal Marines Commando display team at the Royal Hospital School in Ipswich.

The students took part in a range of activities including paintballing, scaling a climbing wall, an assault course and abseiling down a 100ft tower. One of the highlights of the day for the students was a ride on a lake in a troop-carrying landing craft. The group also saw displays about the different equipment needed in all climates and some of the weapons used.

The day ended with an unarmed combat demonstration where a number of techniques and self defence moves were shown to the students.
Navy Trip
Uniformed Services students from Lowestoft College were tested mentally and physically with a visit to the Royal Navy’s Training Centre HMS Collingwood in Portsmouth.

The students spent four days taking part in a range of activities including weapon handling and firing on a range, team building exercises, drill training, marching and fitness sessions. They also took the pre-joining fitness test which is used by all armed forces for entry. The students had to complete a mile and a half run before a swimming test which saw them tread water for two minutes, swim two lengths, climb out of the pool and jump into the pool from a six meter high board – all while wearing a boiler suit.

It wasn’t all hard work for the group as they were shown round the HMS Iron Duke and found out what it’s like to be inside a Second World War Submarine when they visited the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.
Students Sport New T-Shirts
Students from Lowestoft College’s Uniform Services Level 3 will be sporting new T-shirts this year thanks to a donation from the RAF.

The students usually wear polo shirts with the Lowestoft College logo and course title as their ‘uniform’ while they are in College. The Eastern Region careers department saw the shirts when they gave a presentation at the college and agreed to pay for new ones for the group which would also feature the RAF logo.

Course Lecturer Liz Davies: “It is a privilege for Lowestoft College to be chosen to receive the T-shirts. We feel this is a sign of the good relationship we have with the careers’ department.”
Chinese New Year Fundraising
Students selling fortune cookies at Lowestoft College have raised in excess of £175 to benefit a local children’s home.

Students from different courses were keen to help and took turns in selling the cookies, not only to mark Chinese New Year but to pass on their good fortune to others. The fundraising event received a welcome boost from Strawberry Fare in Whapload Road, Lowestoft which agreed to give the students a special offer on the cookies with a ‘buy one get one free’ deal.

All of the money raised has been used to buy gift vouchers for children at the Pakefield Road Children’s Home.
Chinese New Year
Students and staff from Lowestoft College have been marking the start of Chinese New Year – the Year of the Ox - with different activities and displays.

A ‘Chinese Gate’ adorned the main reception area of the College and Art student Aaron North designed posters of the 12 ‘Animal Years’ which were displayed in the main reception area along with a dragon collage made by Foundation in Care and Pre-16 Care students. A display explaining the significance of Chinese New Year was also put together for the library by Louise Smith, Learning Resources Assistant and there was the chance to sample some Asian cuisine with Chinese food served in the canteen and Le Plaisir Training restaurant. Towards Independence learners made a Chinese dragon and New Year ‘Good Luck’ packets.

Students from the Preparing for Employment course also saw the celebrations as a way to raise money for charity by selling fortune cookies. Strawberry Fare in Lowestoft helped with the fundraising by giving the students a ‘buy one box get one box free’ deal and all money raised from the week will be donated to Pakefield Road Children’s Home. Lowestoft College see this as a way of passing on their good fortune to others.

The activities are one of a number of celebrations arranged throughout the year at the College in a bid to develop the cultural awareness of students and staff. The first to be celebrated was the Hindu Festival of Diwali in October, followed by a Christmas Carol service in December. Others will be planned throughout the year and students are encouraged to suggest the festivals and events they would like to see on the ‘Cultural Calendar’ to broaden their knowledge of different customs and countries.
A Look At The Fast Lane
Motor Vehicle students from Lowestoft College had a glimpse into life in the fast lane when they visited the annual Autosport International Racing Car Show.

The students and their tutors travelled to Birmingham’s NEC for the day where they looked around the many trade stands and displays representing the industry. Among the exhibitions was one dedicated to Formula 1 which featured a line up of last year’s grid including the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton which took centre stage. Former Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Ron Dennis were also at the show to talk about the sport and answer any questions.

Other motorsports represented at the Show included Rally, Le Mans, Touring Cars and Karts and the students were able to get up close to some of motoring’s top names including Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lotus and Caterham. A team from the Bloodhound project was also there to talk about their ambitious plans to build a vehicle which can travel at 1000mph or Mach 1.4 for an attempt at the land speed record.

Motor vehicle lecturer Chris Baker said: “By visiting the show the students could see some of the latest technology used in the industry. Many of the students were particularly interested in the Bloodhound project and we are now looking at ways in which we can tie this in with their Key Skills sessions which develop English and Maths skills. They also visited university stands to find out about the specialist courses which could lead to a career in motorsports.”
Powerboating
A passion for boats has led to one man to take on a new challenge; joining the Boat Construction and Maintenance course at Lowestoft College.

69-year-old Brian Block (pictured) has been a keen power boat racer for over 20 years and has had success in the Formula 4 World Championship notching up joint 4th place in 2008 and 3rd in 2006. The races have taken him to many places around Europe including Portugal, Hungary, Ireland, Finland and France and he has also had success in the S850 category picking up the title of British Sprint Champion some years ago.

