College News

By 2020 Travel and Tourism is expected to account for some 300 million jobs worldwide and 10% of global output.  There has never been a better time to train to work in this exciting and challenging industry.

This level 2 course will prepare you for working in any major airport, covering important aspects including health and safety and operational issues.  Students will learn what goes on “behind the scenes” at an airport, and work on our own airport check-in desk for mini-flights that are held throughout the year.

At South Downs College, there are excellent facilities that provide realistic learning environments including the Holiday Shop, Restaurant and Boeing 747 Aircraft.  We also have fantastic contacts within the Tourism industry and many of our students are successful in gaining employment after completing their courses.

This course is not featured in our 2012 prospectus, however we are now accepting applications for students wishing to start studying in September 2012.

Students on the course heard about how Nick worked part time at Express FM during his time at College and then went on to study Radio Production at Westminster.  He asked students to share their questions and concerns about trying to work in the Music Production industry, and answered with examples from his own experiences.

When asked about returning to the College, Nick said that he was surprised by the number of changes but was pleased to be able to recognise most of the site and many of the teaching and support staff.
He explained, “I came to South Downs and found what I wanted to do.  I still love being able to go to work and talk!  I really am doing my dream job.”

Nick said that he really enjoyed talking to the students, “It is great that they are so passionate about the same things that I was passionate at their age.”

Music student Meg Henwood explained, “We asked Nick questions and gave us really good and detailed answers.  I have thought about going into radio before, but now I am even more convinced that this might be the right thing for me to do.”

Lecturers and students were able to buy an assortment of cakes, including Crispy Crème doughnuts, various bagged sweets and take part in two raffles which were drawn on the day.  The prizes for each raffle included prizes kindly donated from businesses such as Osprey London, Sainsbury’s, Pompey Megastore and many more.  Fun was had by all including the two students dressed as elves wandering the corridors selling raffle tickets.

A record amount of £649.31 was raised, exceeding all expectations.  This has been divided equally between The Macmillan Trust and Help for Heroes.  On Tuesday 24 January 2012, South Downs College was pleased to welcome a representative from Help for Heroes to receive the cheque.  During his visit he gave a short talk about the charity and the work they do.  It was a reminder of the hardship and sorrow that men, women and their families suffer representing our country and why fundraisers like this are so important.

A massive thank you is extended to all who supported the event and helped achieve such a tremendous result.

Greek building decoration was studied by the students, who spent a day at the British Museum studying the frieze from the Temple of Bassae, red and black figure vases and the Elgin Marbles. 

Later in the month, the students visited Verulamium, the Roman Britain archaeological site in the city of St. Albans.  Here, they were able to view the Roman Theatre, which has about two thirds remaining and the hypocaust, the only example of a hypocaust in the UK.  The students were also able to see under floor central heating Roman style covered by a stunning mosaic and walk along the remains of the Roman city walls.  Following the exploration of the site, the students toured the museum to look at artefacts including mosaics, coins and coffins.

The final trip for the students was to Oxford where they handled real examples of Ancient Greek pottery in the Beazley Archive, part of the Ashmolean Museum.  They had lunch at Christ Church College in the ‘Harry Potter’ dining room, and then watched a performance of Clytemnestra at the Oxford Playhouse.  The play was performed in Ancient Greek with Japanese costumes and music.
The students enjoyed all of the visits, and relished the opportunity to handle real artefacts and visit the archaeological remains of a settlement.

Throughout the week, representatives from a wide range of organisations came in to share information about the opportunities available to the students.  Visitors included Oxfam, The Kings Theatre, Community Fusion and Hampshire Constabulary.

Staff, students and visitors were invited to share their experiences of volunteering on message boards located around the College.  There was an overwhelming response to this, with many positive aspects being highlighted.  Examples of the responses include:

“Volunteering has made me more confident and I now have a better understanding of myself and what I want to do.”

“Volunteering made me see things through different eyes.”

“I have met new people from all walks of life whilst volunteering.”

“Volunteering has made me more employable – it gave me the skills to get the job I love!”

“Volunteering got me interested in the wider world and helped me to choose my career path.”

Many students decided to sign up for volunteering opportunities as a result of the event, with the Sport Makers charity receiving 50 new applications.  The event was a great success, with positive responses from both people in College and the visiting organisations.

The programme, "Aircrash Confidential 2", which will be shown on the Discovery Channel later this year, focuses on aircraft emergencies with re-enactments of real life events.   Air Cabin Crew lecturer Kim Hill was on hand to assist with the filming, and was then recruited at the last minute to be in the filming as an extra.

