Festive fun at Christmas Fayre
Embrace the festive spirit and get your Christmas shopping wrapped up early with a visit to Derwen College Christmas Fayre from 24 to 26 November.
The three-day seasonal extravaganza offers something for everyone, including a popular Christmas Market, an audience with Santa and an array of shopping and eating opportunities. There’s even the chance to meet two adorable miniature donkeys.
The Christmas Fayre – from Friday, 24 November to Sunday, 26 November – will see a host of local artisan producers selling festive food, gifts, crafts and decorations. The market stalls will be offering unique hand-crafted present ideas alongside Derwen College’s own Garden Centre and Gift Shop merchandise. There’s also a bar and live music. There will be late night shopping on Friday until 8pm, followed by Saturday opening (9am–4pm) and Sunday opening (10am–4pm).
Santa will be reading stories, while Mrs Christmas hands out gifts and chats to youngsters from their Christmas Kitchen on all three days (booking essential).
Youngsters can meet the cute miniature donkeys Jasmine and Savannah, from Dinky Donkeys. The loveable little donkeys are just 32 inches tall, and adore a bit of fuss and a photo opportunity.
There will be festive food available to buy in the Walled Garden Café on all three days. The Orangery Restaurant will be serving Monday 27 November until Friday 15 December (deposits and pre-booking required for groups of more than six).
Throughout December, The Garden Centre & Gift Shop promises a sparkly festive welcome, with the sale of Christmas trees, Derwen Charity Christmas cards, seasonal plants, wreaths, decorations, and unique gifts and hampers. The Vintage Advantage charity shop will be brimming with yuletide pre-loved treasures including Christmas fashions, gifts and homeware.
What’s more, customers to our Derwen Marketplace will be supporting Derwen College students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in their learning and work experience. At the same time, customers will be raising money for Derwen Charity, which further supports students with SEND to reach their aspirations.
On track for a celebration of community and inclusion
Members of our commercial team are busy creating a pop-up Derwen Marketplace shop at nearby Gobowen station as part of celebrations marking 175 years since the opening of the Chester to Shrewsbury railway line in 1848.
We have been running the café at Gobowen Station for ten years, thanks to independent rail agency Severn Dee Travel. Our students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) work in the café as part of their work experience, supporting them to secure jobs after College.
Gobowen railway station, near Oswestry, is marking this significant anniversary on Thursday, 14 September, with local partners Severn Dee Travel, Oswestry Station Buildings Trust, The Community Rail Partnership and specialist college Derwen College. North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan will be among guests at the event.
The 175-year celebration will see performances by Derwen College’s sign, song and dance group DOT (Derwen on Tour), refreshments served by Hospitality students and a vibrant pop-up shop which showcases the best of the College’s customer Marketplace. Derwen College has also made a birthday cake in honour of the landmark day.
Guests at the event include volunteers, directors and staff of Severn Dee Travel – who run the station ticket office – as well as other stakeholders including staff and students from Derwen College. Customers and commuters are also urged to join in the party which focuses on partnerships, and a shared goal of connecting people and communities.
Pop-up Marketplace shop
The pop-up Marketplace shop offers bargains from the College’s The Vintage Advantage charity shop, as well as cakes, bread, jams and chutneys made and sold at Derwen, and plants from the college Garden Centre. The college has received permission from Oswestry Station Buildings Trust to use the buildings for this exciting exhibition.
Gobowen Station Café is run by Teresa Richards, who works with hospitality students from the college. Students learn work-ready and independence skills through making and serving drinks, snacks and lunches, dealing with payments and developing people skills when serving customers.
The café and waiting room is also a designated Safe Place in Shropshire’s Safe Place scheme, where vulnerable people can ask for support in an environment where they feel safe.
Derwen College Principal and CEO Meryl Green will be attending the celebration from 10.30am, along with DOT.
She said: “We have been running the Station Café with Severn Dee Travel for 10 years now. The partnership has given our Hospitality students valuable work experience which supports them to develop skills and find jobs after graduating from College. We are also proud to be part or the local community, and for commuters and customers to meet our students and find out about our college, on their doorstep.
“We were delighted to be asked to be part of the 175th anniversary celebrations, and look forward to continuing this wonderful partnership for many more years to come.”
