Creating brighter futures

Weston College learners from Weston Bay, have embarked on a heartening journey of social enterprise aimed at supporting the homeless community in Weston-super-Mare.

Last week (28th February), during a social enterprise session, learners visited Somewhere to Go, who provide day and night support to rough sleepers and disadvantaged vulnerable adults, to donate minestrone, potato and leek soup, to 35 individuals.

The initiative underscores the essence of social responsibility and community engagement. Through meticulous planning, budgeting, and shopping, the learners have honed their independent living and employability skills. Moreover, their collaborative efforts have been instrumental in making this charitable event a reality.

Central to their endeavours are two pioneering projects: Soup of the Week and Students Snack Shop. These ventures are meticulously designed with the sole purpose of extending support to the homeless population. Through these initiatives, the learners have committed themselves to providing essential sustenance, embodying the spirit of empathy and altruism.

Armanda Costa, Autism Specialist Practitioner in Employment, at Weston College, said: “Our learners have shown remarkable dedication and compassion throughout this project, and they are so pleased to be able to offer a helping hand to those in the community that need it most.

“Beyond the donation of soup, this project showcases the transformative power of education and community engagement. It underscores the invaluable lessons learned through real-world experiences, instilling empathy, and compassion in the hearts of these learners.

“A big thank you to all of our learners who have done an amazing job throughout the project – our learners continue to inspire us daily.”

Noreen Nolan-Kendrew, Learning Support at Weston College, added: "Lisa and the team were overwhelmed with the amount of soup in which they received. The learners spoke about how they've researched online costs to then access the community, to purchase the ingredients needed. Over two to three weeks, they prepared and made batches of soup. Everyone was pleased and happy to see how this project had such a positive impact on vulnerable individuals, within our community. Learners and staff are now planning and looking forward to their next project - Autism Awareness!" 

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

For over 30 years, Paul French has been an integral part of the Weston College community, contributing his passion, expertise, and unwavering dedication to the success of both students and colleagues alike. We wanted to take a moment to reflect on his remarkable journey and the invaluable impact he has made.

Career journey: Paul's journey at Weston College began as a Photography and Print Technician, but his versatility has seen him transition into his current role as a Creative Arts Lecturer and Personal Tutor, embracing the diverse opportunities the College has offered him over the years.

Dedication and love for the job: What has kept Paul rooted at Weston College for so long? Paul tells us he thrives on the immense diversity of his role, the camaraderie with his colleagues, and the sheer inspiration drawn from the students who continually surprise and delight him. Despite the challenges, Paul finds every day to be a new adventure, never lacking in excitement.

Paul’s memorable moments: From daring abseiling stunts to unforgettable classroom antics, Paul's journey has been filled with memorable experiences. However, he told us his greatest source of pride lies in witnessing the success of Weston College's learners as they embark on their own journeys to greatness.

The culture: Paul describes Weston College as a place where a community is built on a shared belief in the success and well-being of others. Having experienced the College as a student himself, Paul is deeply influenced by the supportive culture that encourages both personal and professional growth.

A student-centric approach: At the heart of Paul's enjoyment lies the students, who are the driving force behind everything Weston College does. Their presence infuses purpose and meaning into Paul's work, making each day a rewarding experience filled with valuable lessons. 

What sets Weston College apart: For Paul it’s beyond its scenic coastal location, Weston College stands out for its culture of collaboration and support among staff members. Paul highlights the willingness of colleagues to go above and beyond to ensure student success, fostering an environment of continuous growth and development.

Paul’s words of wisdom: Reflecting on his journey, Paul offers invaluable advice to any new staff considering joining the College: expect the unexpected, embrace lifelong learning, maintain a sense of humour and patience, seek support during challenging times, and above all, approach teaching with the utmost care and dedication.

As we celebrate Paul's long-term service at Weston College, we extend our deepest gratitude for his unwavering commitment to excellence, his passion for education, and his profound impact on the lives of students and colleagues alike. Here's to many more years of inspiration and success Paul!

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

As part of ‘Love our Colleges Week’, Weston College as the lead partner for the West of England Institute of Technology, showcased its state-of-the-art ‘Networking and Cyber’ Lab on Friday, allowing learners to practice networking, and to finesse their skills within cloud computing and virtualisation. The impressive hands-on digital facility, is based within the College’s University Centre Weston campus, (which was awarded TEF Gold status in 2023, placing it within the top 20% of degree provision in the UK - one of only six colleges nationally to achieve the status).

In line with industry, the Lab is Cyber Essentials Plus accredited, with its own independent line which has created an isolated network environment. Twenty four learners work within the Lab at any one time, and the development of this industry led space has enabled a highly immersive Networking and Cyber pathway for the College’s hugely successful Digital and Technology Solutions (DaTS) degree apprenticeship programme.

Employer partners who utilise the DaTS apprenticeship to boost their workforce pipelines include Airbus, the Ministry of Defence, MBDA, Babcock, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, EDF Energy, Synoptix, L3Harris, National Grid, and QinetiQ. The WEIoT will also be partnering with Boeing to deliver their future DaTS programmes - a solution to their workforce development requirements, ultimately boosting the pipeline of people working in science and technology jobs.

Seeing the Networking and Cyber’ Lab for the first time was Weston’s MP John Penrose, who added "It’s great to see how Weston College and its University Centre have developed such an impressive technology and digital facility, using Government funding from the West of England Institute of Technology. It’s the latest example of Weston College improving local skills so employers want to set up shop here, and students have a great choice of high-skill, high-paying careers too". 

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.