Laura Viner, who arranged the filming, said, “I will definitely be back for future plane cabin filming.  South Downs College was well equipped for the filming and the flight food provided was fabulous!”

Our B747 aircraft cabin is used as a practical training facility, allowing Air Cabin Crew students to prepare for the world of aviation in a realistic learning environment.

The students watched a two-part play performed by drama students who demonstrated examples of ‘bad’ and ‘excellent’ customer service.   The students then had the opportunity to ask an industry professional, Antonio Lopez-Bustos, the Operations Manager from Exclusive Hotel’s Lainston House near Winchester, about how to deliver 5* customer service and how he goes the extra mile to make the stay of any guest more enjoyable.  Following this, students took part in activities to support their learning and develop customer service skills.

Lecturer Donna Lloyd-Henry devised the event with the support of Antonio Lopez-Bustos.  Students commented that they had found the activities very useful, and felt that being able to gain insight and understanding about customer service from an industry professional was invaluable. 

The packed out Café was adorned with Chinese style decorations and the catering staff provided tasty Chinese food in honour of the event.  To complete the effect, the Waterside Chinese Lion Dancers performed their traditional dance which brought a carnival atmosphere to the celebrations.

The event, organised by the Student Union, was a real success.  Shannon Turner, Liberation Officer in the Student Union, who helped organise the day said, “I loved the animation of the lion especially the way it moved its eyes and ears – it was fantastic to watch.”

The workshop day was open to all South Downs College students who are currently studying Classical Civilisation, Latin, Ancient History and those who have chosen Classics as an Enrichment activity.  The event was designed to aid the College students in their understanding of Ancient Greek, particularly C5 Athenian society, politics, culture, religion and values.

During the three sessions, students investigated the world of mythology, explored the “Golden Age” of Pericles and analysed the effects of the Persian Wars.  This unique opportunity allowed the students to broaden their understanding of the ancient world and find out more about opportunities to study Classics in Higher Education.

All of the South Downs staff and students who attended the event found the workshops beneficial and stimulating.  Ellicia Peterson, who is currently studying AS Classical Civilisation and A2 Ancient History and Combined Arts, said, “The best part was when we read a passage from a play – it was good to act it and have more understanding of how the plays were performed.”

The day of workshops was arranged by Classics Lecturer Manon Burton, who felt the day was a great success and hopes that it can be repeated in the future.

Citizenship and volunteering are elements of their extended diploma course and the students put their new skills into practice by participating in sponsored events such as:

• Students vs. fire-fighters wheelchair basketball tournament
• 8 hour row-a-thon, with fire-fighters at Gunwharf Quays
• Run up, and down, Butser Hill
• Run from Southsea Fire Station to Cosham Fire Station
• Run from South Downs College to Cosham Fire Station
• Students vs. lecturers 5-a-side football

The students were supporting Cosham Crew Manager, Stu Vince, who was determined to raise money for the party, despite donating a kidney earlier last year to a family friend.

Students raised £836.39 collectively, with Claire Yates raising £166.01 in a fantastic individual effort. Emily McGiffen, Colin Webb, Paul Lowden and Mike Rice were also key fundraisers.

The Christmas party was held on Sunday 18 December, with the appliance bay of the Fire Station turned into a party zone and the fire-fighters’ mess transformed into an illuminated grotto.

Approximately 20 children of all ages, some with life threatening illnesses, were treated to entertainment from a magician, face painter and balloon artist. Then, following a buffet lunch, Father Christmas made a dramatic entrance by being rescued from the top of the building by the fire-fighters, which the children adored!

Each child received a gift from Father Christmas, which had been chosen by the parents or carers prior to the party with the support of hospital staff.

Lecturer Karen Wood and the five top fundraising students attended the party, as did the Deputy Lord Mayor or Portsmouth. The party was a resounding success with one parent exclaiming that she didn’t think people still did such nice things and that the students were a credit to themselves and South Downs College.

The College is delighted that the country’s leading small electrical kitchen appliance supplier, Kenwood Delonghi, has donated an extensive range of products to replace and update equipment that was being used by the students in the catering kitchens and College Restaurant.  
The equipment includes legendary Kenwood Chef stand mixers, hand blenders, and sister brand De’Longhi coffee makers and ice cream machines.  This will enhance the learning environment for students while introducing them to the latest developments in modern culinary techniques, using appliances such as the Kenwood Cooking Chef which cooks food as well as mixing enabling finer controls to be adhered too to give greater accuracy to create more complex menus!

