News: Covid Day of Reflection

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Today (23 March) marks the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown and also a National Day of Reflection. We wanted to mark the day by looking back over some of the amazing contributions from the college community of the past 12 months.

Over the past year it has been amazing to hear from students and members of staff from across the college who have come together, using their skills, expertise and time to really make a difference during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We’ve heard from students past and present who are proudly working on the frontline, employers we work with who transformed their businesses to support local people through tough times and members of staff who have utilised their skills in new ways. We’ve also seen students raise money, create community tributes and lead their friends through mental health challenges.

Here are just a few of the amazing efforts we’ve covered over the past 12 months:

Stuart dishes up hundreds of meals to help local families

Stuart Cliffe, 30, is currently studying for his Professional Chef’s diploma with us.

Inspired by Marcus Rashford, Stuart has been putting his culinary skills into practice and started his ‘Feed the Youth’ campaign in February. He secured fundraising, help and support from local businesses and community groups and has been making over 50 meals per week for families who need them and children who would usually be in receipt of free school meals.

Our health and social care students who have taken their skills to the frontline.

Our health and social care students have used the skills learned on their college courses and taken them to the frontline, working in local care homes, health care settings and with vulnerable adults and older people throughout the pandemic.

Innovative Owen lands £250 tech prize

21-year-old E3 Personal and Social Development student Owen Brindley was recently awarded an Innovative Young people of 2020 prize by the Nottingham Building Society.

The Innovative Young People awards shine a light on examples of those aged 10 – 21 who have found inspiring ways of furthering their education or boosting career aspirations in 2020 amid the many challenges the Covid-19 pandemic has brought.

The judging panel were impressed not only by Owens dedication to overcome serious illnesses, but also his drive and ambition to give back to people in need across Nottingham too.

20,000 essential items have been made for keyworkers!

Amy Gathercole from our Marketing Team was one of three women who kick-started the Nottingham arm of For the Love of Scrubs.

Kirpal Kaur, is usually out in the community teaching sewing and dressmaking as part of the College’s part-time adult community courses. During lockdown she’s been putting her skills to great use, with the help of her former students, who together have been busy making hundreds of scrub kits and masks for Nottingham’s ‘For The Love of Scrubs’ volunteer group.