Central Bedfordshire College goes International
Central Bedfordshire College is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with the Beijing College of Science, Business and Technology. The Colleges will deliver joint courses, and the agreement will facilitate staff and student visits between the two Colleges, with Central Bedfordshire College courses being
delivered in Beijing.
This partnership agreement follows visits to the partnering Colleges by delegates from each College. In March 2010 delegates from Central Bedfordshire College visited the Beijing College of Science, Business and Technology; and on Wednesday 26th May, delegates from Beijing visited Central Bedfordshire. Having been impressed with the courses and facilities available at the campuses within the region, the agreement was signed.
The partnership agreement will focus on three main subject areas, Hospitality Management; Marketing; and Retail Management.
Central Bedfordshire College will train the Tutors in these areas so that they can then deliver the courses in Beijing. This partnership offers great opportunities for the College to develop on an international scale and provide its students with international exchange visits and a broader international understanding of their subject area. Following Central Bedfordshire College’s agreement to train staff for the 2012 Olympic Games, staff and students will be able to learn a lot from their Beijing peers, so the timing of this partnership couldn’t be better.
Central Bedfordshire College Principal, Chris Vesey, commented, “The College has recruited students from China for many years. They study hard and really benefit from the qualifications that we offer. Further Education in China is under review and they are moving to a model more like ours. This is a great opportunity for us to help them develop their future curriculum and to continue the beneficial partnership between the two countries.”
Central Beds College Football Team win the League!
A top of the league home clash lay ahead for Central Bedfordshire College against second place Bedford, who needed all 3 points to be able to catch the runaway leaders and stop them winning the league. Central Bedfordshire only needed a point to secure the title.
Both teams started well and there was a lot of tension in the air, tackles were flying in and the referee was the busiest man on the pitch in the first ten minutes. The game settled own and central beds started to dominate the game and created two clear cut chances which Bryn Reynolds was unable to convert. The home team had done their homework and had identified what they believed were weaknesses in the Bedford side and it paid off from a well worked set piece which went in directly from a corner from Aaron Morgan making it 1-0. Bedford responded well and minutes after the kick off they were on level terms, after an uncharacteristic error in the Central Beds defence. This was easily finished off by the away team striker.
Central Beds didn’t panic and once again started to dominate the game after another well worked set piece was half cleared by Bedford and fell to George Higley who failed to hit the target from the edge of the box. Minutes later Higley turned provider with a great through ball for Aidan Murray, who made a great driving run into the box and finished well leaving the keeper no chance. Making it 2-1 at the break.
The 2nd halves got underway and as expected Bedford went looking for the equaliser, but were unable to work the Central Bedfordshire keeper. This only seemed to frustrate the Bedford side more and they were soon reduced to 10 men after one of their players was given a straight red for a horrendous two footed tackle on play maker Aaron Morgan, who has just been offered a scholarship in the states at California State University. Two more bookings followed shortly after for the away side.
Central Beds kept their control and focus and were rewarded after another well worked set piece was delivered by Morgan and converted by full back Kyron Jackson at the back post to make it 3-1.
Takunda Marvesa saved a penalty in the last action of the game, before the full the whistle was blown and Central Bedfordshire were crowned league winners without losing or drawing a game, wining 15 out of 15 games.
Overall success
This victory now means that the all of the college’s three sides have played 33 games, drawn 4 and lost 0. Scoring 180 goals and conceding 41. They have won the league in the English Colleges Elite League, British College League and were joint top in the Sessa Colleges and University league (losing out on goal difference). Making it the most successful season, in the programs history and making Central Bedfordshire Football development programme the most successful programme in the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire Buckinghamshire. As no other football programme have achieved these honours in their respective leagues during the 2009/10 season, which is an amazing achievement.
Football Development Manager Colin Sharpe commented “this has been a fantastic season for everyone involved in the football programme both on the field win two league wins and a runners up spot and in the class rooms where our students have are achieving great things and will be going onto to the next stage of their lives at their selected universities.
Today was our toughest game of the season by far and we should have had the game wrapped up before half time if we had taken our chances, but the lads never stopped working in particular Bryn Reynolds who worked tirelessly throughout the game. In nine years of delivering football programmes like these I have never had such a talent squad of players and a perfect season shows how good they are”
The college has its final Open trial at its Kings Houghton Campus on Wednesday 2nd June at 2pm. Simply turn up on the day if you would like to be part of this wining side!
St Francis’ Children’s Society visits Central Beds College
Health & Social Care students at Central Bedfordshire College experienced a very informative presentation on Adoption, from St Francis’ Children’s Society on Thursday 27th May.
The Level 3, year 1 students were presented to by Chris Large from the society, and following an introduction covering the numbers of children in the adoption process within the UK, the process for adoption, and factors to consider on matching children with families, the students then completed some group exercises and were able to ask questions.