Gerry Shurman, Head of Catering, Hospitality and Travel at South Downs College stated that “the donation by Kenwood means that students have the opportunity to use the latest equipment in cookery and restaurant activity, and will also be able to buy and use the same appliances for personal use.  We are fortunate to have one of the world’s top producers on our doorstep and look forward to collaborative projects in the future.”  

Mark Swift ,  Director of Marketing for Kenwood DeLonghi, UK & Ireland said, “We take great pride in being associated with South Downs College as part of our involvement in the community, in 2011 Kenwood gave over 450 younger pupils, from Kenwood’s local area, the opportunity to participate in activities away from their school where they could learn about the benefits of eating healthily  and of cooking from scratch and how much fun all that can be.  South Downs College gives Kenwood the opportunity to support young people looking for a future in food with the best equipment available for preparing food whilst being trained within a great environment.”

Kenwood has a long history in the local community, having relocated to Havant in 1962 from Woking where the business began in 1947.  The company decided to establish an education link partnership with the College, and this has resulted in sponsorship for competitions; opportunities for students to participate in activities in the company’s Cook and Coffee Academy, as well as a number of other projects.

The project aims to bring together leading chefs in the area, getting them to participate in various activities whilst networking and sharing local and professional developments. The first meeting included Clive Wright, Lysees House Hotel; Paul Playford, The Beach Hotel Southsea; Lawrence Murphy, Fat Olives Restaurant Emsworth; Stuart Armstrong, The Beach Hotel Southsea and the organiser, Paul Mansfield from South Downs College.

The ‘Club’, which is open to any local senior chef, was launched on the 16th January with a visit to the military Food Services Wing based at Worthy Down which is responsible for all Army and RAF Catering training.  The centre trains Army and Royal Air Force chefs prior to their deployment to a range of destinations, Afgahnistan.

The Chefs arrived on a crisp morning with very litte idea of what lay ahead of them.  The challenge for the day was set - ‘improvised cookery skills’.  The team of five were tasked with building a kitchen by digging a hole in the ground and creating a heat source to include a dustbin oven with open fire underneath.  The Army chef explained the types of scrap metal and dustbins and old ammo boxes that could be used to build an improvised kitchen. This was followed by a demonstration  and the first task to prepare freshly shot rabbits. The rabbits were to be skinned, gutted and cut ready for use by each individual, without the use of a table or board and the meat not allowed to touch the ground.  

Whilst some members of the team created a cooker in the field area, the remaining members got involved in deciding the menu and preparing the food.  A delicious three course meal was devised and executed by the chefs, including  rabbit with spicy rice and bread & butter pudding with crème Anglaise.

Despite being used to creating food masterpieces in their own state of the art kitchens, all of the chefs enjoyed the challenge and were able to work together to produce a good meal for a group of hungry soldiers.

Paul Mansfield, Lecturer in Professional cookery at South Downs College, who is coordinating the group, stated “we are pleased to be instrumental in starting this unique local network. Through our activities it is obvious that our members will benefit from the opportunity to socialise, share, network and establish a professional camaraderie whilst enjoying a range of different activities. We also hope that this relationship will help to benefit the College’s links with local employers. “

The next meeting has been arranged, and will take place in the experimental kitchens of one of the country’s major catering food suppliers.  To join or find out more about the ‘Chef’s Club’, please contact Paul Mansfield: pmansfield@southdowns.ac.uk or Tel: 02392 797979 ext 406.

Part of the day was spent at the Hackney Marshes Sports Centre where students looked at the role of ICT in the whole Olympic spectacle, from the early planning stages to the final organisation of events in 2012.

Within site construction students saw the role of ICT in finance, scheduling, CAD and 3D modeling. They also looked at how technology can enhance athletes’ performance using a 3D virtual environment recording 2000 frames a second. These are used to aid analysis of performance and so improve athletes’ techniques. These are steamed using satellite technology which allows athletes and expert coaches to communicate across the globe.

The group walked around the perimeter of the site and viewed the media building which will eventually hold over 2000 journalists during the games, and saw the Olympic village which will hold the 17000 athletes during the event. One of the aims of the games is to leave a legacy for several decades for the local population.

Jan Jenkins

As a student, you may know some of the ways that we do this, but there may be other things that the College does that you are not so aware of.