Proud to be part of history
Sheila Dee, from Severn Dee Travel said:
“The line has a great history – some 175 years’ worth! It’s good to take time out to reflect on the milestones and achievements that have taken place. Severn Dee Travel was set up in 1995 as a not for profit rail agency and the booking office and waiting room opened on what was an unstaffed station. We’ve always had a community ethos and the partnership with the Derwen College and the opening of the work experience cafe has brought benefits to both students and the community. To see such success is very rewarding for all the volunteers and staff that are involved in the business.”
Student Brendan Langan-Hart, who is on the College’s Hospitality and Food pathway, has a weekly work placement at Gobowen Station Café.
He said: “I work at the Station Café every Monday afternoon, serving customers. I love working there. I’m learning skills that will help me to get a job and independence after college.”
Official celebrations will start at Gobowen Station from 10.30am, with canapes, DOT performance and cake presentation at 11am. The Derwen Marketplace pop-up shop will be open on Platform 2 from 8.30am onwards. The Station Café opens every morning at 7.30am. Visitors are asked to take part in a survey which will help with planning for future plans for the station businesses.
Derwen gardeners proud to be part of Oswestry’s Britain in Bloom bid
Derwen College’s green-fingered horticulturists were among the team showcasing Oswestry’s gorgeous floral displays to Britain in Bloom judges last week.
Paul Moss, the nursery production manager at Derwen College’s garden centre, with horticulture helpers and Derwen clients, Anton Berry and Thomas Donaldson, met Britain in Bloom judges when they visited Cae Glas Park, in Oswestry, last week.
The Derwen team joined Oswestry in Bloom chair Natalie Bainbridge, Oswestry Mayor Cllr Olly Rose, Cae Glas park keeper Sue Cameron, Oswestry BID’s (Business Improvement District) Adele Nightingale, and Louise Humphreys from Oswestry Council when they met with RHS Britain in Bloom judges Rae Beckwith and Roger Burnett in the splendid town park on Wednesday.
Meeting the judges
Paul Moss, who has been instrumental in sourcing, designing and planting the park’s bedding, borders and planters, spoke to judges as part of their tour of the town. Paul has worked at the park with Derwen College students – who visit the gardens every Monday – as well as with some of Derwen’s long-term clients, such as Anton and Thomas.
Despite a week of wind and rain, the sun shone for the judges, and the plants had survived the elements well.
This year’s planting was about more than simply stunning displays of bedding plants. As well as colourful bedding plants, such as begonias and salvia, around town and in the central bed at the park, Paul sourced a variety of pollinator-friendly perennials. These more sustainable options were planted around the edges of the park to encourage bees and butterflies.
Britain in Bloom finalists
Oswestry is one of ten towns across the UK who are finalists in the competition’s Large Town category. Britain in Bloom is the UK’s biggest community gardening campaign and it involves around 3,500 community groups and hundreds of thousands of local volunteers who work year-round to keep our neighbourhoods and streets green, clean and thriving.
As part of the process, judges also spoke to pupils from Woodside Primary School, who showed off sunflowers that they’d planted for a competition in the park, before being introduced to the hard-working team of Oswestry in Bloom volunteers.
The two judges were even treated to a surprise marriage proposal when a visitor to Oswestry popped the question to his girlfriend on a visit to the park.
The day of judging included visits to many areas around Oswestry where the community has come together to make Oswestry bloom.
Derwen College was proud to part of this process. We look forward to hearing the winners announced later in the year.
Nurses’ hearing project triumph
Derwen College nursing team are finalists in the Royal College of Nursing Awards 2023, in recognition of a hearing project which has already made a remarkable difference to students’ lives.
Our team of nurses worked collaboratively with experts to create a hearing check service for young people with autism or learning disabilities. They are delighted that their work has been hailed a triumph and shortlisted for one of the profession’s top accolades.
They have been selected from 920 entries as finalists in the Learning Disability Nursing category of the RCN Nursing Awards 2023. The team will find out if it has won at a ceremony on Friday 10 November at Liverpool Cathedral.
Young people with learning disabilities, or who are autistic, do not always have access to regular hearing checks. This prompted our nurses to join a pilot study on hearing checks in education.
Working with an audiologist, an NHS intensive health outreach team and a GP, the team was provided with hearing test equipment and given training to offer three types of checks.
Out of 32 eligible students – none already under the care of ear, nose and throat specialists – 47% were identified as needing further intervention, including ear wax removal, ear infection treatment, or referral to specialists. Two students have now been advised a hearing aid would benefit them. All the cases where significant issues were present would not have been picked up before the Hearing Project checks done by the Derwen College nurses team.
