Creating brighter futures

As one of four national Centres for Excellence in SEND, a brand-new workshop, delivered by highly skilled and experienced neurodivergent employment specialists working at Weston College, achieved a significant milestone in neurodiversity training last week. Over 200 individuals have taken part in Neurodiversity for Business; a collaborative initiative between the faculty and Weston College’s Business Partnership Team. Aimed at supporting businesses to become more aware of neurodivergent individuals and advising on key knowledge and the skills required to recruit, retain, support and inspire neurodiverse staff and customers.

The initiative has already shown promising results. Three local businesses, Mendip Activity Centre, Puxton Park, and The Grand Pier have already implemented changes to become more neurodiversity friendly.

The impact for Puxton Park has already shown incredible results. The park, which attracts over 450,000 visitors every year, has made it their mission to ensure that new play equipment, infrastructure and daily operations are as inclusive and accessible as possible. Investments such as an accessible roundabout, which can be used by children of mixed abilities, as well as a state-of-the-art wheelchair accessible trampoline have already been made, alongside wide paved paths throughout the park for wheelchair access. One of the new additions to the park to support neurodiverse customers is an investment in Ear Defenders which can be rented out free of charge.

According to Lynsey McKinstry, Business Partnership Manager for the SEND provision, "The Faculty team and I are thrilled to have reached this milestone in our neurodiversity training initiative. Our goal is to make sure that every business understands and values individual need. This initiative is not just about ticking a box, but about creating a more inclusive society where everyone can thrive."

Mendip Activity Centre, known for its adventurous outdoor activities, welcoming individuals and groups of all ages and abilities, took part in dedicated training. The next step will be to bring some of the learners with SEND to work with the instructors. Attendees have also praised the initiative, highlighting its practicality and usefulness. One attendee remarked that, "Just by putting yourself in someone else’s shoes who is neurodivergent was hugely impactful and we don’t have the ability to understand unless we ask".

The initiative has received support from various companies, including Alliance Homes, Wessex Water, Thrings, North Somerset Council, GKN, and The Grand Pier.

Since attending the training, The Grand Pier has taken further measures to ensure the attraction is inclusive and accessible for all visitors; they are now providing tinted glasses and noise-reducing headphones to its visitors with sensory sensitivities to ensure they enjoy their time on the Pier comfortably. Additionally, a dedicated quiet room has been established to offer a calm space for those who may need a break from the liveliness. The Pier has also formed a partnership with AccessAble, a trusted and relatable website widely used across the UK.

Businesses who are interested in taking part in the training can click here to find more information.

With Weston College's Annual Business Awards rapidly approaching, we’re excited to be bringing you another employer award nominees articles!

In this article we’ll be talking through our nominees for the Small Employer of the Year award. Nominated are: Ginger Pig Kitchen, Inspired Worx, TaxAssist Accountants.

Good luck to all that have been nominated! Award winners will be announced on Thursday 15th June. Stay updated by following our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages or by following #WestonCollegeBusinessAwards2023. 

Yesterday, a group of dedicated ESOL learners gathered in the Weston College kitchens, to celebrate their hard work and accomplishments with a delightful cooking session.

The event, organised by their tutor, provided a fun and interactive experience for the students after their exams and a year of dedicated study.

The cooking session served as a platform for the students to share their culinary expertise, representing the diverse cultures and cuisines from where they come from.

Their tutor, Liam O’Callaghan, said: "We wanted to do something fun for the students after their exams and a long year of working so hard.

"They're always talking about their food from their respective countries, and although the class is very close, we've never actually broken bread together. So, we thought it would be a good chance for them to showcase their talents and strengthen our bonds as a class.

"We're always looking for things that empower our learners and put them in the driving seat in terms of knowing what to do and how to do it. Cooking is another way of doing that.”

Throughout the term, the learners had been working on various language skills related to food and cooking. They explored vocabulary such as names of foods, adjectives to describe flavours, cooking verbs, and quantifiers.

Liam added: “Combining their linguistic prowess with their culinary expertise, the students created a cookbook as a testament to their hard work. It is worth noting that English is the second, third, or even fifth language for some of these learners, making their achievements all the more remarkable.

“As unaccompanied refugees, the learners possess few sentimental souvenirs. To commemorate the day and strengthen their bonds further, a section was dedicated in the cookbook for each student to sign for one another. This heartfelt gesture served as a meaningful reminder of the friendships formed and the support they have received throughout their journey.”

The cooking session not only showcased the students' talent and cultural diversity but also fostered a sense of camaraderie within the class.

It exemplified the inclusive and supportive environment fostered by the ESOL program, highlighting the transformative power of education and the value of celebrating achievements collectively.

For more information about the ESOL programme, click here.