The charity, which is based in Milton Keynes and covers Luton, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire is always looking for new families to help with the adoption of children. Chris Large felt the exercise had been really worthwhile and commented “the questions the students have been asking have been really broad and in-depth, which shows their interest within the subject”.
Health & Social Care Tutor, Samantha Adams added, “the students really enjoyed learning more about the adoption process and how they can help; and were also able to find out more about a career working within this sector”.
If any staff are interested in finding out more about adoption, please visit; www.sfcs.org.uk or email enquiries@sfcs.org.uk
Central Bedfordshire College training staff for the Olympics through Bridging the Gap project
Central Bedfordshire College’s business division, Chiltern Business Training, has been selected as one of the Further Education Colleges to provide qualifications and training for the 6000-8000 workforce required for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Chiltern Business Training courses will be focused towards the security staff needed for the Games. The “Award in Understanding Stewarding and Spectator Safety” course will enable candidates to learn and be observed in their own workplace. The scheme will recruit qualified personnel from higher education institutions and from the unemployed, through national schemes including Job Centre Plus. The individuals will have worked with security companies on a variety of events leading up to the London 2012 games.
The Bridging the Gap project combines key objectives for employability, security, diversity and industry/education partnership. It is the London 2012 Olympics that works as the catalyst to bring all of these elements together. For further information about these courses please contact 01582 861607 or visit www.centralbeds.ac.uk/chilternbsinesstraining
Joinery student builds book cabinet for MIND
Joinery student, Kyle Quinn, has built and presented a hand crafted book cabinet for Luton and Dunstable MIND. Studying n the 14-16 programme at Central Bedfordshire College, Kyle is also a student at Manshead Upper School.
Kyle is studying on a two year Multi-skills programme for 14-16 year olds. This vocational course offers students the opportunity to studying Electrical Installation, Joinery, Plumbing and Brickwork, providing an insight into the different trades, and enabling them to identify their chosen specialism. In the future Kyle plans to work for his fathers firm whilst continuing his studies through a HND in Civil Engineering.
Kyle presented the book cabinet to the staff and visitors of MIND on Thursday 13th May. Joinery Tutor, Paul Bailey, commented, “The cabinet that Kyle has made is built to an excellent standard and shows exceptional workmanship. Kyle has worked hard to produce this piece and everyone at MIND really appreciated his hard work”.
Adult Learners Week Event & College Winners
The Adult Learners Week event which took place on 21 May in the Arndale Centre in Luton, and was a great success, with many different providers taking part. Adult Learners Week is about breaking down barriers to learning and the local providers, including The Learning Partnership, Central Bedfordshire College, Barnfield College, Bedford College, Adult & Community Learning and many more, are keen to collaborate in an effort to get even more adults back into learning.
The Adult Learners Week Awards, which took place on Wednesday 19 May, saw two awards for the College.
Congratulations to our winners:
Richard McSepney – Life Long Learner
Tour & Andersson – Learning through partnership
Students set up hair salon in Markyate
Three students studying Hairdressing at Central Bedfordshire College have helped set up ‘Robyns Hair Design’, a new hairdressing salon in Markyate.
The three students have just finished studying their Level 3 Hairdressing qualification and were approached by Owen Watts who saw a gap in the market for a salon in Markyate. One of the students, Faye Francis, was considering mobile hairdressing once she completed the course, “but the opportunity to run our own salon was amazing and we grabbed it”.
Faye and her two colleagues, Jennifer Ward from Toddington and Aaron Fuller from Hockliffe, were all national finalists at the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) National UK Trainee Competition earlier this year at The Blackpool Winter Gardens. Claire Lydon, the students’ Tutor at the College congratulated them on their achievement, “ Having taught Faye, Jennifer and Aaron, I am very proud they have taken this opportunity and progressed as a team to take this challenge on. They are all very talented and creative, I can see Robyns Hair Design going very far in the future – well done!”
Having studied various levels of Hairdressing at Central Beds College, they found the experience and expertise at the College invaluable; “Alison McLean and Claire Lydon were brilliant mentors throughout our studies and without them we wouldn’t have gained the skills and confidence we needed to set up our own salon. The facilities at Central Beds College were brilliant and help was always at hand whenever we needed it.”
The salon’s official opening was on 8 May, where many local people attended to sample what the Robyns have to offer.
Opening times for Robyns Hair Design:
Monday 10am – 6pm
Tuesday 10am – 6pm
Wednesday 10am – 6pm
Thursday 10am – 8pm
Friday 10am – 6pm
Saturday 9.30am – 5pm
To book an appointment please call 01582 841155.
Triathlon raises over £2000 for charity!
A charity mini-triathlon arranged by a group of Central Bedfordshire College sports students has raised over £2,000 for CHUMS charity. The event took place on Wednesday 12th May, and started at the Houghton Regis Leisure Centre with a 20 minute swim. Participants then either ran or walked the 2.5 miles, to
Dunstable Leisure Centre. On arrival they then completed 2 miles on the cycle machines at the gym.
