Bede is a 3rd year Engineering Degree Apprentice working at Airbus. Bede has shared his experience of being Neurodivergent:

"Imagine walking into a shop and every item is blank. Packets, jars and boxes, unbranded and unidentifiable. It would be so hard to understand what you wanted to buy. Labels are often useful to identify and choose what we want, to be selective. But this can be flipped – they can also be used to single people out, to shame or discriminate – this is why I did not want labels at the start of my diagnosis journey.

At the age of 11 I was diagnosed with dyslexia, privately because the school I was at sadly deemed me not ‘dumb’ enough for a test. My dad is severely dyslexic and sometimes reading his text messages is a real mental work out – the phonetic spellings often so far from reality they make you laugh. So as I entered secondary school with a diagnosis and it was a positive neurodiversity (ND) support experience.

I was provided with regular support and lessons on the skills I needed to succeed in a neurotypical world. I think the thing it compounded most in my head was the feeling I was being ‘fixed’. Although no one explicitly told me this was the case, the world we live in orientates around the medical model of disability – the idea you have a ‘problem’ to be fixed.

By the end of the struggle and gruel that was school, I had some of the toughest years of my life - I was struggling mentally and felt lost about what was ahead. I had a place in university that I ended up dropping out of after three weeks. People laughed at me, because let’s be honest, who gives up the chance to study at Cambridge? I was unhappy and needed help to live my life better but I was too scared of labels which put me off of wanting to find the problem.

I wanted to be ‘normal’ and I did not want to feel like a burden or a list of forever stretching ‘problems’.

It took me a couple of years to work out what to do, a pandemic nearly sank all of my plans but by the end of 2020 I was in Bristol and starting the next stage of my life. Education is not built for me, or more generally it is not built for ND people. But I knew I needed a degree to progress to where I wanted to be in engineering, hence the Airbus apprenticeship scheme was ideal. It provided a balance between the work I loved and the difficulties of education.

Fast forward a couple more years and I received an email about the Neurodiversity Community in Airbus. To set the scene, it was August 2022. I was nearly two years into my engineering apprenticeship and struggling. I had split up with my long-term partner, started therapy once a week again and grown apart from old friends. I was in a place where I didn’t understand how to proceed in life without the risk of destroying everything I had built.

As with many things in my life, I threw myself headfirst into the community. It felt like something positive, mentally and emotionally. Each meeting felt as if I was helping not just myself but those around me. The sharing of employee’s struggles and stories around their ND drove me forward to be proud of my ND instead of hiding it or trying to fix it.

I think the biggest change for me was gaining an understanding of the different ways to view disability. Society taught me to see disability by the medical model, but instead the social model lets us view people as being disabled by barriers in society, not by the ‘problems’ that society sees in them.

I wanted to be ‘normal’ and I did not want to feel like a burden or a list of forever stretching ‘problems’.

It took me a couple of years to work out what to do, a pandemic nearly sank all of my plans but by the end of 2020 I was in Bristol and starting the next stage of my life. Education is not built for me, or more generally it is not built for ND people. But I knew I needed a degree to progress to where I wanted to be in engineering, hence the Airbus apprenticeship scheme was ideal. It provided a balance between the work I loved and the difficulties of education.

Fast forward a couple more years and I received an email about the Neurodiversity Community in Airbus. To set the scene, it was August 2022. I was nearly two years into my engineering apprenticeship and struggling. I had split up with my long-term partner, started therapy once a week again and grown apart from old friends. I was in a place where I didn’t understand how to proceed in life without the risk of destroying everything I had built.

As with many things in my life, I threw myself headfirst into the community. It felt like something positive, mentally and emotionally. Each meeting felt as if I was helping not just myself but those around me. The sharing of employee’s struggles and stories around their ND drove me forward to be proud of my ND instead of hiding it or trying to fix it.

I think the biggest change for me was gaining an understanding of the different ways to view disability. Society taught me to see disability by the medical model, but instead the social model lets us view people as being disabled by barriers in society, not by the ‘problems’ that society sees in them.