Here are some of the ways we work to make you feel safe whilst you are at College:

• Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks are carried out on all staff at the College. This includes lecturers, support staff, Student Union officers, Student Ambassadors and volunteers at the College.
• For students completing work experience as part of their course, we carry risk assessments at the place of work before the placement starts and carry out CRB checks for students were the placement requires this check.
• The College has 115 CCTV cameras around the site, monitored by licensed practitioners. Cameras are both inside and outside of buildings, and in car parks and the bike sheds. Any unusual activity is thoroughlyinvestigated and action taken as necessary.
• We have excellent links with the local Police and Safer Havant Partnership working closely with them to ensure that staff and students remain in a safe environment.
• All staff receive Child Protection Training when they start at the College and full refresher training every three years. Designated staff are trained to Level 4 in Safeguarding.
• The College has two nurses and a number of trained First Aiders on site both during the day and in the evening, as well as two Counsellors who can provide support to all students.
• The Premises Team wear a uniform to help make them more visible. They are also very approachable and available to provide help and support.
• Health and Safety is also given a high priority at South Downs College, with a dedicated team who carry out risk assessments and advise on safe working practices.

All staff at the College are committed to making South Downs College a safe and friendly environment for all learners. Our policies and procedures adhere closely to the Every Student Matters policy, and this is central to the way in which the College operates.

A range of drop-in sessions have been arranged, and will be held each week from Monday 9th January until Thursday 2nd February.  The sessions are:

Monday 4.15pm – 5.15pm Graphics in Room 535
Tuesday 2.15pm – 3.15pm Ceramics in Room 72
Wednesday 9.15am – 10.15am Painting in Room 537
Wednesday 11.00am – 12.00am Ceramics in Room 72
Thursday 3.15pm – 4.15pm Ceramics in Room 72
Thursday 4.15pm – 5.15pm Painting in Room 537

Please come along to one of the drop-in sessions to see what the Art Lecturers are creating.  Find out more about a technique you are interested in, or just discover how a work of art is created.

For more information, please see the posters displayed around College.

The show was packed full of pieces that students have been working on in class during the first term and showcased solo and ensemble singing, tap dance, jazz dance and ballet as well as excerpts from musicals such as Legally Blonde, The Lion King, Martin Guerre, Witches of Eastwick and Wicked.

First year students created some amazing props for The Circle of Life including an elephant. The show was sold out to a highly appreciative audience and the students excelled themselves in the standard of their performance work and their backstage management.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in  Musical Theatre is designed for students with a strong interest in musical theatre who display potential in singing, dancing and acting.  Many students go on to study at prestigious academies and gain employment in a range of industries including holiday entertainment and arts administration.

The donations include both brand new and used items, with some items that have been handmade.  Students have also held cake stalls, collections and raffles, raising £158.50 for Havant Women’s Aid

Student Union Liberation Officer Shannon Turner said, “I am amazed at the response we have had.  Christmas is a really busy time of year, so for people to have taken time to think about our appeal and bring in donations is wonderful.  It will make such a difference to the women and children in the refuge.  I just want to tell people how grateful I am for their kindness.”

Donations were received from staff and students at the College, as well as many members of the public who had read about the appeal in The News a few weeks ago.  Local stores, including Boots and Tesco, also provided clothes and toiletries.  The Student Union have bought and filled approximately 40 extra-large gift bags with items.

The donations were collected from College today by two support workers from the refuge.  Havant Women’s Aid provides services to people who have experienced or who are experiencing emotional, physical or sexual abuse in their relationships.  They run refuges offering support and temporary accommodation to women and children who are escaping domestic abuse.  Outreach is also offered to families not staying in the refuge but who are still in need of advice, support and information.

Previous students from the course have gone on to work for major airlines, including British Airways; Easy Jet; Virgin Atlantic; BMI and Flybe.  Some of these ex-students were able to attend the interview day, assessing the students and sharing their experiences of interviews and working in industry.

The students had to undertake two group tasks, a written exam on general knowledge and one-to-one interviews.  At the end of the day, they were then informed whether or not their mock application had been successful.  The staff and previous students offered constructive feedback to help them prepare further for the real interviews that will be conducted in January 2012.

Many airlines recruit early in the year, and so the Air Cabin Crew Training is delivered as an intensive course over two terms.  This allows students to apply for and take up relevant full time employment in industry following completion of the course.

English Lecturer Dan Lane is involved with the project, and will be able to share his experiences with students at the College.  The boat will sail to five locations in Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and Buckinghamshire between May and July next year.

As well as this, Dan hopes that the creative director of the theatre company behind the project, Gary Winters, will be able to come in to the College next year and give workshops to students.

The Boat Project is a living archive of people’s stories and lives, a 30ft seafaring vessel made from donated wooden items.  The organisers, Lone Twin, have been inviting the public to donate their wooden belongings to the project since February 2011 and share their story along with this.

