Category: College News

Students from IT, health and social care and Science have collaborated with leading health and social care app specialists Bitjam; to design an app to help deal with anxiety in young people.

The project which lasted four weeks, saw students work in groups to develop an app that could be used by young people, with a brief to include an emotion tracker.

Two groups presented to Carl Plant and Andrew White from Bitjam Limited, showcasing their understanding and interpretations of the design brief and a preview of the app using Figma app building software.

Irwin McNaught who is studying T Level Software Coding, enjoyed collaborating with students from different courses, saying,

“I enjoyed working with students from different courses. Our group had a mix of students from Software Coding and Health and Social Care.

“This was the first time I’d used the Figma software, so this was a good learning experience for me.”

Carl Plant, CEO at Bitjam Limited, worked as a Mental Health Nurse for many years, and has used his extensive experience when setting up Bitjam. The company specialises in software development and apps, primarily within the health and social care sector.

Speaking about the healthcare app and working with students, he said:

“We’ve found the co-production model of working with people with lived experience ultimately benefits when developing new software to improve people’s lives.

“It was fascinating to hear the pitches from the students and the different ways they would engage with the target audience and the features they would include.

“As a company this type of project was the best way we could give students a rich work experience which will help their future prospects. We have seen first-hand the digital shift within the healthcare sector, so having a mix of students collaborating allowed for a lot of creativity.”

Hassan Rizvi, Principal & CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“We are delighted to collaborate with Bitjam Limited, for this innovative project which allows our learners to really get their teeth into a live design brief. We’re always looking for ways to give our learners meaningful and varied encounters and experiences with employers and the workplace.

“The feedback provided to all of our learners will only enhance their career prospects when looking for careers in Health and Social Care, Science and IT.”

If your company would be interested in working with Stoke on Trent College, please email business@stokecoll.ac.uk in the first instance or call on 01782 603603.

 

ENDS

Picture caption – Stoke on Trent College students Hannah Thornett, Ben Screen, Irwin McNaught with BitJam’s Carl Plant and Andrew White

Notes to Editors

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Over 40 key external stakeholders joined Stoke on Trent College for a special Employer Gala Dinner, as part of our celebrations for Staffordshire Day.

Future Skills Pledge partners and other key external stakeholders, from both the business community and education came together at the College’s Hammersley restaurant for a three-course meal, prepared and served by Hospitality and Catering students.

They were welcomed by Principal & CEO, Hassan Rizvi, who spoke about the importance of working together to achieve young people of Stoke-on Trent and wider Staffordshire’s goals but also deliver on skills needs identified in the Local Skills Improvement Plan coupled with an agile and robust curriculum.

Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce CEO, Rachel Laver, delivered a ‘key note’ for attendees, speaking about the importance of building the workforce of the future to support the wider local economy and how collaborative working between the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Stoke on Trent College and businesses was key to overcoming the challenges and have already produced meaningful outcomes for all stakeholders.

Continuing the theme of partnerships with a purpose, guests were given a showcase from one of the leading freight providers in the UK, DB Cargo, which explained a discreet provision provided by the College linked to curriculum design and execution.

Guests also heard from T Level Media, Broadcast and Production learner, Mitchell Wright, who spoke about his highly engaged experience on the course which combines college learning with a work placement at Centre Space Arts.

Attendees included representatives from all of the sectors that encompass our four Skills Hubs; Construction and Green Technologies, Digital and Creative, Engineering and STEM, and Health and Social Care – who have worked with the College to support full time learners and apprentices.

Hassan Rizvi, Principal & CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“Here at Stoke on Trent College we are firm believers in partnerships with a purpose. We work with a host of partners on all pathways including apprenticeships, T-Levels, 16-18 Study Programmes and Adult provision. College partners contribute in shaping our curriculum to suit the needs of the local and regional economy and ensure learners are skills ready, future ready.’

“The Employer Gala Dinner was our opportunity firstly to say thank you for their ongoing support and keep them updated about everything going on at the College and hear inspirational stories from apprentices and T-Level learners while enjoying a high-quality meal in our Hammersley restaurant.