The boats he races are made from a combination of Kevlar and plywood and Brian hopes that the course will equip him with some of the necessary skills to help him carry out repairs to his boats.

Brian, who is currently looking for sponsors for the new season and is set to race throughout the summer on Oulton Broad as a member of the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club, said: “I am retired now so this will be a new interest for me. I enjoy working with boats so it seems like a natural step for me to join the course. I have never been to college – this is a new experience for me – but I am looking forward to the challenge.”

The Boat Construction, Maintenance and Support course offered at Lowestoft College covers a range of skills required in the industry including lofting, fitting-out, planking, spar-making and engineering drawing. In the second year students are able to develop their skills further as they have the opportunity to build a small boat and take on a week of work experience at a local boatyard. Students on the course will also be able to take on a restoration project and may have the chance to work on Spray, the craft used by Sir Christopher Cockerell while he developed the hovercraft.
Prize-winning Poster
18-year-old Sarah Burden (pictured) has shown she has a flair for design by winning £100 for a poster she created for a health and safety campaign.

Sarah, together with Paige Capps, Georgia Yeaman, Lizzie Utting, Sonia Colvin, Lewis Parker, Beki Falconer, Kerry Franklin and Amberley Spillings, designed posters for BIS Salamis who wanted a new look for their Health and Safety awareness campaign for 2009. The Foundation Diploma and National Diploma in Art and Design students from Lowestoft College used a combination of illustration, photography and graphic design for the posters which were rated by members of the workforce and senior managers at BIS Salamis.

Sarah’s came out on top gaining votes for its overall look and concise message of ‘See it, stop it’. Sarah, who lives in Lowestoft and hopes to pursue a career in graphic design, said: “The design came from the concept of looking at something from another person’s point of view. I gave it a lot of thought in the beginning and then once I had the idea it seemed to come together quite quickly.”

Peter Carrier, HSEQ Manager for BIS Salamis, said: “Sarah’s design seemed to clearly convey the idea of safety intervention; that is, if you see something wrong, don’t just walk by – take action. It appealed to many people at BIS Salamis and captured the message well.”

Sarah’s poster, along with 11 others designed by the students, will now be printed and one will be displayed at BIS Salamis’ projects throughout the UK each month.
Football Coaching Course
A former Ipswich Town footballer and Masters Graduate are hoping their combined skills and experience will give students the edge on the latest course being offered at University Campus Suffolk Lowestoft.

Trevor Whymark and James Newman have been taken on by University Campus Suffolk (UCS) to lead the Football Development and Coaching Foundation Degree from September. The course will be taught at the Lowestoft centre which is located at the site of Lowestoft College.

Trevor made a name for himself in the world of football playing professionally for Ipswich Town between 1969 and 1979. He was also selected to play for the England squad and also helped the Vancouver Whitecaps win the North American league.

Since his playing days, Trevor has turned his hand to coaching and gained the UEFA B licence for coaching football. He spent three years at the Norwich City Training Academy working with the under 10s team and made a return to his former club for three seasons to train 11 and 12 year olds at the Ipswich Academy.

James meanwhile is originally from Norwich but moved to Hampshire to study for a Degree in Sports Science at the University of Portsmouth. After graduating, he relocated to Indiana in America where he became a student at Purdue University on the Masters in Sport Psychology. Alongside this, James gained first-hand experience of working in the sports industry as a Health and Fitness Advisor and by coaching at school holiday camps.

James said: “We’re both looking forward to the challenge. I applied for the job as a chance to combine the two things I love; working in sport and the ability to help people through education. I think the job will be an immense challenge and a highly rewarding role and I hope that I can pass on my enthusiasm, knowledge and experience to the students.”

The Foundation Degree in Football Development and Coaching has been developed alongside industry professionals and guest speakers from the football and sporting world will be invited in to share their knowledge. The course will have a largely practical focus with students encouraged to gain hands-on experience through local community projects and UCS Lowestoft is currently working to develop links within the industry with Suffolk Sport, Active Norfolk and Suffolk FA.

The Foundation Degree is being offered as a full or part-time course. The full-time course (three days a week) is likely to appeal to either sixth form leavers or mature students with the necessary qualifications, while the part-time option (two evenings a week) is aimed at those already working or anyone involved in football perhaps as managers, administrators or volunteers.

Students who successfully complete the course can choose to develop their skills further with an honours degree or may be able to find work in a sports-related role such as Football Development Officer, Sports Facility Professional, Fitness Professional, Football Administrator, Health Promotion Officer or Specialist Project Worker.

Course Details Here
Air Ambulance Fundraising Day
Health and Social Care students from Lowestoft College held a charity fundraising day in aid of The East Anglian Air Ambulance.

The students had a target of £300 and chose a variety of events to reach it including going to college in fancy dress, a street collection, name the teddy and guess the amount of sweets competition. The group also took part in a sponsored session in the environmental tank. The events helped the group exceed their total and raised £575.56 for the cause.

Tutor Rachel Bunn said: “The students worked extremely hard and gained a lot from the experience including teamwork, communication skills and event planning. The students are now in the process of planning their next event to be held in the New Year.”

Picture shows: Health and Social Care Students presenting a cheque for £575.56 to Louise from the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Art Students Highlight Health and Safety Message
Art and design students from Lowestoft College have been designing awareness posters to support health and safety in the workplace.