The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements.  It is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people.

For more information, please visit http://www.theboatproject.com/ or www.lonetwin.com

The group, who had to organise the event as part of their business course, sold cakes and sweets as well as holding a raffle for staff and students.  The fabulous selection of cakes were well received by all, and prizes such as a Vera Wang tote bag and CK One fragrances encouraged lots of people to take part in the raffle.

The event was a great success, with lots of money being raised for both charities.

The stolen bikes had been locked up and left overnight in various locations, but have still been taken.

Make sure that you don’t have your bike stolen.  Here are some top tips for keeping your bicycle safe:

1. Get your bike tagged and register it at www.immobilise.com
2. Ensure you have a solid lock – and that you use it!
3. Always lock your bicycle through its frame, not just through the wheel
4. Fix your bike to solid, immovable objects in recognised cycle storage areas
5. Whenever possible, lock your bike in a busy, well-lit and CCTV-covered area
6. If you have to leave it overnight, think about where you are going to leave it – is it a location where people are around?  Could someone take it easily without being seen?

By following these easy tips, you should help keep your bike safe.

The students organising the event, who are in their first year of a Public Services course, have been raising money on behalf of Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service so that a Christmas Party can be held on Sunday 18th December.

Karen Wood explained “the Public Services students learn about citizenship and helping the community as part of the course.  This is a fantastic way of getting them to understand this.  They are raising money for a great community cause and working closely with the Fire Service.”

The tournament will be the last of a number of events organised by the students, including running from the College to Cosham Fire Station; running up and down Butser Hill and a 5-a-side football match against lecturers.  The students also took part in a Charity Row last Sunday at Gunwharf Quays.
The students hope that their efforts will go a long way toward making the Christmas Party happen.  The tournament will be held on Saturday 10th December in the Sports Hall between 10am and 12pm.

There were a number of stalls selling homemade, home baked and home crafted gifts.  A couple of stalls sold goods made by College art students and delicious homemade cupcakes were provided by Sam, Hayden’s auntie. 

A raffle and tombola were held, along with a children’s craft area where many budding crafters were kept busy by Beatrice and Mollie.
The evening was a great success and we raised £305.05 for the Help Hayden Walk appeal.

Hayden is a 3 year old little boy with Cerebral Palsy.  His family are taking him to America for an operation to enable him to walk which will change his life.  They have raised £30,000 so far for this procedure and hopefully with the money raised at South Downs can help with the physiotherapy costs they will have to bear when they return.

The products, produced by Level 1 Art students, have all been made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials.

Within minutes of opening, the stall was busy with customers.  Glass cheese boards, produced by flattening old wine bottles, were particularly popular, and sold out first.  Christmas cards and wrapping paper also proved popular with staff and students.

The students, who are studying on the BTEC Level 1 Diploma in Art & Design course, are working on a sustainability project alongside BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business students.  The art students have created a logo to be used for a College-wide campaign on sustainability and recycling as well as all of the products on sale at the Sustainability stall.  In exchange for this, the Business students have shared their knowledge on event organisation.

Two people sit opposite each other at a table, wearing headphones.  A voice through the headphones then tells them what to say and any small action they should make.

The Charity Banquet event, held at five star venue South Lodge Hotel near Horsham, was attended by 250 guests including TV Newscaster Michael Burke who acted as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.  Representatives from the College, City and Guilds, the Langstone Hotel and the Defence Services School were also present.

The Level 3 students assisted South Downs lecturers Iain Baillie and Sean Denny and star Chefs Matt Gillan and Tony Tobin to prepare and serve the five course menu, while the other students served the food and wine to guests.

The Hotel’s Managing Director, Danny Pecorelli, praised the students for all of their hard work that had helped to make the evening a success.

The Springboard Charity is a forerunner in helping young, unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their prospects for economic well-being.  They provide opportunities for sustainable employment, as well as vibrant careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism. 
Macmillan Cancer Support provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.  More than 96% of the services provided by the charity are funded thanks to the money raised by supporters.

More than 20 students, studying BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma in Outdoor Adventure at South Downs collected litter from the streets around the College. 

They also cleared up residential areas in the local area.  This litter collection, working in conjunction with the local council, is part of their two-year course.

Imagine if the Nazis had been successful in their plans to invade Britain.  How would life have been different?  College lecturer, Andrew Mackay, has decided to write about just that in his new novel, “Young Lions”.

Andrew’s grandfathers both fought during the Second World War, one for the Seaforth Highlanders and the other for Hong Kong Volunteer Regiment, and it is to them that the book is dedicated.  The History lecturer has written the novel for young adults in his spare time, and hopes that the book will go on to be a big success.