“This is the first of series of Employer Gala Dinners with partners showcasing the College’s continued commitment to collaboration.”

Businesses and organisations who are interested in working with Stoke on Trent College, are encouraged to contact our Business Support team on 01782 603603 or by emailing business@stokecoll.ac.uk.

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Notes to Editors

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Recently, HSDC’s South Downs Campus has become the only FE College to offer apprenticeships in funeralcare nationally. HSDC is committed to using its courses to fill skill gaps in industry, both in the local community and nationally. 

Local, regional, and national businesses are all encouraged to get into contact with HSDC’s apprenticeship team if they would like to get involved with the programme. 

The driving force behind this course has been Claire Richards, a Work Based Trainer at South Downs. The course originated when Southern Co-Op, one of HSDC’s primary business partners, reached out to Claire to inquire if the College could deliver Apprenticeships in Funeralcare. 

Since then, Claire has managed to expand the Apprenticeship scheme to deliver two distinct courses: a Funeral Team Member Apprenticeship (Level 2), and a Funeral Director Apprenticeship (Level 3). Speaking about the importance of these brand new courses, Claire said:

“I am beyond proud to be able to work for a college that has enabled this qualification to be part of our offering. It really highlights HSDC’s dedication to filling skills gaps at a local, regional, and even national level. Offering the Funeralcare Apprenticeships nationally truly is an incredible thing for HSDC to achieve, and I hope to see these courses strengthened further in the future!”

Southern Co-Op Funeralcare Paulsgrove is a business that has been crucial in ensuring the smooth rollout of these courses. Danielle is a Level 2 Funeral Team Member Apprentice with HSDC, employed by Paulsgrove, and praised the value of these new courses:

“This course has helped to open my eyes to the diverse reality of Funeralcare. I have delved deeper into the availability of funeralcare providers and gotten a close glimpse into the behind-the-scenes workings of these. My favourite part of the course so far has been starting the podcast with other apprentices, as this is something else that has never been done before. The apprenticeship has given me the tools to move forward into the industry with confidence and gusto, and a recognised certification that I am working above and beyond the industry standard!”

HSDC is incredibly proud of its commitment to businesses, both in the local area and around the country, with the introduction of the Funeralcare courses highlighting this dedication to filling skills gaps in industry. 

If you’re part of a local business and want to find out more about the Apprenticeships on offer for Funeralcare at HSDC, please visit:

Funeral Team Member (Level 2)

Funeral Director (Level 3)

Gold Bloom for Shipley College at Harrogate Flower Show

Shipley College is celebrating a blossoming success after scooping a series of prestigious awards at this year’s Harrogate Flower Show – including a coveted Gold in the live floristry competition.

Led by a talented team of part-time Floristry students, the College showcased a dazzling display of colour, scent,6 and creativity. Weeks of preparation paid off as the group wowed judges and visitors alike with their imaginative arrangements and technical brilliance.

Among the stars of the show was Rebekka Kill – both a student and member of staff – who took home a Gold award in the fiercely competitive live floristry challenge. Her beautifully constructed display captured the attention of judges and highlighted the calibre of talent nurtured at Shipley College.

This floral triumph is just one example of the incredible work happening across the College’s wide range of courses. From part-time and full-time options in Floristry to Health & Social Care, Photography, Art & Design, Digital, Business and more – Shipley College is proud to support learners of all ages in gaining the skills they need to flourish in their careers.

Stoke on Trent College is continuing to invest in creating the best learning environments for students, after being awarded £990,329 from The Further Education College Condition Allocation from the government.

Funding will be invested in the college’s planned maintenance program, which ensures all facilities across both campuses offer state of the art facilities in buildings which are up to date with the latest technology and are fit for purpose.

With three consecutive year-on-year record enrolment numbers, Stoke on Trent College has now invested over £20 million of government funding in new facilities. This includes the Connect Building at the Cauldon campus and a new build at the Burslem campus as well as the upcoming Advanced Green Skills Hub, which will also be based at the Burslem campus.

Over the past 12 months, the college has launched a brand-new Broadcast Media Suite, a Health and Social Care Science Ward and revamped the Hair & Beauty facilities to provide an amazing learning environment for our learners.

