Tea was served in style when learners in Essex dressed up as the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit to raise money for charity.

Chelmsford College’s learner voice representatives, with staff and students, served afternoon tea, sandwiches, cake and scones, whipped up by the college baking department, raising £633.11 for the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

“The Tea for Helen Open Day was the first community fundraising event we have held at the College and we were thrilled by how well it went,” said marketing manager Nikki Kennard.

“Local families, staff and students turned up to have some fun and in the process raise a considerable sum for a local charity.

“We look forward to holding another event next year.”

Students also ran a variety of activities including a tombola, a bookstall and hair and beauty treatments.

Featured image caption: From left: IT learner voice rep Kieran Heseltine, 18, marketing manager Nikki Kennard, tutor Paul Davison, and engineering learner voice representative Mathias Mutisi, 23 

Barton Peveril College  engineering students Tom Abbey, Wesley Frost, Alex Wilson and Robert Winn dropped in by helicopter on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary stores ship, Fort Austin, on a fact-finding mission for their engineering education scheme project.

The quartet has been working with the Royal Navy to develop a new system of measuring the distance between moving ships delivering and receiving supplies and fuel, known as ‘replenishment at sea’.

Isabel Culmer, engineering education scheme co-ordinator at Barton Peveril, said: “All the different experiences of the day were amazing and the students learned so much.”

The students watched Fort Austin deliver supplies and fuel to a Dutch frigate, as well as having lunch with the officers and taking part in a ‘man overboard’ rescue drill.

Featured image caption: From left: Alex Wilson, Robert Winn, Wesley Frost, Tom Abbey, all 17 onboard the Ford Austin

Photography students received highly commended awards for their efforts to make a disused shop space in Crewe’s Market Shopping Centre look picture perfect.

The enterprising South Cheshire College level three students used their own work to create an eye-catching pop-up exhibition in an empty shop window.

Their exhibition, named Unit 21, was part of the Money for Life Challenge, a national competition providing small grants for 16 to 24-year-olds to run a community project and improve their money management skills.

Sylvia Perrins, chief executive for the National Skills Academy for Financial Services, which runs the challenge, said: “This award recognises that students have delivered an innovative and impactful project.”

Unit 21 was one of only 15 projects to be highly commended.

Featured image caption: From left: students Beth Manley, Beth Knapper, Ela Rakowska, Emma Hayes, Klaudia Wyderkiewicz and Barney Harris in front of their shop window exhibition

A Birmingham fashion student showed her head for hats when her design was showcased during Ladies’ Day at the Aegon Classic tennis tournament held in the city.

Level three student Anmol Hasinah, 18, won a competition at South and City College Birmingham to design a hat to be brought to life by Sharper Millinery.

“It was the first time I had designed a hat, but I really enjoyed the experience. It is something that I will consider more in the future,” said Anmol.

“I am really pleased that my design has been made by a professional milliner. It looks just how I imagined it.”

Sally Harper-Kenn, from Sharper Millinery, said: “Anmol’s design stood out because of its simplicity, bold use of colour and shape.”

Featured image caption: Model Rebecca Fisher, Anmol Hasinah and Sally Harper-Kenn from Sharper Millinery

Coleg Gwent’s art, design and multimedia students showcased their talent at a dazzling end-of-course show.

The exhibition at Newport’s Riverfront Theatre included fine art, textiles, illustration, films, interactive games, websites, graphics, animation, photography, and sculpture.

“It’s so inspirational to see everyone’s work together in one big exhibition,” said third year art and design student Sam Reeves, 19.

Each student had their own space to exhibit work chosen to represent the skills and knowledge they have gained at the college.

“You really get a sense of the huge creative effort that has gone into each piece,” said the head of the School for Creative Industries, Nichola Watkins.

“The exhibition grows in size and popularity every year and is a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate our students.”

Featured image caption: Sam Reeves with her work that she displayed at the end-of-course art show

Students in the North-West discovered a love of reading when they signed up to the Six Book Challenge, a national initiative that encourages adults to read for pleasure.

More than 162 Bolton College skills for life and work students completed the challenge, including John Mannion.

“When I first heard about it from my tutors, I wasn’t sure, but I decided to give it a go and have really enjoyed it,” said the 24-year-old.

“It has greatly improved my reading and writing skills, and I will definitely get involved next year.”

