On Valentine’s Day our students and staff shared the love and supported our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans community in the Food Hall.

They gathered to add their comments to our LGBT Chat Group's Banner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what our students said...

Be yourself!

We’re all different in a good way.

Everyone is equal, support LGBTQ!

Some people are gay, deal with it!

Woooo equality!

No one deserves to be judged.  Everyone has their own rights!

Love is love no matter what sexual orientation.

One love!

We were treated to live music! Thank you to the Art Department and it's talented musicians ...

 

and as a gift to all, we gave away wristbands, fluffy bugs and love heart sweets to serve as a reminder of this fun event.

 

 

Special thanks go to our visitor and resident LGBT specialist Zoe Holdcroft of Stoke and Staffordshire Partnership NHS trust and Galaxy (LGBT Support project).  As well as our LGBT chat group and our Student Union for making the arrangements for this worthwhile event.

 

If you would like to find out more about any issues affecting the LGBT community, contact theresa.kirkhamblair@nulc.ac.uk or visit Learner Services on the second floor.

Chinese New Year 2014

 

Poster designed by Music Students Daniel Allen and Mathew Quinn

International Human Rights Day at NULC

On Tuesday 17^th December 2013 Students celebrated International Human Rights Day at NULC.

 

Student Richard Steventon, a keen supporter of Wise Up Action http://wiseupaction.info/ , Nathanael Smallman, Ingrid Schwartz and the college’s Equality & Diversity Advisor Theresa Kirkham Blair set up a stall in our Food Hall to share information about International Human Rights day with students.  They spoke about the need for all to be outspoken, to celebrate democracy and to challenge issues as they happen across the world so that we can change the lives of those struggling to a lead a life free from oppression. 

Students and staff signed Amnesty International’s online petition to pressure the American government to re-examine their imprisonment of Chelsea Manning, charged with leaking materials and information via WikiLeaks about crimes of war.   

Becky Evans signing Amnesty International’s Petition. 

 

NULC Staff members show their support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingrid Schwartz Music Student performed a piece she hopes to enter into Amnesty International’s Young Songwriters Competition, we wish you the very best of luck, well done and thank you! 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday 3^rd December 2013

Foundation Degree student Carol Ashley and Health & Social Care student Corrina Screen, volunteered to share information to raise awareness for World Aids Day.  Both Carol and Corrina volunteer for Staffordshire Buddies, our local HIV and Sexual Health charity.  They spoke with students who visited the food hall, helping them to understand the ways they can stay safe today and in the future, informing them of the developments in medication and reduction in the number of people contracting HIV in North Staffordshire and across the world.

 

 

Interfaith Week at NULC

20.11.13

An Islamic Scholar attended college to meet four groups of Early Years students as part of the college’s celebrations to mark National Interfaith Week 2013.

Isa converted to Islam in 2009, lives in Middlesbrough and was born to an English father and a Greek mother. He is a graduate in Biomedical Science and is currently studying Law, as part of his pursuit for a greater understanding of his faith, he performs at a variety of speaking events across Britain, meeting people of all faiths and none to explain Islam and help communities to understand his religion.   

Students had the opportunity to ask about the requirements Islam places on those who practice it and on the community as a whole.  Isa helped students to explore what following his faith meant for the practices he undertook during his day to day life.  He explored the Quran, its intent and the ways that this would impact the families students will meet as they gain employment and provide services to the community as Early Years/Childcare providers. 

 

Isa answered questions regarding the need for food to be Halal, women and their cultural dress and their position in the family, the right to access medicine, arranged marriages, whether he is allowed to celebrate Christmas, where cultural and religious boundaries overlap, the variety of interpretations of the Quran and the reality of what it is to be a follower of the faith in a modern British society.

If you would like further information regarding Religion & Belief at NULC contact the colleges Equality & Diversity Advisor theresa.kirkhamblair@nulc.ac.uk or the college Chaplain martin.ball@nulc.ac.uk

We'd like to thank Iftikhar Ahmed from Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Community Cohesion Team for helping us to arrange this worthwhile activity

 

 

 

RAP Week - November 2013

During November RAP week students attended  a range of sessions from inspirational speakers and health professionals. Over the four days we welcomed fourteen external speakers and two members of NULC staff also ran sessions. All sessions were very well attended and feedback has been very positive.

