A dyslexic single mum-of-two who suffered at the hands of an abusive ex-partner before returning to education to pursue her dream of becoming a social worker has won a £1,500 Helena Kennedy Foundation bursary, writes Paul Offord.

ig-hearted Charlotte Davies always feared she was “too stupid” to train to be a social worker.

The experiences of losing her five-month-old sister Nicolette in cot death when she was six years old and domestic violence as a younger woman left her with an instinctive urge to help others.

But the 31-year-old single mum-of-two wrongly assumed for many years that she was not intelligent enough to pursue her dream of becoming a social worker.

It was only after she plucked up the courage to enrol on an access to higher education diploma at City of Bath College in September 2013, which she completed in June, that she was diagnosed with dyslexia and realised that had been the cause of her struggles with studying.

Charlotte has now started a BSc in social work at Wiltshire College and has been awarded £1,500 by the Helena Kennedy Foundation, which helps disadvantaged students who have overcome significant barriers to continue their education.

She said: “Losing my sister gave me a lot of empathy towards bereaved families. My parents responded positively by raising a lot of money for the National Cot Death Society. The help I received from social workers to escape domestic violence also inspired me.”

She added: “When I started at City of Bath College I had very little self-confidence and self-belief, but I’ve achieved things academically that I never even thought were possible.

“I was able to pass level two maths and level three English through the access to higher education course, which allowed me to apply for my degree. It also developed my academic skills, for example with research and essay writing.”

Charlotte was nominated for the award by her Bath City College access to higher education tutor Larissa Perry.

Larissa said: “Charlotte has overcome significant personal and social barriers to restart her education. This is a young woman who has not only turned her own life around but also made it her mission to improve the lives of others.”

Charlotte started working as a care worker for the Action on Hearing Loss in her early 20s.

She helped launched a drama group for local people with special needs, through the charity in 2010, which she still volunteers for.

Charlotte and other local parents also launched a social group for children in her road in Bath, called The Chandler Rangers, in 2012.

She said: “We encourage the children to look after the environment and have respect for elderly people.

“They do gardening at the local community centre and recently won the Bath in Bloom award for creating the best communal garden.

“I also help run a social group for our local elderly people. Our overall aim is to bridge the gap between old and young people in our community. I want our elderly people to feel happy, not frightened, walking down the street if they pass young people.”

Charlotte is managing to balance studying three days a-week with caring for her children Kenzie, aged seven, and Honey, five, working part-time for Action on Hearing Loss and helping out with the community groups.

She said: “It is a tough juggling act but it’s working out well. My son was actually under-achieving in school but going to college helped me to help him more with his maths and English homework.

“He even won an end-of-year prize in June for making the best progress in his class.”

Dr Ann Limb, chair and founder for the Helena Kennedy Foundation, said: “We were delighted to offer Charlotte the bursary, as she is an intelligent, determined and resilient woman.”

 

Caption from left: Charlotte Davies and City of Bath College principal Matt Atkinson

 

 

Former Premier League football club captain Ledley King scored with students during a visit to celebrate the third anniversary of a training partnership between Tottenham Hotspur and Waltham Forest College.

The club and college set up a programme three years ago, combining study towards level one, two and three BTec sport and coaching qualifications with football training, for 50 students at risk of drifting away from education and training after leaving school.

That programme has now trebled in size, with nearly 150 students registering from September. Mr King, who played for Tottenham from 1999 to 2012, unveiled a plaque at the college to mark the anniversary and spoke with learners.

The former central defender, who won 21 caps for England, told them: “In my career I saw plenty of good players fall by the wayside because they did not work hard enough. My advice would be to work hard and follow your dream.”

Amy Lewington, aged 18, who is studying on the programme, said: “I was studying A-levels at school but it wasn’t for me. I want to get into coaching and teaching and this course is brilliant.”

 

Caption from left: Waltham Forest College principal Robin Jones and ex-Spurs captain Ledley King with students on the training programme.

 

 

n A-level student will have a work experience advice leaflet published on an NHS Trust website after impressing staff during her own placement at a Wigan hospital.