Marie Gilluley, principal of Bolton
College, said that some of the students who took part had never read a book “and
many have not read for a considerable number of years.”

“What’s fantastic to see is that many have now are determined to carry on,” she said.

Featured image caption: Bolton College student, Giedre Lekunaite, 24, one of the students who took up the reading challenge

A great-grandmother is this year’s Senior Learner of the Year. She’s now 94 but, as she tells Rebecca Cooney, she’s still signing up for courses

A great-grandmother who got the learning bug in her 80s is now giving her skills back to the community and, at the age of 94, is still learning.

Margaret Isherwood, from Fairfield in Warrington, tried Reiki healing when she began to suffer breathing difficulties when she was 83.

“It did me so much good that I decided I could help other people. And that was how I started,” said Margaret, who enrolled on a Reiki course at Priestley College.

“I didn’t know what to expect to be quite honest, and I said to the tutor ‘I’m much older, so if I’m slow, tell me and I’ll drop out’. But I progressed and enjoyed it so much. Then the tutor said ‘what are you doing next year?’”

Margaret has since gone on to gain qualifications in crystal healing, aromatherapy, Indian head massage, reflexology, holistic facials, hot stone therapy and Hopi ear candles, as well as a holistics therapies degree at Halton College and Salford University.

“I just got the bug and went on and on,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

“I couldn’t have done it when I had a family, but as I was on my own, I could study when I wanted to or stop for a break when I wanted.  If I’d had a family I’d have had to stop and do meals and things like that… I don’t know how these young single mothers do it.”

Now Margaret shares her skills by teaching massage to NHS staff at nursing homes, and by volunteering for community groups and charities, including Age Concern, a group that she has worked with for 20 years.

“I run two elderly wellbeing groups  —although they’re all younger than me,” she said.

“I didn’t have to pay an awful lot for my courses — one only cost me £10 — so I feel that I’m giving something back as well as making a difference to people’s lives.”

That ‘making a difference’ is why she chose to specialise in holistic therapies.

“You can feel people relaxing when you’re doing things,” she explained.

“It’s a standing joke that I put everybody to sleep.”

Margaret’s enthusiasm for learning earned her the Senior Learner of the Year award during this year’s Adult Learner Week, a prize that she received at a national ceremony in London.

“It was fantastic, I had a wonderful day… I was treated just like a queen,” she said.

Glennis Hassall, adult education curriculum manager at Priestley College, said: “Margaret is an incredible example of what can be achieved, whatever your age.

“What is particularly impressive is how driven she has been in taking on these new qualifications and giving so much back to the community around Warrington.”

There’s no sign of slowing down from Margaret, who is now getting involved with mental health and Alzheimer’s charities, two groups that she “really wants to get into”.

“Mencap is opening a new drop-in centre in September and they immediately said ‘we want you as the resident holistic therapist’. I said yes. Another charity is starting something and they want me as well, so I’ve got two new projects coming up,” explained Margaret

She enrolled on a computing course in 2012 so that she could keep in touch with her family, and is currently taking a soap-making and toiletries class.

“It’s a recreational course,” she said. “I’d have gone mad just sitting there in front of the television.”

Margaret is keen to encourage other older people to follow in her footsteps.

“Oh for heaven’s sake go and do something,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter what, because there are so many opportunities for people if they just would do something.”

Featured image caption: Margaret Isherwood: “I’d have gone mad just sitting there in front of the television”

Do you have an older learner at your college or private training provider? Let us know about them — email Rebecca.Cooney@feweek.co.uk

A group of 12 hospitality and catering students from Cheshire had the chance to experience Parisian cuisine when they visited one of the city’s Michelin-starred restaurants.

The West Cheshire College learners looked round the Helene Darroze Paris, took part in a cheese-tasting session and explored traditional Parisian shops and bistros.

Student Chantel Davies, 19, from Ellesmere Port, said that visiting the restaurant was a great experience.

“I went on the trip to explore new cultures and try new food,” she said.

“It has definitely broadened my knowledge and will help me with my course.”

College assistant manager for hospitality and catering Louise Crompton said: “The  students got lots of new ideas and inspirations, and have set themselves new cooking challenges since they got back to the college.”

Featured image caption: West Cheshire College students and tutors take in the sights of Paris