Thomas Bampfield wasn’t fazed when actors took the part of patients in a WorldSkills caring competition in the West Midlands, going on to win the regional heat.  Rebecca Cooney reports

A West Midlands student who wants to study paramedic science has won the regional heat of the WorldSkills UK 2013 caring competition.

Thomas Bampfield, 17, who is studying a level three diploma in health and social care at Walsall College and volunteers with St John Ambulance, wowed a panel of expert judges to clinch top place.

He said: “I always looked after my nan when I was younger.

“I’d go over and make her drinks and do the gardening for her; things that she couldn’t do.”

In the first round of the West Midlands heat, held at South and City College Birmingham, Thomas had to get an actor playing an elderly person with dementia out of bed, washed, dressed and ready for daycare.

“It was a strange experience, because they were very, very good actors,” he said.

“You wouldn’t have thought they’d be
able to perform the role as well as they did,
but it just felt like real life. I tried not to look
at the judges and acted as though the person was my nan.”

For the second round, Thomas was challenged with designing a week’s diet for a young adult with learning difficulties.

“I’ve got a student placement at a special needs school, so I deal with people with learning difficulties and disabilities regularly. I didn’t feel uncomfortable or out of place.

“I mentioned to one of the teaching assistants that I was doing the competition, and she sat me down and said ‘these are the different things you could come across’ — the staff really helped and that was all in their own time.

“In the future I’d like to finish my course and hopefully go to university to do paramedic science. It’s something that I’ve always been interested in — being in St John Ambulance is a big hobby. I think going into that profession would really suit me.”

The WorldSkills caring competition aims to find the best young social care workers for adults.

Regional heats will continue until July, with the highest scorers going forward to the national finals at the Birmingham NEC this November.

The world finals will be held in Brazil next year.

Walsall College’s health and social care curriculum manager Surjit Jakhu said: “This competition gave Tom the opportunity to showcase his range of skills . . . and he did an excellent job, earning a very high score.

“He is a great role model to other male students looking to study health and social care.

“We are confident he’ll progress to the national final and believe he has a very good chance of going to Brazil.”

Presenting the awards, lead judge Jennifer Bernard said: “WorldSkills just gets better and better as a competition and a showcase for how well social care is carried out.

“It was a pleasure to observe such committed competitors taking part in this heat and to award prizes to some outstanding care workers and students.”

Featured image caption: Thomas Bampfield with his certificate

Dearne Valley College ICT and computing students raised £70 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust when they heard that their tutor’s grandson had the life-limiting condition.

Tutor Tony Sables said that the cash would go towards essential research.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust provides support for those living with the condition, which affects the lungs, and their families, as well as fundraising for clinical research.

Tony’s son will also be skydiving in the coming months as part of the family’s fundraising efforts. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/leospage.

Featured image caption: ICT students staged a charity football match to raise money and awareness for a Cystic Fibrosis charity

An up and coming hair stylist dazzled a panel of judges when she took three titles at her college’s annual hair and beauty showcase.

Buxton College student Carly Motley, 32, created a ‘butterflies in the wind’ look to take the prizes for best avant-garde style, best photographic style, and best level three hairdresser.

“I’ve been planning and working hard to perfect my ‘avant-garde’ look for 12 months,” she said.

“It feels fantastic to win this prize, but to take home the other titles as well is just amazing.”

Carly dip-dyed and curled hair extensions, and made butterflies from fabric, glitter and hair for the look that won £125, donated by City & Guilds.

Featured image caption: From left: Anna Murphy, Arit Anderson, and Sarah Jarman

A budding wildlife film-maker’s success in a national competition was rewarded with an award presented by the veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

Abbie Barnes, 16, who studies environmental science, archaeology, biology and geography at Richard Huish College in Taunton, created a film, Save our oceans, recycle your plastic, for the EcoTales competition.

She said that she had a chance to chat with Sir David at the end of the awards ceremony. “It really was an amazing day — I’m still buzzing,” she said.

To make her film, Abbie enlisted volunteers to clean up Lilstock beach near Minehead.

One of the judges, BBC wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan, said: “Abbie has done a fab job… the film is really nicely edited and she has used a great variety of shots to illustrate her points.

“I almost thought I was watching a Countryfile piece. Sign her up.”

Featured image caption: Abbie Barnes with Sir David Attenborough

The Attorney General recently outlined his role and responsibilities to a group of Berkshire students.

Dominic Grieve also answered questions from Bracknell & Wokingham College A-level politics, law and sociology students on same-sex marriage, Scottish independence and recent events in Woolwich.

Student union president Alex Ruskin, 19, said: “Today was a great opportunity to meet a member of Parliament, to get their thoughts on different upcoming or on-going issues, and to gain a wider understanding of the role of the Attorney General.”

College principal and chief executive Campbell Christie said the students were “appreciative” of the chance to look into an area of politics that was rarely discussed and that added to their understanding of the legal system.

Featured image caption: Dominic Grieve, right, with student president Alex Ruskin and principal Campbell Christie

Talent bloomed for a Middlesex college at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

The Capel Manor exhibit, designed by lecturers and put together by students, celebrated the annual show’s centenary by telling the story of the development of the college and its contribution to horticultural education. It earned a silver medal.

Senior gardener Julie Phipps said: “The exhibit… was at times challenging and tiring, but the team worked very well together and we were all pleased at the overall result.”

Level two garden design students Arit Anderson, 44, Sarah Jarman, and Anna Murphy, both 42, won first prize for their display in the fresh talent competition.

They were challenged to use flowers to decorate a sculpture that acts as a landmark to help visitors navigate the show, and created a design that highlighted the plight of native birds.

Featured image caption: From left: Anna Murphy, Arit Anderson, and Sarah Jarman

Sports students in Cheshire helped primary school children from 10 schools tackle rugby at a tag rugby festival.

Learners at South Cheshire College worked with professional rugby coaches while helping to run and officiate at the day designed to introduce children to the sport.

Graham Coffey, head of sport at the college, said: “This was a great event for our students to get involved with.”

The event was organised by Crewe and Nantwich School Sports Partnership (CNSSP), the Rugby Football Union and Crewe and Nantwich RUFC.

Featured image caption: From left: Stapeley Broad Lane Primary School pupils James Morgan-Wynne, Ollie Torjussen and Alfie Johnson, all nine, at the tag rugby festival

Twelve students from North Hertfordshire College took over their local newspaper, The Comet, and its website for a week.

They took over roles in journalism, photography, design, digital and social media, as part of ‘The Big Student Takeover’.

They won the chance to get involved by designing digital adverts for the college’s open day.

Melissa Agard, 17, editor for the week, said: “It’s amazing what we’ve done in just one week. We had our occasional fights and we handled it like adults, which I really loved.”

Melissa’s hard work has earned her an internship at the paper.

“I’ve wanted to be a journalist since I was little, I would write crazy stories and show my mum and she always said I’d be successful. Now I believe her,” she said.

Featured image caption: Students who took over the Comet newspaper, with their front page