The posters have been commissioned by BIS Salamis for their 2009 Health and Safety awareness campaign which is to run nationally across their UK projects.

In collaboration with the BIS Salamis HSEQ department, students from the Foundation Diploma and National Diploma in Art and Design have taken on the project to create a series of posters addressing various health and safety issues and themes such as accident costs, injury implications, safety measures and protective clothing. Each design also includes a complementary message to add explanation or provoke thought.

Paige Capps, Georgia Yeaman, Lizzie Utting, Sonia Colvin, Lewis Parker, Becki Falconer, Kerry Franklin, Amerley Spillings and Sarah Burden produced the posters using various techniques including illustration, photography, graphic design and manipulating images with computers.

Lecturer Nick Tuley said: “The students have risen to the challenge with a range of original, eye-catching posters. This project has given them an excellent insight into the world of creative graphic design.”

BIS Salamis HSEQ Manager Peter Carrier commented: “The initial concept was to add a fresh look to some old health and safety issues but what has emerged is some original and creative thought and design to help promote awareness.”

The students are now waiting to hear what the BIS board of directors think of their ideas and find out whether they have scooped a share of the prize fund.
Irish Travel
Students from Lowestoft College’s Travel and Tourism department left the classroom to get a first-hand experience of the industry they’re hoping to work in.

It was an early start for Working in Travel Level 3 students and their tutors who left Lowestoft at 4am who made their way to Stansted airport to catch a flight to Belfast. The group were taking advantage of a cheap deal offered by Ryanair to travel to the city for just two pence.

Once in Belfast the group joined an open top bus tour to see the sights of the city including Stormont, the seat of the new Northern Ireland Government, political wall murals at Shankill and Falls Road and the docks where the Titanic was designed, built and launched.

“This was a fantastic opportunity for students to experience Irish warmth and culture and to see the wonderful regeneration of a city that was torn apart by conflict,” said tutors Jo Hiller and Emma Beese. Both Jo and Emma are now hoping the experience will inspire their students who will soon be taking an exam on Ireland and preparing and delivering a 20 minute guided tour as part of their course.

Working In Travel Level 2 and 3 students were also taking a break from the classroom when they found out just how vast the travel industry is by visiting the World Travel Market in London’s Excel Centre.

The market is attended by thousands of visitors each year hoping to network and find out about the latest developments in the travel industry. All aspects of the industry were represented including airlines, cruise lines, golf resorts, rail companies and tour operators from around the world. The students used the day to find out more about the different areas of the industry and two were even treated to a complimentary silver-service lunch at the United Arab Emirates’ stand after being mistaken for VIP guests.
Students Put Police Through their Paces
Students from Lowestoft College have been helping to put police officers through their paces by taking part in Public Disorder Training exercises.

The Level 3 Uniform Services Students were invited to join Norfolk Constabulary and take on the role of a disorderly crowd at a former RAF base which has been made into an urban mock up of a town. The officers were required to deal with different levels of control from friendly through to a full scale riot situation.

Course tutor Andy Gass said: “The Level 3 students were given a real insight into the commitment and level of training required by a modern Police Force.”

Picture shows: Students from Lowestoft College’s Level 3 Uniformed Services course take part in a Public Disorder Training exercise with Norfolk Constabulary.
Dog Handler Demonstration
Picture shows: Sara Baxter Learning Support Assistant at Lowestoft College with one of the dogs used in Whitemoor Prison.

Uniformed Services students from Lowestoft College were given an insight into the prison service with a special demonstration by Dog Handlers from Whitemoor Prison.

Senior Officer Ian Fletcher and Officers Steve Bates and Steve Paynter, who are responsible for monitoring all visitors, staff and prisoners, came to the college to show the Level 1 and 3 students what their job involves. The Officers check for illegal drugs and contraband items and the dogs are trained to recognise the smell of narcotics, weapons and mobile phones.

Course tutor Liz Davies said: “The day was successful and engaging for all involved including the dogs who had an extra training session outside their normal environment. Many students have now expressed an interest in joining the Prison Service and working with passive drug dogs.”
Running to Raise
Picture shows: Craig Collis (left), Shane Bucknole, Amy Woolston (left) and Amy Peck

Students from the Level 2 Uniformed Services course at Lowestoft College put their best foot forward for charity by taking part in a sponsored run.

The students decided to take on the five-mile run around the Somerleyton area to raise money for Children in Need and are expecting to donate somewhere in the region of £450 to the appeal. The students have to plan activities as part of their course and George Goddard, Amy Woolston and Jordan Hockold took on much of the organisation for the run.

Course tutor Andy Gass said: “Everyone in the group really enjoyed the run and put in a lot of effort. The students cover fitness training in the course but I think a lot of them really surprised themselves by how well they did.”
The Hindu Festival of Light - Diwali
Students and staff from Lowestoft College have been learning more about different cultures by taking part in a range of activities to celebrate Diwali.

The Hindu Festival of Light lasts for five days and is generally celebrated with fireworks, lanterns, candles and sweets. Students from Art courses designed the posters to promote the festival, Pre 16 and level 1 care groups created displays of hand painting, Travel & Tourism learners researched the religious meaning of the festival and the foundation groups made sweets, following a traditional Indian recipe, to hand out to students. Children from the college nursery also took part by drawing pictures which were displayed in the foyer.

