Young Nate joins students to celebrate Black History Month

Left to Right: Marya Sheik, Fatima Abas, Maryam Hajinoor, Fadumo Ali, Danielle and Franklin Dos Santos

Energy, vibrant costumes, dance, and song were in abundance when the Students' Union at Waltham Forest College staged a culture and music show in celebration of Black History Month.

A fashion parade of students wearing the national costumes of Somalia, Nigeria, Ghana, Congo and Brazil set the tone for the performances.

Fatima Abas, a health and social care student, wore Somalian costume and also sang a duet with Joselyn Meade, who is studying on the same course.

A highlight of the show was an energetic display of Brazilian dance by Franklin and Danielle Dos Santos, a brother and sister act who perform together professionally. They danced the samba and the capoeira.

Franklin, a former catering student at the college, explained that both dances have their roots in Africa and were brought to Brazil by the slave trade.

There were no Mixed Messages when emerging urban music star Young Nate topped the bill. The teenager from North London has a new single called Be the One which is due to be released next month.

Students danced and screamed as he performed some of the songs that have had listeners to Kiss FM and MTV Base compare him to R&B superstar Usher, including I Wonder and Mixed Messages.

The show, held in the Student Common Room at the college’s main campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow, is one of a series of events held throughout October to celebrate Black History Month.

Young Nate turned up with chart artist and producer Sound Bwoy, now his manager, and they performed some songs together.

He said he likes to support events in colleges that are putting out positive messages to young people, like anti-gun and knife crime campaigns and Black History Month promotions.

“It is very important for me to be here showing love to the people that have shown love to us,” he added.

“It means a lot to me as a young black person to do something positive with the talents that I have and to show that discipline and hard work can take you to where you want to be in life.”

Sound Bwoy, who went to school in Walthamstow, explained that his protégé had got up from his sick bed to perform at the event. He told the students: “Even if you are sick, go to college. It is important.”

Sisters Marvi and Naylor Moshwe and their cousin Nzambi Mossanka, who are all studying health and social care at the College, performed a traditional Congolese dance called Techno Malewi.

Deji Odenunmi, studying business, wrote lyrics called Dear Mum about a difficult time in his life which he performed as a mixture of rap and song with his friend Kenan Nderede, who is studying sport.

Kenan said: “I was born in Uganda and Deji is from Nigeria. There are a lot of mixed backgrounds at this College and it is important we understand each other’s cultures.”

Black history goes back a long way in Walthamstow

Students who took part in a black history walk around Walthamstow learnt that black people have been living in the area for hundreds of years.

Records kept at the Vestry House Museum and St Mary’s Church in Walthamstow show that black people were buried in the churchyard as long ago as 1693.

Peter Ashan, the museum’s learning and outreach officer who conducted the tour, said that 17th and 18th century burial records show that several people were buried with the name Blackman and Blackmore.

“This was a common surname given to black people who lived in the workhouses of Walthamstow at that time,” he added.

He explained that Walthamstow was then home to the very rich, including bankers, merchants and even slave traders, some who would have had black people as servants.

“Baptism records from the 1730s also show there was a family, Hugh Blackmore and his wife Annie, who lived in Chingford as free people,” he said.

The walk was one of a series of cultural events organised by Waltham Forest College in October to celebrate Black History Month.

When Nana Mensah, studying IT and life skills, was asked when he thought black people first settled in Walthamstow his answer was 1947.

“It has given me an understanding that there have been people of different cultures living here for a lot longer than I thought,” he said.

Seven students with a range of learning difficulties and disabilities were among those who took part in the tour.

Their teacher Rosita Matyniowna said: “This walk has enabled us to develop links for students within the community that are going to help to enrich their college programme.”

Students turn plastic into something fantastic

Plastic shopping bags are recognised worldwide as an environmental hazard, but fashion students at Waltham Forest College have found a fascinating way to recycle them.

They have turned the throwaway items into fantastic dresses and gowns in a design project based on recyclable materials.

The bags were ironed, steamed, knitted, stapled, pinned, sewn and crunched into shape to make a collection of stunning creations, some outrageous and others the brave might dare to wear.

“I laughed when we were given this project,” student Sahra Moalim said. “I first thought, making dresses out of plastic bags, no way. But I was wrong.

“I learned that you can make anything glamorous and different. It works if you try hard to think of the design and forget about the material you are working with.”

Sahra, 20, is in her second year of a two year course leading to a BTEC National Diploma in fashion, a qualification equivalent to three A Levels, and plans to study design at university.

Her team used a variety of techniques, including adding sequins, to create a yellow and black gown from Morrisons bags.

Fashion tutor Melanie Boraster said students were split into teams of three, each consisting of a first year, a second year, and a fashion pathway student, to produce a garment.

“We visited the Fashion and Textile Museum and the Tate Modern to get ideas and inspiration for their designs,” she said.

Annie Sophocleous, 18, said: “I was inspired by the exhibition of corsets at the Fashion and Textiles Museum. I chose to knit a waist band with Morrisons plastic bags to get a tight waist effect with a puffy, girly-look skirt.”

Grace Crathern, 17, said it was her uncle who is a window dresser in Paris who inspired her to choose a career in fashion. She said: “My group really loved the bright yellow colour of the Budgens plastic bags. It was seeing a picture of a bra in a museum's leaflet that gave me the idea for the design of this dress.”

Mature student Femida Mahmood said her team’s design made from Waitrose bags was inspired by a 19th century “umbrella dress” seen at the fashion museum. The 53-year-old said: “I have five children aged between 10 and 19 and have a workshop at home where I make clothes for all the family and our friends.”