Undiagnosed ear pain and hearing troubles can lead to frustration and changes in behaviour
Derwen Director of Care, Health and Wellbeing Karen George said: ‘Undiagnosed ear pain and hearing troubles can lead to frustration and changes in behaviour, which can impact attendance, education and concentration during sessions, as well as relationships. For the nurses team Hearing Project to be recognised in these awards as a vital keystone to students’ health, well-being and learning is a wonderful thank you to us, but also to everyone that we collaborate with on a daily basis.”
RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: “Our inspiring finalists demonstrate the very best of nursing and what can be achieved in some of the challenging times for the profession.
“They highlight the wide variety of ways nurses improve the care of people at all stages of life and how they demonstrate their professionalism and clinical excellence every day, and in every setting, throughout the UK.”
The RCN Nursing Awards will this year be held alongside the inaugural Nursing Live, a new and dynamic event for everyone who works in nursing. Hosted over two days (November 10th-11th) at the ACC complex in Liverpool, the event will focus on both the professional and personal development of nurses at every stage of their careers and will be the first event of its kind for the sector.
Supported intern still serving up at Ashwood
Supported intern Maisy has gained valuable experience in the hospitality industry, thanks to a college partnership with The Wrekin Housing Group.
Maisy has made a huge impact at Ashwood extra care scheme, in Oswestry. She has been honing her hospitality and customer service skills at Shire Living’s Ashwood. She has been on a weekly work placement, for nearly a year, and is delighted to have progressed to further work there.
Maisy is a 21-year-old supported intern on the Hospitality and Food pathway. She is keen to pursue a future career in Hospitality. She is also looking forward to further independence as she is moving into a new flat with friends after College.
Partnership with Wrekin Housing
Maisy has been working in the café and kitchen at Ashwood every Wednesday. She is one of two college supported interns who enjoy vital work placements thanks to Wrekin Housing. She is accompanied by Derwen job coach Amy Wilkinson. Amy has been able to gradually withdraw support, and now only visits for regular check-ins.
Maisy helps staff to serve food and drinks to residents who visit the café. She also works in the kitchen peeling and prepping vegetables, washes up, mops and cleans.
Residents say that Maisy is a well-liked member of staff who has grown in skills and confidence during her time at Ashwood. She has made such a strong impact that she will continue her role via volunteer work experience during the summer holidays.
Gill Price, Social Value Co-ordinator at The Wrekin Housing Group said: “Maisy has been doing very well and I have had good feedback from the team she works with to say so and how much they enjoy having her here.
“Wrekin has been offering work experience and placement to young people for some time, as we believe it’s our responsibility as a part of the community. This year, is the first time we’ve offered supported internships to students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The feedback from colleagues and customers has been overwhelmingly positive. We are proud to be able to offer Maisy regular employment once her internship is complete.”
Valuable work experience
Work Experience and Supported Internships Coordinator Abi Baker thanked Wrekin for enabling supported interns to gain valuable work experience at Shire Living.
“Our Supported Interns experience the world of work at regular placements in the community. They attend with Derwen job coaches such as Amy. As students gain independence we withdraw that support, with a long-term view of allowing them to work independently. The ultimate aim is always for businesses to take on our young people as employees. The team at Derwen are all delighted that Maisy has been given this opportunity. We are so grateful to her colleagues at Ashwood who have supported and encouraged her.”
Maisy, whose family are from Bridgnorth, will be moving into shared accommodation with friends near Oswestry. She has been learning travel training to help her to travel to work on her own from her new home.
Maisy says: “At Ashwood, I’ve learnt knife skills and peeling vegetables. I clean the surfaces and kitchen, mop the floor, brush the floor. I take food and drink to the tables. My favourite thing is serving the food to customers. I can work independently now, and love it.”
As part of her internship, Maisy works at Derwen College’s The Orangery Restaurant, in the Walled Garden Café, and in Tip Top Takeout. She also has external work placements at Cambrian Coffee and Cakes, Oswestry, and Hummingbird Café in Telford.
Derwen College is very proud to see how Maisy’s hard work and commitment have seen her progress to become a graduate with a bright future ahead of her.
Celebration of Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards
Even the torrential rain and thunder couldn’t dampen spirits for our Duke of Edinburgh’s awards celebration on Saturday. It was a day to mark the inspirational achievements of students completing an impressive 72 Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards at a dedicated ceremony.