The funding from The Further Education College Condition Allocation complements all of these major capital investments and will ensure Stoke on Trent College remains the technical college of choice for Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

Hassan Rizvi, Principal & CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“We are grateful to receive funding from the Department of Education’s Further Education College Condition Allocation.

“Here at Stoke on Trent College, we are continually exploring ways to enhance the learner experience, and with the funding from the DfE we will look to maintain our established properties while we prepare to welcome brand-new facilities at both our Cauldon and Burslem campuses. Investment into ongoing maintenance is vitally important, and ensures all of our buildings and facilities are the best quality, giving our learners the best environment to achieve their goals.”

The college is enjoying unprecedented growth in learner numbers and applications for next year’s courses. and to build on this success the Estates Strategy is being continually updated. The estates strategy is being updated to ensure that both the Cauldon and Burslem campus sites offer learners the best environments to learn and progress. 

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “FE colleges are vital to our mission to grow the economy under our Plan for Change. They are at the heart of training the next generation of skilled workers.”

“This funding addresses these issues, allowing colleges to focus on what they do best: breaking down barriers to opportunity by teaching the next generation in buildings fit for purpose.”

Funding was distributed across 179 college groups in England, and needs to be spent by March 2028.

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Over 3,000 people from Stoke-on-Trent have benefited from free courses aimed at tackling numeracy confidence.

Stoke By Numbers, is part of the government-funded Multiply programme, which since 2022, has provided free and flexible training to over 3000 adults across Stoke-on-Trent.

The programme has been led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council with Stoke on Trent College managing the marketing campaign. Delivery partners have included – Potteries Money Wise, Acacia Training, Landau, Acorn Training, the City Council Adult Community Learning team and Stoke on Trent College.

Courses were tailored to raise awareness of numbers in everyday life, providing learners with ways to manage money plus improve their career prospects by being more number confident, help children with homework or budget for special occasions like holidays and Christmas.

Stoke By Numbers has also seen 27 National Numeracy Champions complete training to be numeracy ambassadors and encourage people to get confident with numbers, ensuring the legacy of the programme will continue for years to come.

Other highlights of the campaign include the Stoke By Numbers Roadshow whereby the fully branded Stoke by Numbers bus toured the city – offering local residents the opportunity to find out more about numeracy courses on offer and complete some on-site learning.

Someone who has benefited from Stoke By Numbers is Jamee Ann Fisher, who felt her struggles with numeracy were holding her back from pursuing a career in Accounting plus helping her children with school work.

Since completing numeracy courses on offer, Jamee has since been accepted onto a further pathway to further enhance her skills, she said:

“My number confidence has grown dramatically. I learnt so much on how I can now support my children with their homework, as the numeracy approach has changed so much since I was at school.”

Hassan Rizvi, Principal and CEO at Stoke on Trent College said:

“Stoke on Trent College is proud to have led the marketing campaign for Stoke By Numbers and also be a delivery partner. Throughout the project, ourselves and the other delivery partners have provided people from Stoke-on-Trent with a platform to improve their numeracy skills, which will benefit them in all walks of life.

“We’ve shown that a lack of confidence with numbers is nothing to be ashamed of, and with the courses offered we can improve outcomes for adults in the city.

“According to participant feedback, over a third will progress now to a formal accredited maths course to continue to develop their skills.”

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for education and anti-poverty at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:

“It’s pleasing to see so many residents benefitting from Stoke by Numbers and getting on the path to increasing their confidence in numeracy.

 “These skills are vital when completing daily tasks – whether it’s DIY, cooking, shopping or budgeting, maths is used in so many aspects of everyday life.

 “To hear that so many people have been overcoming these barriers and becoming more confident with their numeracy is a resounding success that will only improve outcomes across Stoke-on-Trent.”

To find out more about Stoke By Numbers, please visit www.stokebynumbers.co.uk.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

 Picture caption – All partners from Stoke By Numbers attend a celebration event for the program at Middleport Pottery.

Stoke by Numbers, part of the government’s new £560 million national programme, Multiply, which aims to transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of adults across the UK.