Travel and Tourism tutor Jo Hiller who organised the event said: “We are looking at how to embed awareness of various customs and cultures into the curriculum and decided to incorporate some different celebrations in to the College calendar. By doing this we are able to give students and staff the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of cultures. A large number of students who join our Maritime courses are from India and are Hindu so we decided to begin with Diwali. We also have plans to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a number of activities in January.”
Roles Reversed for College Lecturers
The roles were reversed for two Lowestoft College catering lecturers when they were shown the ropes at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons by a former student.

28-year-old John Spillings invited his lecturer Chris Baker to visit him at the 5 starred luxury hotel and two Michelin starred restaurant where he works as a chef in the pastry section. Adam Vass, who was a student with John and is now a catering lecturer at the College, was also invited to the prestigious restaurant.

The pair spent three days there and while Adam was in the restaurant, Chris worked alongside John in the pastry section preparing different types of bread, ice creams, petit fours and a selection of complex desserts.

Chris said: “John has always kept in touch with us and although he’s an ex-student, I now call him a friend. It was really good to work with him again. He’s done so well, working in so many good establishments - he is passionate about food and he works very hard.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our skills and keep our knowledge of the catering industry current so this was a great opportunity. The experience also reminds us what our students must feel like when they come to college, because although we have experience in our field a lot of the work we did was new to us. So knowing how it feels to be a ‘learner’ again is a good thing,” he continued.

Chris and Adam were given a tour of the hotel and cookery school and also discussed possible work experience opportunities for students. Adam said: “Working in a Michelin starred restaurant demands such a high standard of work and professionalism. Work experience at Le Manoir would be a huge challenge but it would also be an amazing experience.”

John also arranged a visit to Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and Michel Roux’s Waterside Inn, a restaurant he had previously worked in for just over two years. Both have three Michelin Stars – an accolade currently only shared in the UK by Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

While they were at The Fat Duck Chris and Adam had a tour of the restaurant and were able to see the innovative approach taken to food as they also visited the laboratories used to develop new dishes.
Newsons' New Apprentice
Newsons has taken on its first apprentice - he's Jordon Jenner, who is studying at Lowestoft College for the next two years doing 3 days a week at the college and the rest of the time at the yard.

Keith Newson was impressed with Jordon when he came to do work experience at the yard while still at school. "We think he will be a great asset to the yard in the future."

Newsons has fully recovered from the fire that destroyed the yard three years ago and with a new shed has a full order book. The 65ft (19.8m) RAF pinnace Spitfire is nearing completion and the yard is about to restart the restoration of the 106-year-old Danish ketch Zela for her new owners.

Jordon Jenner is a student on the Boat Construction, Maintenance and Support - City and Guilds Level 2 course.

Story and image provided with permission by Classic Boat Magazine.
Solar, so good
Lowestoft College has trained over 40 people to install, set-up and maintain solar thermal domestic hot water systems. The two day course, which is open to qualified plumbers and heating engineers, is fully accredited by BPEC and takes place in the College’s purpose built Sustainable Energy Centre.

Entrepreneurial plumbers are quickly recognising the economic potential of this emerging market and are signing up to courses at Lowestoft College as the UK solar thermal hot water industry grows by a massive 50% year-on-year. This growth has been fuelled by the continued steep rise in the price of gas and electricity and as a result, solar thermal systems are becoming a very good investment for the householder both in terms of energy savings and the re-sale value of houses fitted with this technology.

Father and son team Philip and Sam Weedon (pictured) from SP Plumbing & Heating Services of Diss recently attended the course and said, “We booked as we have an interest in renewable energy systems and wanted to add Solar Thermal Domestic Hot Water to our portfolio of services. We thoroughly enjoyed the course and were very impressed with the tutors and set-up at Lowestoft.”

Solar systems are typically designed to supply between 50-70% of the annual hot water demand of a typical UK household and Lowestoft College has a wide range of operational solar collectors, pumping stations and hot water storage cylinders to provide delegates with an appreciation of what equipment is available to their customers.

Harnessing the sun’s energy to generate hot water is the most widely used form of domestic renewable energy in the UK with over 100,000 systems already in operation. Not only is it affordable and easily adopted, it can fit into most homes without major disruption. After insulating your property to the recommended levels, a solar thermal hot water system is the next most cost effective step for homeowners who want to become more energy efficient and generate their own energy.

Lowestoft College also has a range of associated short courses to ensure plumbers and heating engineers have the right qualifications under their belt including Energy Efficiency (Part L), Unvented Hot Water Storage Systems, Rainwater Harvesting and Water Regulations training. Further information can be found HERE
Fish Traders
Catering students from Lowestoft College have been learning more about the food they cook by visiting Coles Fish Merchants.

The students had a tour of the company and got to see the various aspects of the business. It was an early start for the groups who had to meet at 6.30am to be in with a chance of catching the auction which was in full swing when they arrived. As well as learning about the local produce which is sold, they also found out more about the stock which is imported from as far afield as Ghana, the Seychelles and Alaska.