Andrew will be promoting his book through talks at local schools, and a book signing on Sunday 11th December at Waterstones  in Fareham Shopping Centre.

The Student Union wanted to get other students around College to think about faith and what it means to them.  Message boards were set up around the College, and students were asked for their ideas and responses to two questions: “What happens when we die” and “What does a god symbolise to you”.

Student Union officer Shannon Turner said “we had a lot of responses, good and bad.  People seem to be scared about what cannot be explained as society has made us believe that there needs to be proof.”

Responses to the first question included: “we hope our memories live on”; “we turn into compost for beautiful flowers”; “we start again” and “you watch over the ones you love and who you have left behind until they join you once again.”  The second question prompted responses such as: “faith”; “hope”; “someone who looks after us” and “someone to talk to and tell them my problems and they will help.” 

Students on Level 3 Health and Social Care courses have prepared and delivered tutorials over the last week, informing students of HIV, sex sense and the local resources that are available to students.

Sam Roylance, one of the students who delivered a tutorial, said “the idea of these tutorials is great. It makes people more aware of viruses and how to keep themselves protected. As it is someone who is their age telling them, they are more likely to listen.”

This is the second year that students have been involved in cross-College action to share information about World Aids Day, and the reaction has been extremely positive. The students have taken tutorials across all areas of the College, from Foundations for Learning to A level students. FfL tutor Sharon Stephenson commented, “The peer tutorials were fantastic. The group who delivered the presentation were calm, clear and very professional.”

Professionals from Inscape, Positive Action and Sex Sense came in to share their expertise with the Level 3 students, giving them information to share with other students across the College.  The three action groups were also in College today with more information and advice for students.

The tutorials will continue for the rest of this week, and twenty tutor groups in all will be visited in total.

The home team, Southfields Community College, consists of players who are training with the Chelsea Football Academy.  Despite initial concerns about the opponents, the South Downs team quickly took control of the game and showed their skills off.  New recruit to the Academy, Charlotte Blackwell, scored one of the goals with the other two provided by Holly Francis.   

The teams are playing in the BCS Football South East League which consists of nine colleges in the region.  South Downs is currently in 6^th position with three games in hand.  The next game will be played at 2pm on Wednesday 30^th November at Cowplain School.  The opponents will be Priory School from Orpington in Kent who currently sit just above South Downs in the league.

Kelly Wren was presented with a Kenwood food processor as part of her prize for wowing judges in the competition run by the Havant and Waterlooville branches of the organisation.

The competition was judged by Kevin Bingham, owner of award winning Restaurant 27, in Southsea, held at South Downs College, in Waterlooville.

The 16-year-old will get the chance to spend a day on work experience at Mr Bingham’s restaurant.

She was part of a group of nine contestants from five local schools and colleges who entered the contest. The next step will be the regional competition in January 2012.

The runner-up was Sophie Stafford-Way from Park Community School, in Leigh Park.

In addition to a certificate and a cookery book, Sophie was given a Kenwood Tri Blade hand blender.

In this round, the contestants had to prepare and cook a two-course meal consisting of a main course and dessert but, in later rounds the demands placed upon the youngsters increase in scope and complexity.

Other contestants were Ben Adams and John Harries from The Hayling College, Paige Roberts from Park Community School, Ben Colley and Will Faulkener from Crookhorn College of Technology and Daniel Campbell and Jacob Duffin from Horndean Technology College.

The grand final of the competition is in the spring.

The students hope the appeal will bring in lots of clothes in time for Christmas.  Havant Women’s Aid support service is in need of clothes for women and children, especially gloves, hats and socks.  Many women arrive at the Women’s Aid refuges with only the clothes they are wearing, and so providing them with a change of clothes is important. 

Student Union officer Shannon Turner explained “I had six pairs of gloves this year, but I have donated five of them to the appeal.  I only need one pair, and my spare ones can now go to someone who really needs them.”

Havant Women’s Aid provides services to people who have experienced or who are experiencing emotional, physical or sexual abuse in their relationships.  They run refuges offering support and temporary accommodation to women and children who are escaping domestic abuse.  Outreach is also offered to families not staying in the refuge but who are still in need of advice, support and information.

For more information or to find out how you can donate, please contact the Student Union via llangley@southdowns.ac.uk

Six boys have chosen to study a BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development at South Downs College.

Josh Edwards, Lucas Crees, Jamie Gooch, Connor Harnett and Nick Hambrey know that they are going against the stereotype, but are even more determined to succeed because of this.  Lucas explained, “We are working for our future and it is something we really want to do.”  

