College students broaden their horizons

Learning for Living and Work (LfLW) students received insight into the world of work at their Industry Week, including talks from business people and wellbeing advocates.

The LfLW department supports students with learning disabilities or difficulties to prepare them for independent living or supported employment. The Industry Week enabled students to find out about different types of job roles, how to achieve their career goals and get ahead in the world through speaking with established professionals in interactive sessions.

The first session saw Peter Robertshaw, former LfLW student and Founder and Chairperson for H.O.P.E in the Community, share his experience and transferable skills he developed setting up the charity, and how this helped him with his anxiety and depression.

Students also took part in a creative practical session designing their own group calendar by Raychel McGuin, Owner and Founder of Art by Raychel; creative and communications company E=MC2; and personal and business wellbeing initiative, Being in Full Colour.

Tracey Hendry, from South Yorkshire Safer Roads, shared with the students everything road safety, from learning to drive to cycling on a road. Tracey went into detail about the how South Yorkshire Safer Roads is a group of local authorities, emergency services and public sector organisations aiming to reduce the number of people killed or injured in collisions on the roads.

Laura Lawton from Yorkshire Air Ambulance delivered an informative session where students were taken through the various aspects of ways in which they can get involved, the large number of volunteering roles within the charity, how they raise money, what donations go towards and her role within the charity.

A practical session saw students take part in creating their very own spring planters which will be in full bloom just in time for Easter. This therapeutic and rewarding session saw students learn how to plant, customise and look after their own planters by Carol Wickham from Wickham and Taylor.

Throughout the week the students also attended wellbeing sessions intended to teach them the importance of looking after themselves physically, mentally, and financially from Rachel Neale, CVS Volunteering; Kirsty Morgan, Virgin Money; Lee Perks, Enterprise Team Leader at Barnsley College and Wigfield Farm.

The sessions were organised by Julia Davies, Talent United and Enterprise Officer at Barnsley College. Julia said: “We had a busy week with lots of inspirational guests. We enjoyed welcoming speakers from the local area and giving students some genuine insight into a variety of careers available to them.

“The College continues to transform lives and help students to fulfil their full potential by providing them with an outstanding experience and I would like to thank all the guest speakers for taking the time to speak to our students, I’m already looking forward to arranging more guest speaker sessions and next year’s event.”