The programme is a partnership across the city by Stoke on Trent College and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, with training courses being delivered by six learning providers across the city.

Partners include: Stoke on Trent College, Acacia Training, Acorn Training, Pathway Group, Potteries Moneywise and Adult Community Learning (ACL) at Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.

For more information, contact Paul Downey, PR & Communications Officer at Stoke on Trent College on pdown1sc@stokecoll.ac.uk.

The first ever apprenticeship course focusing on putting people at the centre of the design of digital public services is celebrating the successful graduation of its three students.

The User Centred Design apprenticeship was developed by the Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) in partnership with Gower College Swansea (GCS).

The 18-month course is the first of its kind in the UK and provided on job training with CDPS around service design, user research and content development, as well as a formal qualification from Gower College Swansea.

The aim of the apprenticeship was to build digital skills and capability to ensure that services are sustainable, accessible, inclusive and designed to meet the needs of the people who use them.

All three apprentices have not only successfully completed the Agored Cymru accredited course but have also been offered full time employment with CDPS.

Ruth Garner, Sarah Floyd and Alexandra Wagstaff are now Junior User Centred Design Officers and will be working on content design and user research supporting public sector services in Wales.

Reflecting on her experience, former teaching assistant Ruth from Cardiff said, “I was nervous to leave my familiar job, but this apprenticeship has exceeded my expectations and fully prepared me for a career in this field. I completely understand the importance of user-centred design as it literally has the capability to make or break a service. I’m excited to continue developing my skills and applying what I have learned in future CDPS projects to create services that meet peoples’ needs and make a real difference across Wales.”

Centre for Digital Public Services Head of Skills and Capability Peter Thomas said, “We launched the apprenticeship scheme to begin to address the critical shortage of digital skills in Wales. Our goal was to create practical pathways into digital careers, particularly for public services, and to build a pipeline of skilled professionals.

“The success of this scheme, marked by the graduation of our first-ever apprentices, is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and commitment of everyone involved. Our pioneering apprentices, Ruth, Alexandra, and Sarah have set a high bar for future participants and the scheme has laid the foundation for meaningful change in digital public services in Wales.”

Bruce Fellowes, Head of GCS Training helped to develop the course and is inspired by the achievements and learning of the first three apprentices.

He said, “I am delighted with the success Gower College Swansea has had with the User Centred Design learners from the Centre for Digital Public Services. From the planning stages right through to the completion of the apprenticeship framework, the managers and apprentices have been fully engaged with the programme. The managers have supported the apprentices with time to carry out their studies, given relevant roles and responsibilities to gather the necessary evidence for the course, and looked to promote the apprenticeship both internally and externally. I look forward to working with CDPS for many years to come.”

Eight other organisations from across Wales are already accessing the course, with 15 apprentices currently learning vital digital skills.

Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant, said, “Digital skills are the foundation of a modern public service, and this pioneering apprenticeship demonstrates Wales’ commitment to developing homegrown talent. It’s great to see Ruth, Sarah and Alexandra graduating as our first cohort of specialists, bringing vital skills that will help transform how we deliver public services. By investing in digital skills and focusing on user needs, we’re building a stronger, more responsive public sector that works for everyone whilst creating valuable career opportunities for local talent.”

Case Study

From digital learning to digital working: the Apprentices’ journey

A passion for helping people was the key reason all three of the apprentices signed up to the inaugural User Centred Design course.

Sarah Floyd from Swansea joined after a 21-year career teaching pupils with additional learning needs, bringing with her an empathy for creating public services that are truly inclusive for the people who use them.

She said, “Putting users first and making services that fit the needs of those users attracted me and I’m grateful to CDPS for championing this apprenticeship which enabled me to gain hands-on experience as well as completing college modules. Although I no longer work with children and young people, developing better public services will help create a future in Wales that’s fit for purpose for those youngsters I once taught.”

Ruth Garner also has a background in education, having worked as learning support assistant in a primary school in Cardiff. Her enthusiasm for digital communication had inspired her to pursue a Certificate in Professional Digital Marketing and the apprenticeship was the next step to developing her career.