After the auction the group moved on to find out how the produce is stored and prepared. Then it was time to visit the Smoke House at Ness Point to hear about the different processes used including hot and cold smoking, curing, brining and the ways in which different woods can affect the flavour of the fish.

Course tutor Nick Barrett said: “The visit was really interesting. It is great to give our students the opportunity to see how somewhere like Coles operates. With these kinds of visits the students gain a greater understanding of the different aspects to catering and some of the processes involved in getting food to the table.

The Level 2 and 3 students attend college on a day release basis and combine the sessions with experience in the workplace setting.
Travel & Tourism Awards
The Travel and Tourism department of Lowestoft College held its annual Award Ceremony at the Sir Christopher Cockerell Centre to celebrate the success of the last academic year.

The evening gave the Travel and Tourism tutors the opportunity to praise the students for their hard work, commitment and achievements. Sue Woodward, Cabin Crew tutor, reflected on the year’s events and spoke of the group’s two successful overseas visits to Krakow and Berlin as well as survival training experiences where students wore smoke hoods and protective gear to enter smoke-filled cabins.

This year travel and tourism students have also benefitted from trips to London and Belfast and were fortunate enough to round the year off with a day on-board a luxury cruise liner. Students have also put their time to good use this year and Judith Williams spoke of the Team Africa event that had been organised by the students which had raised £460 for Camfed, a charity dedicated to educating girls in Africa.

Among the guests were Carole Bland from City & Guilds and Tracey Mercer representing ATP The Advanced Travel Partner. Both attended the evening to present individual prizes – the City & Guilds Outstanding Achievement Award and the Employer’s Award. All students were congratulated for their performance and received certificates for qualifications achieved.

Recipients of individual prizes included: Student of the Year - Leigh Wood (Level 3 Year 1) and Kelly Pasquette (Level 3 Year 2); Cabin Crew Student of the Year - Joe Barker and Clair Redington; Best Achiever in Geography - Vivien Reeve; Best Achiever in Air Fares - Mamadu Jalo; Team Africa - Vicky Chappell; Student Achiever Cabin Crew - Vivek Raghunath; City & Guilds Award - Laura Morgan; Employer’s Award - Jade Ringland. The awards were presented by Ros Pugh – Vice Principal, Bob Kells – Director of Faculty, Paul Curtis – Head of Centre, Carole Bland – City & Guilds and Tracey Mercer – The Advanced Travel Partner.
Chef’s Challenge
A catering and hospitality lecturer and assessor from Lowestoft College travelled to Switzerland to lead a team of chefs as they prepared an English themed menu at a luxury five star hotel.

Stewart Battrick, who lives in Lowestoft, took on the challenge after working alongside top German chef Klaus Beckmann at the Farnborough Airshow. Stewart said: “A team of catering students and staff from the College worked at the airshow where they prepared a range of food for visitors throughout the week. While I was there I exchanged contact details with Klaus who is the Executive Chef at the Intercontinental Hotels in Germany. I never expected to hear anything from him so was surprised when he phoned a few days later asking if I would travel to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Geneva to lead a team of chefs for a corporate event for 1,200 guests.”

Just one week after the call Stewart was flying to Switzerland. He then had just under a week to familiarise himself with Klaus’s menu and teach a team of 26 chefs how to prepare dishes such as Beef and Guinness pie, fisherman’s pie, sponge pudding and sherry trifle. He also had to contend with the fact that he had a limited knowledge of French and only one of the chefs he worked with could speak English.

Stewart continued: “The dishes on the menu weren’t very complicated, but the whole experience was made more challenging by the language barriers; I often had to draw pictures or show people what I wanted them to do. It was a lot of hard work but I really enjoyed it and would do it again.”
Skyhigh Catering
While many students are enjoying their summer holidays, one group of caterers from Lowestoft College have been gaining valuable work experience at the Farnborough and Lowestoft Airshows.

The full-time first and second year students were invited to work at the Farnborough Airshow where they were involved in many different aspects of catering including food preparation, cooking and service. During the airshow the students worked alongside their catering lecturers to provide a mix of fine dining, buffets and international cuisines in the hospitality chalets, some of which can cater for over 500 people.

Catering lecturer Adam Vass said: “The Farnborough Airshow was the ideal opportunity for students to see just how challenging working in the industry can be. The hours were long and because the show runs for a week it was quite demanding. Then after just a couple of days’ rest it was on to the Lowestoft Airshow and Honda Power Boats Racing.”

During the Lowestoft Airshow, the students managed the BBQs, prepared seafood buffets and were also involved in the gala dinner held at the Victoria Hotel.

“The students coped really well with the challenges of both events and managed to maintain a high standard throughout. They did especially well in Lowestoft bearing in mind the high temperatures they had to deal with. This kind of work experience is fantastic for the students and we would like to thank the Hotel Victoria and Global Catering for providing them with this opportunity,“ he continued.
Training Testing Students
Air Cabin Crew students from Lowestoft College found out how disorientating it can be to enter a smoke filled plane when they spent the day at the easyJet Training Academy in Luton.

The group took part in a number of training scenarios as part of their College assessment and to help prepare them for situations they may have to deal with in the future when working as cabin crew. Tasks included taking part in an emergency evacuation, opening and closing aircraft doors and retrieving a doll from a smoke-filled cabin while wearing protective clothing.