I faced a wake up call. I received a behavioural warning from my Early Careers managers near the end of 2022 from a three day training course we were sent on. I remember the three days well – it felt like school again – impossible to listen and to focus. It was somewhere I wanted to escape from as quickly as possible. As a result I was regrettably disrespectful. All the evidence I could see and feel in my life was pointing me towards ADHD. There were several champions in the community who would share common ADHD struggles – I felt them . There were members in the chat that would share common ADHD behaviours – I felt them. There were champions and members who shared their diagnosis stories. I listened, learned and felt understood.

I want to say that 2023 is going to be a good year. However, to be honest, it has been tough. The days I have felt overwhelmed and burnt out are more common than the days without. I have often felt excluded and actively struggle with this time of year. The weather, the cold, the dark and the rain makes me lack energy and happiness.

All this mental pressure has meant getting an answer from my ADHD diagnosis could not come quickly enough. I felt like I could self-diagnose, but the irrational doubt in my brain wouldn’t let me. Without the ability to label myself as ADHD, it means I often fail to be kind to myself when I experience common negative ADHD symptoms. I was able to ‘own’ and forgive my difficulties from dyslexia – “ah you have lots to read … give yourself breaks … take it easy”. But I struggled to own my feelings about being hypersensitive to bright lights or loud noises. Or feeling like I could never follow the time. Or understanding why I felt burnt out after any of my successful productive days. Or feeling demoralised when I hadn’t been able to focus at all.

I can now confidently say I have ADHD. My diagnosis is finished, I have combined impulsive, inattentive and hyperactive ADHD and my doubt in my NDs is gone (well I have been recommended an Autism diagnosis - which was expected…!).

How do I move forward with this? I’m not sure - this is just the start of my journey. However now I can explore the world of ADHD research, tips, tricks and even medication without the reluctant thought of ‘does this apply to me’.

I still struggle with labels but I have recognised just like in the shop we need labels sometimes to understand how to proceed. The controversial nature of labels is something felt by many and is explored by the amazing Genius Within here: https://geniuswithin.org/labelling-neurodiversity/

This year I want to continue to focus on building the community that has supported me so much. Sharing thoughts, troubles or successes helps celebrate positives and is a powerful encouragement through struggles. The warmth from people listening and sharing in a safe space is remarkable and transformative. There are many people inside Airbus and external who I have to thank for my progress. I think it is always important to remember that you are never alone, we have an amazing community here in Airbus, and many supportive employees."

One of Bede's lecturers here at Weston College, told us:

"I was Bede’s lecturer in Dynamics Modelling and Simulation. This involved Programming and Mathematical Simulation of Engineering Problems. 

He was one of the best students and a real talent in programming.

Although undiagnosed at that time, I believe his ADHD played a significant role in his programming skills, problem solving and thinking out of the box abilities.

He never asked for support due to learning difficulties, but on several occasions, he was messaging me to share a ‘’crazy idea’’, as he used to say, usually in regards with some really challenging problem I had set to just a few of his cohort. A very bright mind indeed!"

Weston College and University Centre Weston are teaming up to host a community beach clean event on April 24th from 11am-3pm, funded by Weston and Burnham Energy. 

The event aims to bring together members of the community to work towards a cleaner, more sustainable environment.

Several groups of learners from Weston College and University Centre Weston will be joining forces to support the community by cleaning the beach. The event will provide a fun and engaging way to educate and raise awareness about environmental issues, while also providing an opportunity for everyone to take action and make a difference.

The community beach clean event will take place on Weston beach, with all necessary equipment provided, including gloves and bags.

The event will also feature several stands set up in the Tropicana, where students and the public can learn more about sustainability.

Visitors can expect to see stands from North Somerset Council's Waste and Recycling team, as well as their Energy team. There will also be a litter-picking game, a demo on ‘60 things to reuse plastic for’, a plastic workshop, and a stand on how to grow your own food.

Sir Paul Phillips, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for members of the community to come together and make a positive impact on our local environment.

“At Weston College we are passionate advocates of making a difference to the community and therefore, we embed a green, lean and socially responsible approach, in order to sustain the world’s resources, reduce environmental impact and create the vibrant, positive and fairer communities of tomorrow.”

There is no need to pre-register for this event, just go to the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, on Monday 24th April, 11:00am – 3:00pm. Click here to find out more about the event.