The event involved students and staff from across the College, with participants trying to gain as much sponsorship as possible. The event culminated with prizes going to those who had raised the most amount of money for the charity.
CHUMS support bereaved children and families in Bedfordshire following the death of someone special in their lives. The core of the work is carried out by a team of volunteers who come from all parts of the county who are all trained by the charity in loss and grief and how best to support bereaved children and their families.
Football Development Manager, Colin Sharpe commented, “This event was organised by the students, and has been an excellent way of getting students and staff involved in a sporting activity, as well as raising money for the students chosen charity. Feedback we have received has been really positive, with a real sense of achievement felt by all”.
Gary Lee, Head of Department for Leisure and Service Industries, added “This has been a fantastic year for the department, and this event showed the diversity of success that can been achieved in success”.
Central Beds student wins First Place at National Hairdressing Competition
Hollie Palmer, Level 3 Hairdressing student at Central Bedfordshire College, has been awarded first place in the “Ladies Commercial Cut and Blow Dry” category at the high profile finals of the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) National UK Trainee Competition.
This award is the culmination of many months of hard work by the students and staff, with the competition team forming and putting in extra hours for five months to ensure success. The competition started with the South Regional finals at Bexley College in February. During this heat, ten students studying Hairdressing and Theatrical Makeup at Central Bedfordshire College were chosen to go to the national finals.
The event took place at The Blackpool Winter Gardens Hair Festival. The festival attracts more than 600 competitors and up to 6000 visitors each year and Hollie was rewarded for her win with £100 prize money and a medal and Certificate showing her success. Curriculum Manger for Hairdressing, Lindsey White commented, “Hollie really deserves her award. She has worked hard over the last few months and deserves the success that this has brought.”.
Gary Lee, Head of Department at Central Beds, was very proud of all of his teams; “Last year was our first year and we had two students go through to the nationals. The target this year was five and we were delighted to deliver an outstanding ten places. I am so pleased for Hollie’s success at the prestigious final and that Central Beds is on the national competition stage as a winner where it belongs!”.
Some of the students in the competition team will be finishing their studies in the summer, with some already having found work; in their hometowns of Luton, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding villages; while others are choosing to continue to study to gain more skills.
Central Bedfordshire College National Winner:
Ladies Commercial Cut & Blow Dry
1st – Hollie Palmer
Central Bedfordshire College Regional Winners list:
Ladies Cut & Blow Dry
1st – Hollie Palmer
2nd – Samantha Playforth
3rd – Faye Francis
Mens Cut & Blow Dry
1st – Zoe Roberts
2nd – Christine Begley
3rd – Aaron Fuller
Ladies Evening Style
2nd – Sarah-Jane Wearmouth
Catwalk
1st – Stacey Thomas
Face & Body Painting
2nd – Ria Boak
Central Beds student organises bikers tribute to Wootton Bassett
An estimated 15,000 bikers and pillion passengers congregated at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire to honour the people of the Wiltshire town and the soldiers killed in Afghanistan. The Bike Run was the idea of 18-year-old biker Elizabeth Stevens who studies on the Motor Vehicle course at Central Beds College.
Elizabeth, pictured with her partner, had only planned to ride through the town with a few friends. “Our local bike club was throwing around the idea of a bike run,” she said in January, “so I decided to make a Facebook page, and it’s just taken off”. Laurence Phillips from Afghan Heroes said the event had gathered pace after being posted on the social networking site Facebook.
The thousands of bikers rode through Wootton Bassett with each rider paying £5 to take part and the proceeds going to the charity Afghan Heroes. The first batch of 500 riders left at 1100 GMT to ride to Wootton Basset via the M4 motorway. The event lasted until early evening, with bikers leaving the airfield at 30-minute intervals to make their way to Wootton Bassett.
Crowds gathered along Wootton Bassett’s High Street to watch the bikers pass the war memorial. The town’s mayor Steve Bucknell said the “vast majority” of the people in the town “fully support” what the bikers are doing. “Too many times the town has had to stand still in silence but today is all about noise and movement.”
Sue Sullivan, from Gloucestershire, took part in the event said: “We rode at 1130 GMT and I’ve never seen so many bikes. I’m one of thousands of people who support our girls and boys.”
Denise Harris, the founder of Afghan Heroes, said troops on the front line had sent her e-mails backing the event. “It boosts morale for them; I mean they just are so grateful to the general public for their support and their kindness.”
Elizabeth’s tutor at Central Beds, David Shoubridge, was extremely impressed with how well the event went for her, “I was thrilled to see the story featured on the BBC News website as such a big national story. Elizabeth did a great job organising the event and gaining so much support for such a worthy cause. We are very proud her.”