During their time at the Academy, the students also found out more about life as cabin crew and what it’s like to work for easyJet. They were then put through their paces with a short mock interview, providing an insight into what an airline looks for in new recruits.

The process began with group discussions and activities which are designed to test a number of skills including teamwork and communication. Following this, each student had an individual taster interview before they received feedback on their performance.

Sue Woodward, Cabin Crew Lecturer at Lowestoft College, said: “The team at easyJet were very impressed with the students and their knowledge of the industry. The day was a brilliant experience for the students and helped them to see just how many of the things we have covered during the course came to life.”

Claire Mills who took part in the day and is now working for easyJet said: “It was a really fantastic learning experience and anyone who is interested should go for it!”

The success of the day paves the way for next year’s cabin crew group as Lowestoft College has already been invited back for a return visit.
Designs Set to Impress at BA (Hons) Show
BA (Hons) Design students are putting the finishing touches to their Degree Show which takes place from July 10 to 17 in Lowestoft College’s Sir Christopher Cockerell Centre.

The exhibition includes a range of designs by final year students and will also feature work by second year students on the degree course which is run by University Campus Suffolk Lowestoft, located at the site of Lowestoft College.

This is the eighth year the Degree Show has been held to showcase of the students’ work which will include graphics, textiles, ceramics and 3-dimensional designs and is a culmination of three years of very hard work. The show will also feature work by award-winning students Louisa James, Katy Hunt, Jenny Fern and Danielle Wade. All four received prizes for their entries in the Bradford Textile Society Student Awards, a prestigious national competition which receives hundreds of entries from leading universities each year.

Design Crafts tutor Liz Clark said: “Once again, I am really proud of the work produced – it is, as ever, of a really high standard. The students work really hard throughout the course and the show is something of a celebration for the students and fitting way to mark the end of their three years. I’m sure that many of those students graduating this year will go on to great things and put the skills they have learned during the course to good use.”

The free exhibition is open from 10am to 5.30pm each day (closed Sunday).
Students’ Sustainable Space
A sustainable garden has been created from a patch of waste land on Lowestoft College’s campus. Students and staff from the Foundation Studies courses are hoping they have green fingers as they have been given the task of looking after it.

Local businesses have played their part in helping to transform the area by donating equipment and materials to the College after students and staff from the courses wrote letters explaining the project. Among those to respond was Karen Goddard from Early Dawn Nurseries in Lowestoft who agreed to donate fruit bushes and trees, compost and garden tools including some long handled trowels and forks. Other donations have included water butts from Essex and Suffolk Water and composters from Waveney District Council.

To date the group has planted and grown broad beans, rhubarb, potatoes, onions and sweet peas, as well as carrots, beetroot and spring onions.

Tutor Caroline Leybourn said: “The garden project is exciting and is a great teaching resource. All of our students are able to enjoy the garden which is accessible to everyone – including those in wheelchairs, and the long handled tools donated by Early Dawn are perfect as they are easy to use by all of our students. We would like to thank all of those companies and organisations who have made a donation to the garden project.”
Spanish Spa Beckons
IMAGE: (L-R) Polly Vincent, Michaela Adams, Trevor Hurren, Louise Chipperfield and Jennifer Douce.

A new life in Spain beckons for five Lowestoft College students who are hoping to get their careers off to a great start by working in the exclusive spa of the Hyatt Regency La Manga in Murcia.

Holistic Therapy student Trevor Hurren and Beauty Therapy students Jennifer Douce, Michaela Adams, Polly Vincent and Louise Chipperfield are set to take up posts with the prestigious Hyatt Hotel Corporation in time for the peak summer season.

The fantastic opportunity came about when Trevor, who was born in Halesworth and formerly from Carlton Colville, decided to take the proactive approach to finding a job and sent his CV to the hotel’s spa. Trevor was invited to attend an interview and visited the spa to see the facilities. His skills, attitude and ability made a positive impression and he was offered a position working as an Holistic Therapist. Trevor’s previous jobs have been in sales, the military and construction so this is a major change for Trevor who decided to join the full-time course in a bid to develop his interest in Holistic Therapies.

Trevor said: “I decided to approach the Hyatt Regency because of the professional nature of the organisation and commitment to delivering high standards. I am excited about the job and am looking forward to the challenges of the new role.”

Trevor’s skills and professional attitude made such an impact that Assistant Spa Director Jane O’Brien contacted Mary Pretswell, Head of School for Creative Studies at Lowestoft College, to ask whether any other students would make suitable candidates for posts at the luxury spa. On hearing about the opportunity, Jennifer, Michaela, Polly and Louise faxed off their CVs and personal statements and soon after were given phone interviews.

Mary Pretswell said: “Once again the team at the spa was impressed with the skills training and attitude of our students. The four beauty therapy students have now been offered a job and are due to start working for the Hyatt Regency La Manga in July.

“I am delighted - it’s a great opportunity for our students and shows just what can be achieved with the right attitude. It is a huge compliment to our students and to the standard of training delivered by Lowestoft College that the Hyatt Regency La Manga has offered five of our students a position with them.”

Assistant Spa Director Jane O’Brien said: "We are very happy to give this fantastic opportunity to newly qualified staff, the world is their oyster now."