Students were joined by families, staff, sponsors and local dignitaries to mark completion of the arduous national youth achievement awards.
Shropshire’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Jenny Wynn, and Oswestry Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mike Isherwood, also attended the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards celebration, along with representatives from supporting organisations, including Roger Pemberton, Provincial Grand Master of Shropshire Freemasons Provincial. Shropshire MP, Helen Morgan, was unable to attend, but wrote a letter to each of the award winners to congratulate them on their achievements – these were handed out with certificates during the ceremony.
The audience was treated to performances by our wonderful Performing Arts Derwen on Tour (DOT) song, sign and dance group. Their performance of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, was the perfect theme for the day. Hospitality and Food students served visiting VIPs with a buffet lunch and drinks.
Student certificates were handed out by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant Jenny Wynn, Roger Pemberton and Mike Isherwood.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards offer participants the chance to develop skills for life, fulfil their potential and have a brighter future. Each section of the award gives the students an opportunity to be independent, to grow in confidence and to be challenged as an individual – something we actively promote at Derwen College.
Buckingham Palace visit
To date, we’ve been offering the awards for nine years. We have celebrated 146 Bronze awards, 116 Silver awards and 48 Gold awards. This year, a phenomenal 23 students and graduates attended a reception at Buckingham Palace to receive their Gold awards.
For 2022/23, for the first time, students with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) were given the opportunity to complete their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Students with limited mobility and communication were enabled to spend time in a tent and complete skills, volunteering and physical aspects of the award. They rounded-off the experience with an expedition on the Llangollen Canal, near Ellesmere, on the Shropshire Lady canal boat, provided by The Lyneal Trust – experts in offering accessible canal holidays to people with disabilities.
The College is proud to offer Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards to all students who want to take part in the awards. The DofE team are incredibly proud of each and every student who showed the strength of character and commitment to take on these demanding challenges.
The annual Kirstin Royle Trust Award, which recognises a student who has shown endeavour and personal achievement, went to student Harry Rowson. Horticulture student Harry has mobility issues which mean he needs a wheelchair for most activities. However, nothing was holding him back when it came to the three-day canoeing expedition which was part of his Silver award.
Thank you to Shropshire Freemasons
Students accepted a charity donation from the Shropshire Freemasons from Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards students Ciara McKenna and Anna Redding, who are also proud members of Derwen on Tour,
A cheque for £1,800 was presented by generous supporters Peter Robinson from the Shropshire Masonic Charitable Association; Rick Gerrard, from St Oswalds Lodge; and David Towers, St Oswalds Lodge. This will ensure continued support for students wishing to take on the most challenging Gold award.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Central England Operations Officer James Minor, sent a special video message to students and attendees.
He said: “You have shown others how we can all overcome challenges. You should be very proud of yourselves. During expeditions you may have wanted to give up, but despite this you pushed on and supported each other. There was positivity and strength of character demonstrated at every stage. Congratulations to you all. This is your day. Keep reaching for those stars!”
Back to work for Derwen swimming champions
Best friends Helen and Lizzie have checked back into work at our mini hotel, Hotel 751, following a hugely successful international swimming competition.
Both are outstanding Hospitality and Food students and talented swimming champions.
Helen and Lizzie, who represent Great Britain in the Down Syndrome Swimming team, returned recently from the 2023 Virtus Global Games, in Vichy, France, adorned with a grand total of eight medals between them. Helen won Gold in the 400-metre freestyle, along with four silvers and a bronze. Lizzie won two silvers as part of the female and mixed relay teams, which Helen was also part of.
Whilst at College, Helen and Lizzie train for swimming at the college’s own pool and also with Oswestry Otters as part of their timetable programme. Outside of term-time, Lizzie trains at Alton & District Swimming Club and Helen trains at Colchester Swimming Club.
Both were extremely happy with their recent successes.
Lizzie said: “It felt amazing, my mum was crying.”
Helen said: “My mum was cheering me on a lot. I was so happy to do so well.”
They have travelled the world with their swimming competitions, visiting countries including Canada, Sardinia, Italy and Portugal. Their next big competition is in Italy in September.
DSS-GB team manager, Neil Lacey commended Derwen College students’ successes. He said:
“Helen and Lizzie had a fantastic Virtus Global Games – they took on the event with the determination and focus we have come to expect from them as Great Britain swimmers with excellent results and medals. Helen, Lizzie, and also Derwen students Dylan Hughes and Ciara McKenna, have been with The Down Syndrome Swimming GB squad since a young age and it is a pleasure and gives us great pride to watch them in and out of the water becoming great swimmers and impressive young adults.”