“There are always things in the papers saying more male teachers are needed so that the kids have got a positive role model.  That is part of the reason I chose this course, even though it is going to be hard work” said Jamie.

The boys all have some experience of working with children, ranging from work experience to being au pairs.  Connor in particular has extensive experience in childcare with five younger sisters he helps to look after.

Their future prospects differ as Lucas, Josh and Connor are hoping to go into teaching and Nick is considering Social work.  Nick explained, “We have to go on placement for part of the course, and the nurseries and schools I have spoken to so far seem really keen to get boys in.  A couple have even said that there might be a full time job available after, which would be great!”

They are really enjoying the course and feel the teachers are all very supportive of them.  Students on this course have busy programmes involving classroom based learning and work experience in a number of childcare related environments.  Progression from the course may be to Higher Education or straight into a work environment.

Drew first became involved in the project in Year 10 when Mill Chase school students were asked to suggest ways in which the local community could be improved. His suggestion of free internet access proved very popular. Drew then researched the available options and discussed ideas with local residents.

After being named an “eco-town”, funding was made available for the town to develop their internet connections. The Eco-Town Team negotiated with a local company from Reading and a Wi-Fi hotspot has now been set up at the Community Centre. It is hoped that this will develop further as new technology is being installed to provide a faster internet service to the area.

Drew said “this is really going to benefit the local community. Young people are more likely to use the areas designed for them now that they will have Wi-Fi access.” The Community Centre will be offering Silver Surfer group sessions and hopes that young people will start using the open air pavilion in summer months.

Drew is currently studying A levels in Computing, Maths, Physics and Media and hopes to move into the field of web design when he completes these.

The course involves two units on radio, and students have been fortunate to work with a number of professionals from this Media sector as part of the course.  The students will be involved in a number of activities including selecting content relevant to the audience, writing scripts, reporting news and sequencing of items.  The workshops will develop the practical and technical skills of the students.

Paul’s broadcasting career spans 13 years and includes work for Sky, Heart and the BBC.  He is a highly respected broadcaster, journalist and compare.

The College-wide antics raised a massive £1610.45 for the charity, adding to the £26 million raised nationally by the charity on Friday 18^th November.

Students from the Health and Care curriculum area raised a whopping £843.63 in two days by selling cakes and holding lots of competitions throughout the day.  A raffle was held for all staff by the Reprographics department, and they raised a fantastic £664 for the charity.  Even the children in the College nursery got involved, serenading the College with a range of songs and raising £102.82. 

Well done to everyone who was involved!

Children in Need is the BBC's UK corporate charity. With the support of the public, the charity is able to make a real difference to the lives of children all across the UK.  They provide grants to projects in the UK which focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged.

Sacha Ray and Eloise Astle now volunteer every Wednesday afternoon, working with children aged 12 - 16 with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.  Sacha in particular has found the work experience extremely useful and has now decided that she would like to become a teacher of students with behavioural issues.

Work experience was introduced into the AS Health and Social Care course last year, and the benefit to students can already be seen.  After completing the placement, students have commented on how it has helped to relate the theory that is learnt in the classroom into a practical environment.

Students can choose to work in a range of health and care environments, including hospitals; nursery, junior and senior schools and nursing homes.  The experience is designed to help with the Communication unit within the course and introduce them to possible career paths.  As well as Sacha and Eloise, many other students have been successful in securing voluntary positions as a result of these placements.

Once again they facilitate workshops throughout the day with students from the BTEC HND Music, Extended Diploma in Music Technology and Music Practice courses.  Staff and students from other areas of the College also came witness this extraordinary music and dance spectacle in the College theatre during the lunchtime period.

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet was one of the largest and most important monastic centres of culture and learning in Tibet prior to the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949. The Monastery is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas, second only in hierarchy to the Dalai Lamas in the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tashilhunpo was re-established in Bylakuppe, south India in the 1970’s. Monks from the monastery have been touring the UK and Europe over the last six years raising awareness and funding through cultural performances for the Monastery and the Tibetan issue in general. You can even sponsor a monk!!

For more information about the monks, please contact - www.tashi-lhunpo.org.

Alarm clocks were ringing at 04:45am to awaken all trainees for their first training session at Horley Leisure Centre.  Life jackets were donned as the crew boarded a life raft and demonstrated life saving techniques, putting weeks of theory learning into practice.  A simulation of the Ditching drill ensured that all the students were on full alert.