Abbie Gartland, aged 17, who hopes to study medicine at university after completing maths, biology and chemistry A-levels at Wigan-based Winstanley College, completed a week’s work experience at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary hospital shadowing cardiac consultant Dr Sanjay Ayra.

She was asked for her views on the work experience application process during her placement and Dr Ayra was so impressed with her honest feedback that she was asked to produce an online guide.

She said: “My work experience coordinator at Winstanley College helped me to find the placement at Wigan hospital but the application process was quite complicated. I explained this to Dr Ayra at the hospital and we decided it would be useful to have a guide summarising the process for applicants.

“I’m delighted the hospital is going to make use of my work.”

The leaflet, which will soon be published on the by Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust website, also explains how students should present themselves for placements and what to expect.

 

Caption: Abbie Gartland. Above: Royal Albert Edward Infirmary hospital

 

tudents tightened up on cycle security by having their bikes security-marked by visiting police community support officers (PCSOs).

More than 50 student pedal bikes were registered for the national scheme and branded with the police mark, a visible deterrent to bike thieves which makes it easy for officers to trace the rightful owners if they are stolen.

Andrew Charlton, a student liaison officer who organised the session, said: “We are very grateful to the PCSOs who came into college to deliver the bike marking service. There was a very good uptake from students and they were also given some useful information about the steps they can take to stop their bike being stolen.”

South Cheshire College received a ‘Smarter Ways to Travel’ award in September, from Cheshire East Council and the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, for encouraging sustainable travel among its staff and students. There is a secure bike shelter on its campus and changing facilities for walkers and cyclists.

PCSO Vicky Fearnley, one of the officers who marked-up the bikes, said: “We had a good response from students. Hopefully the sessions have helped raise awareness across the college.”

 

Caption from left: Student liaison officer Andrew Charlton, IT student James Bonser, aged 17, and Police Community Support Officer Vicky Fearnley

The College of North West London hosted an ‘African market’ to celebrate Black History Month.

Students watched a performance and drumming workshop by African dance and theatre company ADANTA and tried out jewellery and mask making, head wrapping and hair braiding. The learners also played traditional African board game mancala.

Level two applied science learner Najma Abdinoor, who comes from Somalia, said: “It’s been great fun being involved with all these activities but the African drumming and dance were the best. It’s so important to celebrate our culture and Black History Month allows us the opportunity to share it with others from different backgrounds and cultures.”

The college will also mark Black History Month, which ends on October 31, through workshops by African-Caribbean author and genealogist Paul Crooks and by screening Oscar-winning movie 12 Years a Slave about a free-born African-American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Principal Andy Cole said: “The UK is home to such a rich range of cultural influences and events like Black History Month are a way to help students get a glimpse of these.”

 

Caption from left: Sister E from Calabash Hub, who showed students African head ties, with learners Shanique Brown, aged 17, Tejae Brown, 16, Michelle Ayos, 17, and Najma Abdinoor, 16

 

 

World-famous novelist, performance poet, playwright and political activist Benjamin Zephaniah spoke to students from West Cheshire College.

He talked about new novel Terror Kid, which tells how a Romany boy called Rico fights back against injustices in the world, and took part in a current affairs debate with learners.

Extended diploma in performing arts student Stephen Boyle said: “I studied Benjamin’s poetry for GCSE so I know a lot of his work. I love the way he expresses his views on everything. Even his funny poems have a serious message behind them.”

The Birmingham-born writer gained international recognition through his 1982 album Rasta, which featured The Wailers’ first recording since the death of Bob Marley and a tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Mr Zephaniah said: “I love having political debates so I really enjoyed my time at the college.

“My advice to students is that everybody has the potential to be a writer as we all have our own individual stories we can tell people.”

Caption from left: Clare Owens, college head of English for Speakers of Other Languages, Jacque Stainburn student adviser, Benjamin Zephaniah and students Peter Marnell, aged 20, Dominic John, 21, and Stephen Boyle, 16.