As Hospitality students, Helen and Lizzie enjoy weekly work placements at the College’s three-bedroom Hotel 751, which was launched with the support of Premier Inn. They both work in the Reception and also in housekeeping in the bedrooms.
Helen says: “I really like working in the bathroom best, making it all clean and sparkly.”
23 students are in paid employment at Premier Inn
Derwen College is proud to have a strong partnership with Whitbread-owned Premier Inn. Students go on to work placements at Premier Inn Hotels around the country. In total, 23 Derwen students have progressed to paid employment at the hotel.
As part of the College’s Hospitality & Food programme, Helen and Lizzie also work in the College’s Walled Garden Café and The Orangery Restaurant. Though both students love their swimming and see it as an important part of life, they are looking to working in hospitality or housekeeping when they leave College.
Helen: “I would like to work in a café serving people food and drinks.”
Lizzie “I’d like to live with my boyfriend, get two dogs, and have a job as a waitress in a restaurant.”
Congratulations to them both for all the hard work, commitment and positive attitude in everything they do.
End of an era as Mark gets set to fly
Retail student Mark Williams will be flying the Derwen nest at the end of term. We were honoured to receive an impressive hand-made wooden bird table and dovecote from him as a an early leaving present for staff and students.
Mark, from Powys, will be leaving College at the end of the summer term. And he already has employment lined up at Coed y Dinas, in Welshpool.
He’ll be working in the store using his craft and retail skills to build and sell garden furniture and sell garden machinery in his first paid job. Mark has been preparing for the next step in this career journey so has been practising his travel training and learning to travel independently to work by taxi.
Mark, who is autistic, is a talented craftsperson who has previously sold his wares in aid of Derwen Charity at the Derwen Christmas Fayre. As well as woodworking talents, he’s also a skilled knitter, and has sold hand-made gifts, ornaments and hand-knitted scarves.
The new bird table will be housed in the College’s Woodland Walk where students, staff and visitors can enjoy it. The dovecote will be fixed to the bungalow where Mark lives. The bungalow is his current home where he has learnt daily living skills – like cooking, cleaning, shopping and money handling – which will help him to be as independent as possible after College.
Learning Disability Week
This week is Learning Disability Week, where we’re busting myths about people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and highlighting the incredible things that our students go on to achieve.
Thank you Mark for your thoughtful gifts, and good luck in your exciting new adventures!
Charity concert for a cause that’s close at heart
A local singer is among talent teaming up with talented Performing Arts students from specialist further education, Derwen College, near Oswestry, to raise money for the college charity – a charity which is close to her heart.
Bekah Plaisted, of group Take Five, will be in the spotlight at Holroyd Theatre, on 23 June, raising money for Derwen College Charity, where her brother Sam is a long-term resident.
Sam will be in the audience proudly cheering on his sister and College students, along with the rest of the family.
The concert is organised by Take Five’s Mark Lord, who also has close ties with the College, as he’s a governor there.
Mark Lord, and group Take Five, will be performing songs from the 1960s right up to the present day, at The Holroyd Community Theatre, Weston Rhyn, on 23 June. The concert will also feature sensational song and dance performances by Performing Arts students. Musical theatre, pop and even country tunes all promise to have the audience singing along and dancing in the aisles.
Take Five are Derwen governor Mark Lord, Tom Evans, Kate MacDonald and Jonathan Roberts and Bekah Plaisted. Derwen Charity is particularly important to singer and actress Bekah, as her brother Sam is a long-term resident at Derwen College.
Mark and Bekah have both seen first-hand how the College supports people with special educational needs and disabilities to reach their aspirations and live as independent a life as possible.
Super star students are straight back in the spotlight, after receiving rave reviews for the College’s Summer Show just two weeks ago. They are also practising for a packed schedule of summer events and performances.
More sing-a-long songs
Bekah, whose day job is as a primary school teacher, said: “Sam, who is now in his 30s, has been a resident at Derwen since he was a student at 19, so we’ve seen first hand how the college and Derwen Charity supports students and clients with learning difficulties and disabilities.
“Last year’s concert was such an incredible event to be part of, that when Mark suggested coming together again, we all jumped at the chance. The Performing Arts students are such talented singers, dancers and performers. The atmosphere is buzzing, and this year we’re including even more sing-along songs, and we’re encouraging everyone to join in.”