She said, “This experience has reinforced how content design plays a crucial role in making digital services more inclusive and user-friendly. In today’s world digital communication plays a vital role in bringing people and communities together and I hope the skills I have developed will help me to design accessible public services within Wales.”

Alexandra Wagstaff, from Barry, was inspired to sign up to the apprenticeship after working in clinical research and seeing the value of including patients in the process.

She said, “Having seen the value of patients’ views to ensure the focus remains on outcomes and wellbeing, I was keen to learn about user voices driving service design. We are living in the digital age, and there is so much to be done to make the most of the digital tools we have! It’s exciting to think my future contributions could help people all over Wales.”

***

The Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) was set up by Welsh Government to help public sector organisations in Wales deliver better, user-centred digital services. They provide guidance, support, and tools to build digital capabilities across the public sector. 

Gower College Swansea is one of the largest providers of apprenticeships in Wales offering a diverse range of training programmes supporting small private companies, large multi-national organisations and the public sector. Some of its programmes are also offered in England. 

Learners from Stoke on Trent College have been embracing their diversity and different cultures as part of the annual Multicultural Day.

 

Now in its 13^th year, the student-led event was held in the Sports Hall at the Cauldon campus, with a host of activities going on throughout the day.

 

Attendees were treated to a mix of delicious Indian foods, prepared and served by Hospitality and Catering students.

 

Maths lecturer Amna Jamal also led a sing-a-long of Pakistani songs used traditionally for weddings and happy occasions as well as playing a traditional drum known as a Dholak.

 

Students from various courses also hosted stalls showcasing different cultures plus presenters from Blue Sky Radio were broadcasting live as well as speaking to learners and Principal & CEO Hassan Rizvi. A range of external College partners also attended including Amity Hub and Staffordshire Police.

 

The culmination of Multicultural Day saw learners and staff take part in a catwalk, showcasing traditional dress led by BBC Radio Stoke’s Reverend Geoff Eze.

 

Level 3 Health & Social Care learner Umaiza Noveed, was one of the organisers of Multicultural Day and said,

 

“I’ve really enjoyed being an organiser of the Multicultural Day. Through the planning we’ve got to work with College staff and understand how to plan events.

“To see everything come together today has been a really rewarding experience.”

 

Hassan Rizvi, Principal and CEO at Stoke on Trent College said;

 

“Multicultural Day is the perfect way for learners and staff at the college to embrace our different cultures and come together for an unforgettable celebration.”

 

Dave Hopley, Assistant Principal Student Experience at Stoke on Trent College said;

 

“Multicultural Day is always one of the highlights of the college calendar. Our learners have been working extremely hard, planning and managing the event and the results are truly outstanding.

 

“We’re proud to honour and embrace the multitude of backgrounds and cultures represented at the College and the uniqueness this brings.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors

• Stoke on Trent College serves up to 9000 students a year including young people, adults and apprentices. Working with a wide range of employers in key growth areas of the economy such as Digital, Construction, Engineering, STEM and Health and Social Care and more.
• The College also work with young adults who may have a special educational or additional need.
• A wide range of flexible and distance learning is provided by the College to individuals and businesses.

For all media enquiries, please contact marketing@stokecoll.ac.uk  

Nineteen-year-old Subhan Mahmood, an apprentice from Keighley College, has secured a full-time role at Acorn Stairlifts.

Subhan began his training with the stairlift manufacturer’s customer services team in August, 2023 and made an impact thanks to his enthusiasm, hard work and desire to learn new skills.

Those qualities convinced the business to offer him a permanent role, and Subhan – who previously worked in a fast-food restaurant – couldn’t be happier.

‘I’m on my way!’

He said: “It feels fantastic. I think my hard work has really paid off and I’m well on my way to achieving my goal of becoming a service engineer for Acorn.

“In customer service, I talk to customers on the phone, helping them if they have any problems with their stairlift, and book services for them.

“I had a good experience on my apprenticeship course. Every Monday I had sessions with my tutor, Sarah Barwell, who really helped me with my coursework. And my team leaders at college were very supportive if I needed extra help.

“I would recommend doing an apprenticeship to others. I have gained so much customer service experience through my apprenticeship, placement, and coursework and I’m comfortable now talking to different customers in a good manner.”