Are you a lover of languages, eager to gain a qualification in Spanish?  

We have some good news! 

We are extremely pleased to announce that Spanish A Level will soon be introduced into the curriculum at Weston College Sixth Form. 

The new subject will offer students a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of Spanish. 

You will develop confident and effective communication skills in Spanish and a thorough understanding of the social issues, trends and politics as well as artistic culture in the Spanish speaking world. 

This course is part of our Sixth Form Career Excellence Hubs, which brings you closer to industry than ever before! You will hear from people within the industry, who will equip you with the latest skills, to enhance your future career opportunities. 

What does the course involve? 

Study subjects include understanding native speakers in spoken and written materials; developing your confidence in self-expression and essay writing and cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking society such as modern-day idols, Spanish regional identity and cultural heritage. 

How will the course be assessed? 

Exams in your second year. 

What future study opportunities and careers are there? 

The ability to speak more than one language is highly valued by many universities and employers and can be combined with a number of subjects, leading to careers such as business, tourism, international law, journalism, media or engineering. 

More information to follow. 

To find out more about our Careers Excellence Hubs (CEH), click here.  

Alex Lipinski is a former Weston College student who has built a vast and impressive career from humble beginnings on the West Country club circuit, to huge audiences across the pond in New York. He recently paid us a visit to deliver a talk about his experiences in the music industry to our Music Performance and Production learners. Students also had the opportunity to interview the talented musician and watch him perform live. 

Alex grew up in a musical family being influenced by 60s Rock and Roll music such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Kinks. Alex had a love for writing music and began his journey performing his songs in clubs, bars and for family occasions. The interest in his music has grown greatly, particularly after his recent successful shows at The Borderline. His track ‘Lonesome Train’ was also recently selected by BBC 6 presenter, Tom Robison, as one of his tracks of the week. 

He advised to the students is to have their own identity as an artist, writing from the heart and not being too influenced by chart music. Alex expressed originality and creativity is key amongst such a competitive industry, stating:  

“The main thing is honesty when writing music...being honest with yourself and thinking what do you want to write about? Who are you as a person or as an artist? What do you want to say? Often people see what’s number 1 in the charts and think ‘ok I’m going to write a song like that because that will be successful.’ It doesn’t really work like that; you can tell that doesn’t mean anything. Having your own identity as a writer and an artist is more valuable than anything.” 

He also gave the students some tips on the best way to get their music out onto the scene and to not be disheartened or discouraged when they do not get the responses they expected right away. 

Overall, the learners thoroughly enjoyed his visit and hearing from someone who was exactly in their position before going on to achieve success in the industry. Thank you, Alex, for inspiring the next generation of artists! 

Find out more about our Music Performance and Production course here. 

I was already a massive fan of the work that Wild Welfare does years before I started working for them. I’d never come across another charity doing anything like what they were doing, and particularly in the way they were doing it. The problem of poor animal welfare within captive animal facilities such as zoos, aquariums and sanctuaries is widespread and incredibly challenging. Instead of condemnation, Wild Welfare collaborates, working together to drive forward welfare improvements for animals in facilities across the globe. Providing training to animal care staff ensures they have the tools they need to better understand animal welfare and positively impact it through their care practices. The training we provide has proven very effective at achieving this outcome over the 11 years we have been active and being a part of the journey has been phenomenal.

A typical day for me involves a lot of desk work which was a significant change from the years I spent working as a zookeeper, but the impact I know I can have, and the animal welfare issues I am hugely aware of are my driving force. Typical days in the field, however, look very different. We might have meetings with project partners in Vietnam, give presentations at a conference in Indonesia, or conduct welfare audits and make recommendations on where improvements might be made in a facility in Japan. Of course, taking a moment to say hello to the animals is an essential part of the process. The animals make everything worth it but, surprisingly for me, they didn’t turn out to be the best part of my role. Instead it’s the people, and the changes we create within them. Meeting people who are so passionate about the animals under their care, and giving them opportunities to learn more about how to improve animal welfare is intensely gratifying. You can make friends for life, despite the language barriers.