RAP Week gives the students a chance to experience a variety of themed talks and to gain an enriched and memorable learning experience.

Here are some of the highlights from the week -

Young Minds
Young Minds' Chris Abela gave a series of talks about improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

Brooke Kinsella
Brooke gave a talk about the "Ben Kinsella Trust".

Classroom Medics
Classroom medics used a variety of techniques to engage the students.

                                     


Bac O'Connor
Speakers from Bac O'Connor talked about their own experiences of drug and alcohol issues.

 

 

 

Fix Up Team

Bola Adeoshun from the "Fix Up" Team helped boost students confidence and motivate them to "live their dreams".

 

 

 

Beth Tweddle

Olympian Beth Tweddle talked about her training regime and fitness programme.

 

 

 

College Counsellor

Mary Jones, NULC college counsellor gave strategies about how to deal with stress.

 

 

 

 

 

Students also received sessions from :-

"B-Clear" Sexual health team,Ruby Girl, Road Safety, Stress Management, Heartstart Team, T3, James Mountjoy - Fitness and Nutrition, Personal Strengths and Bank Nursing.

 

 

 

 





 



The Learner Services Team- providing support and opportunities at NULC

The Learner Services Team

Who are we?

 

The Learner Services Team are based on the second floor of the college (next to the LRC). We offer Additional Learning Support and non-academic pastoral support to learners to enable them to achieve their full potential, feel safe, happy and part of the College community.

We have 3 Learner Managers, who are available Monday-Friday to support you and ensure you get the right help and advice if you are struggling to attend college, have problems that are affecting your wellbeing or if you are struggling to cope with any aspect of your life.  They can make referrals to other support within the College and to external agencies.

Each Learner Manager has been assigned subject areas, so take a look below for who you will be working with.

Learner Managers

Jo Lawton
Sport, Early Years, Health & Social Care and Hair and Beauty

01782 254383

Jan Austin
Business, Travel & Tourism, Accountancy, IT, Construction & Engineering, Public Services and Sixth Form

01782 254213

Paula Cooper
Art, Design, Floristry, Photography, Media, Music and Sixth Form

01782 254391

Some of the external agencies that we work with include:

·         MIND (for mental health issues)

·         ARCH (for housing issues)

·         C-Card (for sexual health, advice and guidance)

·         YMCA (for housing issues)

·         Aspire Housing (for housing issues)

·         Citizens Advice Bureau (for advice and guidance on debt, benefits, employment, housing, discrimination and many more issues)

·         Savana (counselling for those who have suffered domestic and/or sexual abuse)

·         Young Carers (supporting young people with caring responsibilities)

    

Personal Tutors

When you enrol at college, you will be assigned a Personal Tutor who will be your main point of contact throughout your course.

You will see your personal tutor on a regular basis for group sessions, and a minimum of 3 times during the academic year for 1 to 1 reviews. In addition to the set times that you will see your personal tutor, they will be on hand at other times throughout the week, should you need any additional support.

Group tutorials look at themes that are common to members of your tutorial group. There will be at least 6 key themes that will be discussed.

These are:

•         Safeguarding/Child Protection

•          E-Safety

•          Class Reps and Learner Voice

•          Equality and Diversity

•          Alcohol Awareness

•          Money Management and Employability Skill

Here at NULC we value the learner voice and there will be an opportunity for student’s to put forward topics that are of particular interest to them to be discussed within the group.

Through the group tutorials, you will be given the opportunity to:

•         Become a class rep

•         Become an Xtra volunteer

•         Become a peer mentor

•         Stand for election to become a member of the Students’ Union

•         Gain employability skills through paid and unpaid voluntary opportunities

In your one to one tutorials, you will work closely with your tutor to assess your current academic progress. You will also have the chance to talk more in depth about any issues that may be affecting your college life, answer any queries you have and where relevant, get advice and guidance in relation to UCAS applications or career progression.

Through your tutorials, you will find out information on a range of enrichment activities that are run throughout the college on a weekly basis that you will have the opportunity to take part in. These include Sign Language and Japanese as well as interactive one off sessions where you can learn new skills.

In your tutorials, you will be able to discuss and find out information on cross college events and how to get involved.

Cross College Events

For more information on the support available at NULC please contact Learner Services at .help@nulc.ac.uk or telephone 01782 254272.