A reward for commitment and a positive attitude

Subhan’s Team Leader at Acorn Stairlifts, Bethany Berry, said: “The apprentices we take on from the college are always hard-working and add value to our business, but Subhan stood out.

“He showed that he was willing to try hard throughout his apprenticeship, and was always happy to take part in any training offered to help him gain further knowledge of Acorn and our stairlifts.

“He has also been working hard on improving his customer service soft skills, and as a result has one of our highest inbound call numbers.

“Subhan has aspirations of becoming a service engineer at Acorn, so we will help in every way that we can with that – at the moment he is working in our customer services faults team to build up his knowledge of the product.”

‘A brilliant option’ – apprenticeships unlock careers

Keighley College, which is preparing to open a dedicated new Engineering hub, has a longstanding working relationship with Acorn Stairlifts and regularly places apprentices, plus supported interns, with the firm.

Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Growth, Clare Fitzgerald, said: “We are delighted to see Subhan land this position which could be his first step into a rewarding career.

“It is through our partnerships with prestigious local firms like Acorn Stairlifts that we secure quality placements for our apprentices and students that lead to opportunities like this.

“Apprenticeships are a brilliant option for anyone who wants to earn while they learn and gain a quick route into their chosen career path, as Subhan’s story – which we’re proud to share during National Apprenticeship Week – demonstrates.”

National Apprenticeship Week, which this year runs from Monday 10 to Sunday 16 February, is a week-long annual celebration that highlights the benefits of apprenticeships for individuals, businesses and the economy.

Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, visited Swinnow Community Centre to witness the incredible work of students from Leeds City College participating in The King’s Trust programme. This initiative supports young adults in developing skills and gaining valuable experience to help them transition into employment.

During the visit, Councillor Lewis met with students and staff, observing their contributions to the community. The students took on various tasks at the centre, including cleaning, painting, and planting, all aimed at enhancing the space for local residents.

Peter, a current student on the programme, said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time on the programme so far – since we’ve started, we’ve undertaken team-building exercises, icebreakers and went on a residential at Kingswood. Throughout the programme, I’ve gained confidence, developed communication skills, and worked on a number of community projects. I’ve also got a two-week work placement coming up which I’m really looking forward to.”

“This programme has helped me set goals for the future, and my end goal is to work in IT. It’s been great to be a part of this cohort – we all come from different backgrounds, and I’ve made some really good friends along the way.”

The King’s Trust programme offers a hands-on approach to learning, providing young people with the confidence, practical skills, and sense of achievement needed for future employment. This 12-week course, designed for young adults aged 19-25, combines team-building exercises, community projects, and work placements. In its final week, participants celebrate their achievements with a presentation.

King’s Trust Programme Leader, Jonathan Benton, highlighted the impact of the course: “The personal development our learners have demonstrated throughout the programme has been fantastic. They’ve taken real ownership of their projects – identifying who in the community they can support, reaching out to key stakeholders, and organising meaningful initiatives. Alongside the Swinnow Community project, this cohort has created an allotment at Southroyd Primary School to grow their own produce, supported the park ranger in developing the rose garden at Gotts Park, and contributed to the Vineyard Food Pantry. It’s incredible to see them giving back to their community while building the skills and confidence that will support them in their future careers.”

This visit reinforced the power of community-driven initiatives in fostering personal and professional growth. The King’s Trust programme continues to be a vital stepping stone for young people looking to build meaningful careers while making a tangible difference in their communities.

Councillor Lewis expressed his appreciation for the programme, highlighting the positive impact it has on both the learners and the wider community.

“It’s been great to be here in Swinnow to see the work that is happening and how it’s supporting the young people of our region. The positive impact of the work that happens here through a Combined Authority not only benefits the people but the community as a whole.”

Luminate Education Group, of which Leeds City College is a part of, has a longstanding relationship with The King’s Trust. This partnership has helped countless young people gain essential skills and work experience, advancing their career goals. Through initiatives like this, Luminate Education Group remains committed to supporting learners in their personal and professional development, ensuring they are well-prepared for the future.