The College and Spa are hoping to develop their relationship further through the European Commission’s Leonardo da Vinci programme which is designed to encourage lifelong learning and aims to build a skilled workforce across Europe. If successfully chosen to become involved in the programme, the College hopes students on its Level 3 and Foundation degree in Holistic Therapies will be able to access funding to spend up to six weeks at the Spa gaining valuable work experience and training.
Students Live the High Life
Catering students from Lowestoft College have been living the high life by enjoying lunch at one of the country’s top restaurants.

The Catering Diploma students and their tutors received five-star treatment at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s in London where they enjoyed a gourmet meal in one of the restaurant’s private dining rooms.

Dishes on the menu included citrus cured seabass, asparagus with poached pheasant eggs and lime roasted poussin. In addition to the standard three-course set menu they were expecting, the group enjoyed many additional sample dishes including an assortment of appetisers with a wide range of hot and cold canapés on offer. Other dishes the students enjoyed were pre-dessert and petit fours which turned out to be an eight course meal, all of which were compliments of the chef.

Following lunch the students got to see what happens behind-the-scenes with Head Chef Steve Allen who gave them a tour of the kitchens and art-deco styled restaurant. During the day the students compared Claridge’s with other restaurants in the Gordon Ramsay group as they also had tours of Boxwood Café in the Berkley Hotel and the more contemporary Maze and Maze Grill.

Catering lecturer Adam Vass said: “The food and service at Claridge’s was excellent and the students really enjoyed the day.”

Fellow Lecturer Chris Baker added: “By taking our students to these restaurants we were able to give them an idea of some of the opportunities within the industry. It was a great way to open the students’ eyes and to let them see some of the career paths available and to give them something to aspire to.

“We have developed strong links with Gordon Ramsay Holdings over the last four years and because of this we were able to give the students the chance to look around these fantastic restaurants. There are possibilities to arrange working trials with the group and some of our students hope to take up this opportunity.”

The day was paid for by the tips made in the college’s training restaurant which gives the students the chance to put their skills as chefs and waiters into practice.
Students Claim Top Title
Two female Uniformed Services students from Lowestoft College have been proving they have what it takes for life in the army after being named as Best Students during residential courses with the Army.

Megan Paynter and Rachel Davies impressed their instructors during a five day Insight Course which gives an introduction into life with particular regiments.

Megan, together with five level 2 students from the college, spent time with the Royal Logistic Corps in Surrey. Rachel and three other Lowestoft College students travelled to Dorset to spend time with the Royal Signals.

Students from across the country between the ages of 14 and 19 sign up for the courses which put them through their paces in a range of different activities including physical fitness, leadership tasks and exercise scenarios.

The students are assessed throughout their time on the course on various qualities including their teamwork, enthusiasm, ability to understand instructions and self-confidence. Megan and Rachel both received high praise from their instructors and beat around 40 other students to claim the title of Best Students.

Rachel’s report said: “She worked hard throughout all of the activities, especially impressing me on the obstacle course and in her clear and concise briefing style on the command tasks. With her enthusiasm, confidence and intelligence she immediately stood out, not as a potential soldier, but as a potential officer.”

While Megan’s said: “From the very beginning of the week Megan stood out from the rest of the people in her course. Megan will have a rewarding career in the army if this is the career in which she decides to take, however, Megan has the motivation, drive and confidence to do well in any career move she decides is right for her.”

College Lecturer Andy Gass said: “All of the students representing Lowestoft College impressed the instructors. I received positive reports about each of them and was told that they all performed credibly and worked under their own initiative. I had high expectations for all of them and I am pleased to say that they lived up to it. I am very proud of them.” Both Megan and Rachel have been inspired by their experience and have plans to follow a career in the army in the future.
Waveney Learners Become an Inspiration
The benefits of learning were highlighted during a special awards ceremony hosted by the Waveney Learning Community to coincide with Adult Learners’ Week.

A total of 12 people from the Waveney area were presented with certificates and gifts by Amanda Stevens from the Learning and Skills Council. The 12 were selected from nominations made by the Waveney Learning Community because of the impact learning has had on their lives and the lives of the local community.

Among the winners were Angela Thomson whose return to learning began with ‘Time for Me’ before she progressed to further courses including a teaching qualification which helped her become a tutor for Community Learning and Skills Development, Christine Botright who completed training to help her daughter run JUMP, the newly formed Mentoring Scheme for young people and, Holly Caney who accessed the Passport to Learning programme and used it to become a youth worker in Waveney,

In addition to the awards ceremony, the Waveney Learning Community also organised a number of different activities including advice and guidance events and taster sessions in IT, Indian Head Massage and scrapbooking. The 4 Towns’ Bus visited several towns and the Learning Community used the week to launch a booklet and bookmark to illustrate the learning opportunities available throughout Waveney.

Christine Pinsent from the Waveney Learning Community said: “We were all very pleased with the public response to the activities and events that had been organised for Adult Learners’ Week. During the week it was possible to see that many people living in Waveney are keen to develop new skills and improve their qualifications.”

For a copy of the booklet or information about learning in Waveney contact 01502 539711.
Students Tested in Snowdonia
A week packed with activities was enjoyed by Level 3 Uniformed Services students from Lowestoft College.