In this line of work it’s not all about the qualifications. Particular personality traits also hold significance. Patience and level-headedness are two critically important attributes because the changes we are creating take time and the sights we sometimes see aren’t pleasant. Reacting in anger or impatience is a sure-fire way to destroy a collaborative relationship which might have taken years to build.

I recently journeyed to Weston College to give a lecture to the students about the differences between animal care and animal welfare, something I had struggled to comprehend myself when I was a keeper. It was fantastic to connect with the students and I hope what we discussed will help with their animal management practices in the future. It was also very encouraging to witness the fundraising efforts which Weston College had initiated. We are a charity after all and cannot create positive changes for animals without financial support so we were hugely grateful to everyone who chooses to get involved with our work via donations to its continuation.

Sarah Bonser-Blake, Animal Welfare Field Manager, Wild Welfare

If you would like to follow Sarah's footsteps, and work with animals, you can discover our animal management courses, by clicking here. 

Weston College and University Centre Weston’s Music Department has recently received high praise from the Boneyard Blues Band for their support in laying down six live tracks and a video for marketing purposes. The band was impressed with the level of expertise and effort put in by the staff and degree students to achieve their goal. 

Recording a live performance while ensuring there was no sound bleed across various tracks is a challenging task, but the Music Department rose to the challenge with professionalism and enthusiasm. The band commented that the level of planning and execution was outstanding, and the raw mixes produced were of exceptional quality. 

The connection between the band and Weston College came through Grahame Driver, who has a long history with the College dating back to the mid-80s. Driver, who is the lead guitar player of the Band, has had a remarkable journey with Weston College, having started as an adult learner before being employed part-time to teach at the college and then achieving the position of Curriculum Manager. Driver returned to Weston College as Special IT Project Manager before retiring and then recording with the Boneyard Blues Band at the age of 71. 

As a gesture of thanks the Band is donating £100.00 to the Music Department as a show of appreciation for the exceptional support and expertise provided by the staff and students. 

Grahame Driver said, "The level of professionalism on the day was absolutely outstanding, and the enthusiasm of the degree-level students was totally inspiring. The team under teachers Oz Cahill and Aaron Sayers were not just happy to spread a few microphones around and press record. They totally planned the day and the requirements and even in the initial raw mixes produced a quality that none of us have experienced before." 

The Music Department at Weston College is proud to have contributed to the success of the Boneyard Blues Band's recording and looks forward to supporting other musicians and performers in achieving their goals, whilst they help students develop their industry experience as they begin or develop their careers in the music industry. 

Level 1 and Level 2 Health and Social Care learners recently embarked on a project aimed at exploring creative and therapeutic activities suitable for service users. This initiative not only showcased outstanding teamwork and communication skills but also demonstrated the learners' resilience and problem-solving abilities. 

Recognising the importance of incorporating creative and therapeutic activities into the lives of service users, the Health and Social Care learners joined forces with students studying construction courses to create bug and hedgehog houses. Through this project, they sought to provide a safe and nurturing environment that would promote the well-being and engagement of service users. 

By pooling their talents and working cohesively, the learners created a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that encouraged the free exchange of ideas and creativity. 

Great work! 

To find out more about Health and Social Care at Weston College, click here. 

To find out more about BACE at Weston College, click here. 

Just before the Easter holidays, our Travel and Tourism learners were treated to a guest lecture from the Economic Development Officer at North Somerset Council, Charlie Orr.

Learners found out all about the visitor economy of Weston-super-Mare, which attracts around 750,000 visitors each year.

Charlie covered the strategic objectives for the Council, Explore North Somerset, as well the importance of partnerships, and how they work with key tourism organisations such as Visit West, Visit Somerset and Visit Weston-super-Mare.

As well as an exciting current job, Charlie previously worked for Insight Japan which allowed him to travel and gain a variety of experiences, which he shared with learners, who were particularly interested. Learners also found out about the career opportunities within the industry, which was highly inspiring, as well top tips and advice on how to gain employment within travel and tourism.

A big thank you to Charlie for coming in, and we look forward to working closely together over the coming months with some of Explore North Somerset’s events.

If you would like to find out more about our Travel and Tourism courses, you can do so by clicking here.