Everyone enjoyed a full English breakfast before heading off to the new Virgin Atlantic Airways training base. The students were welcomed into the futuristic facility and signed in by security staff.
Trainees were then escorted through the glass doors and lead out towards the fire training area. Each crew member encountered various types of fire inside a mock aircraft, where they put on brave faces as they moved through smoke filled cabin wearing crew smoke hoods. There were intense feeling of happiness and relief after the exercise but, in true to FLY SDC style, professionalism remained apparent.

The last training task of the day was to simulate an evacuation by descending a B747 main deck slide. The activity was thoroughly enjoyed by all, including the FLY SDC lecturers! The training was extremely challenging, but all students passed the course.  The Virgin Atlantic instructors were really impressed, and even took the names of some students for future career prospects.

The students were given a unique insight into the Criminal Justice System from Psychologists, Academics, a retired Detective Inspector and a number of ex-offenders. 

Dr Nee from University of Portsmouth described what the research tells us about the risk factors associated with youth offending, and how this research has been applied.  A researcher from the largest investigation into the causes of young offending gave us all great insight into both the research process and the findings.  A Forensic Psychologist from Portsmouth’s Category B prison, HMP Kingston, gave an insightful talk on rehabilitation techniques and how psychological theories actually translate into practical treatments in a real world setting. 

The ex-offenders personal accounts of crime, and its consequences, were eye opening and frank.  They highlighted the dangers of drug involvement and the gritty realities of life in crack dens and prisons where a whole set of different rules apply.

Hamish Brown MBE presented the police perspective with a fascinating description of the procedural details involved in a Serious Crime Squad case and how BBC’s Crimewatch gave a vital lead in finding the perpetrator. 

The Criminal Justice system was portrayed in an alternative light by a representative from the Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association charity, who highlighted how the law of Joint Enterprise could be creating widespread miscarriages of justice. 

Student feedback from the day was really positive and discussions ensued in the classrooms over the following days.  The day was described as “really eye-opening and a great experience”, “good for sparking an interest in a future career” and “brilliant...a great insight into crime”. 

Held in Portsmouth Guildhall, the event attracted over 1500 children and their families and was even broadcast on the big screen at Guildhall Square.

Julie Walker from the South Downs College Business Training Unit attended the event along with students from the Hair and Beauty Therapy and Catering departments.  The students provided mini manicures and cupcakes decorating at the event, and these were really popular.

The Portsmouth Education Business Partnership and Shaping the Future of Portsmouth (SFP) group organised the event which involved colleges, Portsmouth City Council and Portsmouth based businesses.

Chairman of the SFP education group, Philippe Jouey, said, “We did this to showcase all the great career opportunities which exist within the city in order to inspire young people and to raise their aspirations and the aspirations of their parents and families, because they have a key role to play in shaping the future of their children.” It is hoped that the event will become an annual feature.

Sonny was awarded Grade 7 in the discipline, and Tiffany and Ben achieved Grade 8, the highest qualification available.  They were required to demonstrate skills in dance and improvisation as well as singing, acting and choreographed movement.  All three have now received certificates and awards in acknowledgement of their achievement.  

Trinity College London provides respected international qualifications across a range of disciplines in the performing and creative arts, and in English language learning and teaching.

Uniformed Services students paraded through the site and then laid a wreath to mark Remembrance Day. The wreath was laid at the memorial to former student Richard Hollington.

Poppies were sold by reception staff in aid of the Poppy Appeal, raising £249.16

Chloe Giles studied for a Diploma in Business Administration at the college, and received a glowing reference from her tutor.

The College already employs a number of apprentices in different areas, and is delighted to have been able to recruit a former student to this challenging and exciting role.

Chloe will work alongside the Schools Liaison Co-ordinator, Laura Manning, visiting schools in the local area to explain the range of courses on offer to students after they leave school as well as other activities within the Marketing team. Chloe said, “This is an excellent opportunity for me and I am so excited to start working with the team. It is so difficult to get into Marketing, and this should help me to develop skills while I work.”

Julie Walker from the Business Training Unit at the College said, “Apprenticeships can offer fantastic benefits to both employers and young people looking to progress in the work environment. We are always looking for new companies to get involved in the apprenticeship scheme, especially if they can offer opportunities in industries that are difficult to get in to.”

Chloe will work with the team over the next year, whilst studying one day a week to gain a qualification in Business Administration.

South Downs College is one of a number of training institutions offering a range of National Apprenticeship Scheme funded qualifications. Apprenticeships are designed to give work-based training which leads to nationally recognised qualifications.

For further information, please contact Verity Bousher on 02392 797963.