Students from the College’s Hospitality and Food pathway will be greeting guests and serving canapes and drinks on arrival.
Derwen College Governor and local Oswestry entertainer Mark Lord held his first charity concert for Derwen last year, to celebrate his 60th birthday. The event raised £3000 and was such a success that Mark has organised a comeback for 2023 with his musician friends.
Funds raised will support students and long-term residents with special educational needs and disabilities to achieve their aspirations, providing learning, skills and equipment to support them towards a more independent future.
Tickets are £12 and include drinks and canapes on arrival. You can buy tickets directly at Derwen College Reception and at Milano’s, in Oswestry. You can also buy online or telephone Derwen College on 01691 661234.
Harry’s on board as ticket inspector for the day
Derwen College Walford student, Harry, enjoyed a day as an assistant guard and ticket inspector, as a thank you for his work experience at Cambrian Heritage Railways.
Harry, who is a student at the specialist further education college, in Walford, near Shrewsbury, has a weekly work placement at Cambrian, helping to clear and maintain parts of the railway track
Harry is autistic and has some associated learning difficulties. He enjoys a work placement, every Thursday at Cambrian Heritage Railways, as part of his work with the college’s horticulture enterprise ‘Leaf It To Us’.
Train enthusiast Harry loves working on the railway and enjoys watching and waving at the trains as they come and go. He was thrilled to be invited to join the new Cambrian Wednesday service from Oswestry to Weston, especially as he was given a smart uniform and asked to help railway guard Rob. He was given the privilege of closing the train doors and made the official announcement when the train arrived in Oswestry station.
Accompanied by Derwen support practitioner Zoe Calloway, as well as by railway volunteers and passengers, Harry boarded the new Cambrian Heritage Railways Wednesday service from Oswestry to Weston Wharf and back.
Zoe said: “This opportunity has been Harry’s dream since starting work experience at Cambrian Heritage Railways. It is a pleasure to work with Harry in all aspects of his collage life to see him overcome personal barriers and to reach his full potential.
“Harry has worked so hard at the Cambrian with the clearing of the vegetation around the two stations so this was wonderful for him to experience and see all his hard work pay off. To see Harry engage with the passengers and work colleagues at Cambrian Heritage Railways highlights how his confidence has grown over the last term’s work experience. Not only has Cambrian improved his physical wellbeing, it has also boosted his confidence to engage with people he hasn’t met before. Thank you, to the team at Cambrian.”
Harry joined the Operations Department with the kind consent of Head of Operations Phil Bradley for a trip as trainee ticket inspector. The day was organised by Volunteer Coordinator Phil Liddell who works with Harry every week.
Harry said he was “very, very excited” to ride on the train and thanked volunteers who helped make it happen.
Winners of Natspec Partnership Award
We are delighted to have won a national award for an innovative partnership forged with local film company, Rocking Horse Media; a company who share our ambition for people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Derwen has won the Natspec award for Innovative Partnership Working. The award was for the mutually beneficial partnership we have forged with Rocking Horse Media. Oswestry-based Rocking Horse are filming a pilot television comedy/drama with an inclusive theme at the College. They are also providing meaningful work experience and information to students and supported interns.
With a shared vision for promoting inclusivity in the workplace and on screen and stage, students have gained unique experiences from this partnership. Well-known actors have worked directly with students. Famous faces who have acted at the College include former Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves, Doctor Who and Skins actress Annette Badland and Doc Martin’s Ian McNeice.
Rocking Horse have also helped deliver workshops on continuity, acting and directing as part of our Careers Week.
Rocking Horse founder Gareth Thomas is an Industry Champion for Performing Arts. He has also judged talent shows, provided students with professional acting headshots, and videoed and photographed events such as the annual Christmas and Summer Shows.
Derwen College Supported intern Anna Redding has a regular work placement with Rocking Horse as a runner. Director/scriptwriter Gareth has supported Anna to write and produce her own short film. The film is based on her personal experience of short-term memory loss.
Anna says: “I really enjoy my internship with Rocking Horse Media. I got to be a clapper at one point which was really exciting because I’ve never got to use the clapper before. I have also acted as a background actor.”
She’s also learnt transferable work skills. She says: “I’ve learnt that you have to be professional even if you are stressed. You have to be patient with different people.”