The group spent time with the army at their activities centre where they got to grips with kayaking and mountain biking and mountain walking. The trip was the final phase of the Adventurous Activities Unit of the course and was organised as a way to test the students in a range of areas including their physical fitness and ability to work as part of a team.

Tutors Liz Davies and Andy Gass said: “These trips teach the students a tremendous amount and this particular trip tested also the students’ courage and determination. The instructors were very enthusiastic and were impressed with the hard work, commitment and determination of the group during their time at the centre.”

For information about any of the Level 3 Uniformed Services courses contact 0800 854695.
A Little Bit of Luxury
Students and tutors from Lowestoft College’s Travel and Tourism department have been learning about life at sea by going on board the five star luxury Italian cruise ship, Costa Atlantica.

The group visited the multi-million pound ship while it was moored in Harwich last week. The trip was organised partly to make the students aware of some of the career options available to them and to open their eyes to a different type of holiday but also to support the knowledge that they had been taught in College. ‘Cruising’ is one of the units that the students have to pass as part of their diploma in Travel and Tourism.

During the day the group had a tour of the ship which carries 2680 passengers, has 11 decks and three swimming pools. They then listened to a presentation from the national sales managers who gave them an insight into the world of selling before enjoying a little bit of luxury with a meal on board. The group had the pick of a range of impressive dishes including marinated swordfish, linguine pasta and roasted pork fillet.

Tutor Jo Hiller said: “Everyone was very impressed by the standard of the food and the service. The students thought that it was really exciting to try food that they had never eaten before or indeed heard of and the tutors were impressed at how adventurous they all were.

“The excitement started when the ship could be seen, towering above the cranes in the port, from the mini bus three miles away! The ship was a marvellous example of 5-star luxury and was beyond the wildest dreams of the students who were thrilled and amazed at everything they saw,” she continued.

The whole experience has inspired the students, with many now considering working for a cruise company.
Students Team up with MIND
Holistic Therapy Students from Lowestoft College have been learning about the benefits of treatments for mental health by teaming up with MIND.

In October and March the Level 2 students decided to hold special fundraising drop-in sessions giving people the chance to make a donation to charity in return for holistic treatments. The sessions raised a total of £100 and the students chose to donate the money to MIND, the National Association for Mental Health in the UK.

As a result of their fundraising for the organisation, the students invited members of MIND in to Lowestoft College to try the treatments out for themselves. A total of eight people from MIND including a volunteer, resource centre worker and service users came into the college for their treatments. After a thorough consultation the group enjoyed tasters of Indian Head Massage, Holistic Facial, Hand and Arm Aromatherapy, Zone Therapy on the feet and Swedish Back Massage. The students also provided aftercare for their clients.

Students involved in the session said: “It was nice to give them a papering day – they seemed to really appreciate it and it was really rewarding for us too.”

As a result of the links forged with MIND, there are plans to work together for the Holistic Therapy Foundation Degree, a course starting in September which is being offered through University Campus Suffolk Lowestoft, located at the site of Lowestoft College. This partnership will mean that students on the course will give treatments to service users of Saxmundham MIND.
Team Africa
A series of events organised by Working in Travel Students from Lowestoft College has raised over £450 for CAMFED, a charity which aims to eradicate poverty and AIDS in rural Africa.

The students organised various fundraising activities including a sponsored walk to Somerleyton, car wash, cake stall, common room party and a collection in the town centre.

When they began planning the week of activities, the group set themselves a target of £400 which would be enough to send one girl through school for a year (including equipment, food and uniform). Now they have exceeded the target the group hopes the extra £50 will be used to provide a bicycle for a teacher in Africa or a small business loan to a budding entrepreneur.

The fundraising became a college-wide effort with many members of staff and students lending their support and expertise including help with the cake stall, a collage depicting and African scene and a mapped route for the walk to Somerleyton.

Travel and Tourism Lecturer Judith Williams said: “The students are working towards an Advanced National Diploma in Travel and Tourism and have to complete an events Unit so these activities were perfect. It was hard work keeping it all together but well worth it. I am really proud of all my students and they have all learnt the benefits of teamwork, commitment and initiative.”
Sponsored Scuba Dive
Members of the Prince’s Trust volunteer’s team successfully dived 2 miles to raise money for charity, quite a feat when none of them have ever dived before!

The nine volunteers from Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Teams raised an amazing £519.64 for the Premature Baby Unit at James Paget Hospital and Smart Kids OK by scuba diving underwater for 130 lengths of the Waveney Sports Centre pool, which took 1 hour and 40 minutes to achieve.

Team Leader Tracie Cousins from Lowestoft College said “I am very proud of each and everyone who took part in this team challenge; they worked well as a team and achieved their goals, and supported each other throughout the event.”

Tracie and the Prince’s Trust Team would like to say a special thank you to Lowestoft Sub Aqua Club for providing all the diving equipment, Kings Water Sports, FR Scaffolding of Hales, Waveney Sports Centre and 103.4 The Beach.

The team said that although scuba diving is not normally something they would do, it was awesome to have a chance to take part in this type of activity.

Recruitment for the next team which starts on 6 May is currently under way, anyone interested can contact Lowestoft College on 0800 854695.

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