Creating brighter futures

Last month in November, our staff and students came together in a powerful display of solidarity for Movember, a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about men’s mental health and prostate cancer. Building on the success of last year’s initiative, our vice principals and student engagement team organised a series of activities aimed at promoting physical and mental well-being. 

“Move for Movember” Challenge: Aiming for 96,000 Minutes of Exercise 

As part of the Movember initiative, we launched the "Move for Movember" challenge, encouraging staff to accumulate as many minutes of exercise as possible throughout the month of November. In recognition of the 60 men lost to suicide every hour globally, the challenge aimed to reach a target of 96,000 minutes—160% of last year’s total of 60,000 minutes. Last year, staff members collectively exceeded expectations with 69,610 minutes of exercise recorded across more than 1,000 entries, and this year’s goal was to take that achievement even further. 

Two of Weston College’s Vice Principals committed to exercising for 60 minutes daily throughout the month, as a show of dedication to the cause. In total, staff participated in a variety of activities, ranging from high-intensity workouts to low-impact exercises, such as leisurely dog walks, chair aerobics, and swimming. As part of the challenge, participants were also encouraged to join in at their own pace and find exercise that worked for them, reinforcing the connection between physical activity and mental well-being. 

Men’s Talk Club: Offering Safe Spaces for Discussion 

In addition to the physical activity challenge, we introduced Men’s Talk Club taster sessions at its three campuses to further engage students in conversations about mental health. These sessions, facilitated by staff and a member of the External Men’s Talk Club charity, provided a safe, non-judgmental space for male students to discuss their emotions and experiences. The aim was to establish permanent Talk Clubs on campus, offering peer support and creating networks for students facing common stresses and worries. 

These initial sessions provided an introduction to the future Talk Clubs, giving students the opportunity to learn about the supportive networks being created and understand the importance of mental health awareness. 

Campus Challenges: Building Community Spirit 

We also introduced a fun and competitive element to Movember with a series of campus v campus rowing challenges. A rowing machine was placed in the reception area of each campus, with students encouraged to row as many metres as possible for their campus. The challenge sparked excitement and friendly competition among the students, with some pushing themselves to extraordinary distances. The event was a fantastic success, helping students to stay active while supporting a crucial cause. 

" A huge thank you to all the staff who participated in Move for Movember 2024 - we recorded a staggering 73,703 minutes of exercise across the month," said Ben Knocks, Vice Principal for Student Experience and Support. "This may not have been above our challenging target but is still 4,092 more minutes than we achieved in 2023. " 

We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in Movember activities, from the "Move for Movember" challenge to the rowing competition and Men’s Talk Club taster sessions. The community spirit displayed this month has been exceptional, and we are grateful for everyone’s involvement in helping to raise awareness for men’s mental health.

The Hospitality and Catering students have had many amazing masterclasses recently that have helped to develop their skills but also improve their confidence to produce show-stopping dishes that are delicious and presented to a very high-quality. 

Recently, the learners’ skills were once again put to the test when the Royal Navy joined the learners for the day and held an exciting Ready, Steady, Cook workshop. This MasterChef-style workshop was around 2.5 hours long and allowed the learners to use their initiative and creativity their dishes. 

The students were split into teams of up to 5 people and given a box of ingredients with recipe sheets for two dishes – a main course and a dessert. The learners had to work together to produce and present their meals which improved their communication, teamwork and delegation skills to prepare them for a professional kitchen environment. 

Each group had 90 minutes to create their dishes for tasting, with some guidance from the Royal Navy chefs as they went along. The chefs were impressed with how well their creations turned out, as well as their professionalism and team working abilities. 

Once the workshop was complete, the Royal Navy members outlined the pathways and perks to joining the Royal Navy as a chef. They discussed the benefits and opportunities of working in the Navy, the application process, and the required training. 

To work in the Royal Navy, the learners also discovered that no matter the role, you are required to go through at least three phases of training and you require a secondary role. For the Navy chefs visiting, they were both fully trained fire fighters in case of emergencies, but it also allows them to take the qualification elsewhere. 

The learners were very engaged throughout the session, hearing all the fantastic opportunities that the Royal Navy has to offer, as well as being the epitome of professionalism during their Ready, Steady, Cook workshop.  

We are deeply grateful to the Royal Navy for their exceptional support and commitment as a Career Excellence Hub partner. Their dedication to fostering opportunities and inspiring excellence provides invaluable guidance and resources for our students, paving the way for future generations to achieve their aspirations and gain professional development within the Hospitality and Catering sector. 

If you are interested in joining one of our Hospitality and Catering courses next September, click here.

Last week, as part of T Level Week, the Year 1 Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team learners had an engaging and educational workshop session with NHS staff from University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW). The session was run by NHS professionals, Emma and Karen, along with Georgina and Simon. 

The workshop began with a discussion about the daily routine of healthcare assistants, focusing on understanding schedules, daily jobs, and the expectations placed on these vital roles. Learners explored the critical importance of recognising changes in patients, from routine observations like blood pressure and pulse rate to more subtle indicators of deterioration.  

Emma and Karen emphasised the need for vigilance and proactive reporting to ensure the learners understood the importance of patient safety. Students actively participated in testing their knowledge by answering questions, learning how to record observations both digitally and physically, and practised manual blood pressure measurements on their peers using stethoscopes. 

The session highlighted the significance of identifying serious conditions such as sepsis. Students learned about its common causes, symptoms like behavioural changes and altered mental states, and the importance of acting swiftly in such situations. The instructors ensured the learners understood not only the practical aspects of conducting observations but also the critical decision-making and communication required in healthcare settings. 

The second half of the session brought a hands-on, interactive approach to learning. Students explored ways to prevent injuries during patient care, using creative and festive methods. Mini gingerbread figures served as teaching aids, with learners mapping pulse points and high-risk pressure areas using icing. This activity blended fun with knowledge retention, providing a memorable way to identify areas prone to pressure build-up – and they got to eat them at the end! 

Learners then practiced proper techniques for unpacking and handling sterile supplies. They carefully opened bandages and gauzes, ensuring minimal contact with packaging to maintain sterility and avoid contamination. These skills are essential for maintaining hygiene and safety in real-world healthcare environments. 

This dynamic session provided the T Level learners with practical skills and valuable insights into the responsibilities and challenges faced by healthcare assistants. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, Emma and Karen from UHBW provided a deeper understanding of patient care to prepare the students for their future roles in healthcare. 

Thank you to the NHS staff that visited our learners! Your insight was invaluable and provided our future healthcare professionals with a greater understanding of what to expect in the industry. 

If you’re interested in applying for our Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team next September, click here.