Innovation awards
Natspec, which represents specialist colleges across England and Wales, announced the winners of the Innovation Awards during a virtual ceremony. Trophies will be presented at Natspec’s National Conference on 13 June.
Gareth Thomas said: “Being autistic myself, Rocking Horse Media has always championed itself on being a neurodiverse supporting organisation, working with people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds.
“Getting to produce our care home drama series TV project which champions the SEND community, right here at a renowned specialist College, with students with SEND involved on our set, both on and off camera, was the perfect marriage between both organisations. We will continue to support Derwen College in any other aspect that we can out of recognition for that.”
Derwen Performing Arts lead Jessie Vaughan explains our partnership with Rocking Horse Media.
“Rocking Horse Media have had a massive impact on the Performing Arts pathway over the past year or so. With their consistent support and ideas they have provided our learners with a range of experiences which include question and answer sessions, headshot workshops, careers talks, filming and editing our departmental shows to name just a few.
“Rocking Horse Media have not only provided our current cohort of learners with memorable opportunities, they have also offered work experience opportunities to recent and older graduates.”
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved in this innovative, and award-winning partnership!
All aboard for DofE Awards
Students on our Nurture programme have been under canvas and out on the waterways as part of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award.
A small group of students with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) are the first from our Nurture programme students to embark on this challenge.
The Nurture team worked with the our Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Manager Steve Evans, to create meaningful and challenging experiences for students. These pushed our students out of comfort zones and utilised their skills.
Students in Nurture have disabilities which affect their mobility and ability to communicate. Therefore, elements of the award were adapted to be more accessible.
Students spent time in a tent on the College’s dedicated DofE Outdoor Centre. For most, it was their first time in a tent, and a brand new sensory experience – though not necessarily a comfortable one!
The group learnt dog grooming and first aid for the ‘volunteer’ parts of the award. They created bug hotels and bird boxes as their ‘skill’.
For the ‘physical’ element, students they enjoyed adapted yoga, boccia and table cricket sessions.
Expedition is the highlight
For most students, the DofE expedition is the highlight of the award; Nurture students are no different.
The team took part in practice expeditions at National Trust’s Attingham Park in Shrewsbury. They also completed sensory walks around the College’s Woodland Walk.
Students are encouraged to use trangias for camp cooking and making hot chocolates. Even students who are peg-fed and nil by mouth, enjoy exploring equipment and the self esteem gained from making a drink for a friend.
They completed their DofE challenge on an expedition on the Llangollen Canal, near Ellesmere. Supported by the Lyneal Trust – who provide accessible journeys and breaks for people with disabilities – we enjoyed a sunny trip on canal boat the Shropshire Lady. Students could follow the route on a three-dimensional map created by the College’s IT team. For this, the first expedition, they were not able to do an overnight stay, due to complexities in care. The Lyneal Trust provide holidays for people with disabilities, and this is the first time they have worked specifically with people with PMLD.
75 students enrolled on DofE
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards are a popular extra-curricular activity for many Derwen students. We have 75 students enrolled on Bronze, Silver and Gold this year. Just this month, a phenomenal 23 Derwen College students and graduates were invited to celebrate achieving Gold Awards at a Reception at Buckingham Palace.
This was the first time that the college had trialled the experience with students on the Nurture programme.
Nurture lead, Bev Simmonds, said: “We are determined to give students in Nurture the same opportunities as all our students, whenever we can.
“We have worked creatively to ensure that students are immersed in all the experiences on a sensory level. We have made sensory stories to follow, and prepared students for what they will see, hear and feel.
“IT have created 3-D sensory maps so that students can feel the outline of the woodland walk and of the canal route.
“Thank you so much to Lyneal Trust for helping make this happen.
“DofE Awards are not something we’ve done overnight but have always been part of the ambitious plans for nurture.
“It’s important not to wrap students in cotton wool and support them to become more resilient. “We were lucky with the weather, but were determined to go whether it was raining or not.
“For camping, being uncomfortable is par for the course. It was important for students to get the feeling of camping, and the feel of the floor, which is not comfortable.
“I’m very proud of how students and staff have worked together to achieve this award.”
Derwen Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards manager, Steve Evans, said: “We are committed to making sure that every student, who would benefit from the DofE scheme, is supported to participate if they would like to. Derwen is one of the first specialist colleges to run the DofE awards for students with PMLD. We hope that students and staff have found the experience enjoyable, fulfilling and rewarding. And look forward to celebrating their success at the College’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Celebration on 9 July.”
