Our annual Volunteering Week once again provided students with opportunities to work together with the local community, both during the week and by signing up to get involved in a whole range of activities in the future.

Throughout the week students worked with children from local schools, running a ‘Fun Maths’ workshop with St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School and earth loom weaving and painting landscapes with Farnborough Grange Nursery and Infant Community School.  As part of their "More Able" project, students from Cherrywood Primary School visited the College to quiz members of the Students' Association, gleaning information to feed their future aspirations.

Rob Lee, Deputy Head Teacher at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, said “The students had a great time and really developed their understanding of ratio and proportion in the process.  The College students had a really positive impact on the children’s learning – some natural teachers of the future! “

Pass IT On, the weekly session where students work with senior citizens from the local community to pass on computer skills, also formed part of the week.  Students from our Equality & Diversity Committee came along, to talk to our Nepalese clients about the similarities and differences in some of our cultural ceremonies, such as weddings and religious festivals. 

On Wednesday 2 March we hosted our annual Volunteering Fayre, welcoming exhibitors from a whole range of charities and organisations, offering students a host of volunteering opportunities.  Those exhibiting included, The Anaphylaxis Campaign, BDF (Batten Disease Family Association), Brendoncare, Farnborough Police, Frimley Park Hospital, the Lisa May Foundation, Parity, the RSCPA, Step by Step, The Samaritans, Creating Futures, Watts Gallery and the National Citizen Service.

Juliet Lamont from Brendoncare, commented “This was one of the most energised group of students, with regards to volunteering, that I have come across.  They were involved and interested, a credit to the College.”

Joy Elliott from the RSPCA said “The students were very interested and polite, it was a pleasure to attend.”

On Thursday the winners of the Environmental Photo Competition, run by the Environmental Society, as part of Fairtrade Fortnight, were announced.  Prizes, donated by Rushmoor Borough Council, were presented to the winner, first year Rebecca Pycock and runners up second year, Tommy Johnson and staff member Tony Jackman, who were selected from over 50 entries.  

Finally, at the end of a very busy schedule of events, a session on English as a second language was held at Prospect Community Centre.   Elan Goldsmith, Volunteer Co-Ordinator commented that she was "blown away by the enthusiasm and vitality of the students who participated in the projects and I am confident that many more will now be inspired to take up the volunteering challenge.   Last year students from this College gave 22,000 hours back to the community in volunteering, so let's hope it will be even more this year".

Feedback from students who took part in activities throughout the week included:

 “Both the staff and children at Grange Infant School are friendly and fun to work with."

 “I found the Fayre very informative and helpful and now have some placements lined up.”

 “I especially liked how motivated the Nepalese people we worked with were, to understand and learn English and really enjoyed communicating with them."