Radna Jassin admitted that she regarded her team’s design made from Asda bags more as “a piece of art” rather than a wearable outfit. “It’s punky and funky and you might get away with it around Camden Town,” she added.

However Niya Mignott said his team had deliberately set out to produce a wearable creation using Sainsbury’s bags. “We had a discussion and decided we wanted to design something that somebody might want to wear to a club.

“This project has taught me how to be creative, work as a team, how to use different ideas, and also how to compromise.”

Sarah Yombo said her team drew on the 1970s for inspiration for her beachwear outfit of knitted bra and matching skirt. “I had just been taught how to knit so I thought of incorporating knitting into the design,” she explained.

The conical bra worn by Madonna was the inspiration behind the outfit which featured a multi-coned bra designed by Luqman Ali’s team. He said: “You can do a lot of things with plastic that you can’t do with other fabrics, like burning it to make it tighter and crunchier.”

Shumaila Aslam said her team’s red, white and blue creation made from Tesco bags was designed to resemble a 19th century promenade dress with elaborate hat that elegant ladies might wear on their walks in the park. “We ironed and cut and steamed the bags and painted some of them to create the effect,” she added.

Saidah Kitimbo wants to continue her studies at the London School of Fashion when she completes her BTEC course and believes the skills she learned on the project will help her get there. “It was a fun to experiment and it proved that you can make anything out of plastic bags by using different techniques.”

The College runs a range of fashion courses to suit people at all levels. The majority of students progress to university or straight into employment, following the successful completion of their courses. For information about courses available at Waltham Forest College please phone 020 8501 8501, email info@waltham.ac.uk

Free training scheme helps the jobless get back to work

Jobless people who have been out of work for six months or more are queuing up to take advantage of free training on offer at Waltham Forest College. The scheme being launched this month provides skills training to help people find work in business administration, caring, hospitality and catering.

Units are offered in subjects including: computer skills, developing customer handling and general administration skills, working in the early learning sector, food preparation and cooking, and food and drinks service.

The Challenge Unemployment programme provides courses to improve the employability skills of the long term unemployed.

Waltham Forest College is one of eight colleges in London to benefit from a £100 million funding boost, the cash coming from the government and the European Social Fund. Iain Elliott, the college’s director of business, said: “Our experienced staff aim to build the self confidence of people who are out of work and to help them cope with the challenges they face.

“We want to help them identify their personal goals and improve their personal presentation skills so they can move from the benefit system into paid employment. Our specifically trained staff will identify an individual’s skills gaps and enable them to obtain nationally recognised qualifications.”

Programmes can be tailor made to each person’s needs and can either be college or home based learning as appropriate.

The Flexible Employability Training Framework offers support to people from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances including lone parents, those not fluent in English, individuals with no or few qualifications, and mature learners. It also provides support for people with health conditions and those with additional learning needs.

Within the framework, help with literacy and numeracy is provided and the courses aim to improve communication skills by providing courses in How to Write Effectively, interview skills and workplace numeracy skills. If you would like to obtain further information about this free training programme or other College courses please call 020 8501 8501, or email info@waltham.ac.uk

Learning to take the fast track to success

WFC students achieve their Uni dream

Daniel Tran wants to be a Formula One engineer, fine tuning racing cars in the pit lanes of the world’s Grand Prix circuits. Now the 18-year-old has the chequered flag in his sights after earning a distinction in the engineering diploma he studied at Waltham Forest College.

Daniel has won a place at City University in London where he will study for a degree in Automotive and Motor Sports Engineering, a four year course in which he will spend one year working in the motor industry. The ambitious teenager is one of more than 1,000 students from Waltham Forest College who are taking the vocational route rather than the academic route to achieving their goals.

Rather than stay on at school to study A Levels, Daniel chose to go to Waltham Forest College to study for a BTEC National Diploma in Engineering. The qualification is worth three A Levels. Daniel obtained a distinction and two merits in his diploma which earned him 280 UCAS points, the equivalent of two grade B passes and one grade C pass at A Level.

“I am really excited that I have a confirmed place at university,” he said. “It has been really hard work but it has paid off in the end. “The course has been fantastic and will help me achieve my ambitions in Formula One. The teachers have helped me a lot. They give up so much of their own time to give us extra support.”

More than 300 students will be heading off to university in the coming weeks after celebrating their success in vocational courses they have taken at the college. Many more have secured jobs in their chosen fields, and will continue their learning while they are earning.

Victoria pursues her passion for fashion

Fashion student Victoria Akinte is celebrating after securing a place at university where she will learn how best to design her own collection and market her own label.

Her success in the BTEC National Diploma in Fashion Design she took at Waltham Forest College has won her a place at Birmingham City University to study Fashion Promotion. She heard of the college’s outstanding reputation for teaching fashion design and decided to travel 30 miles a day from her home in Kent to study at the college’s campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

“I would recommend anyone with an interest in fashion as a career to study at Waltham Forest College,” the 22-year-old said. “I have gained an insight into aspects of fashion that I didn’t even know about before.” As the daughter of a dress designer, it was perhaps inevitable that she would develop a passion for fashion. She already has a diploma in media which should also help her in university course.

“I was working in a bride and groom salon when I decided I wanted a career in fashion,” she added. “I gained experience and confidence in design but decided I needed formal qualifications to progress. A friend in the business who has his own label told me how good the course is at Waltham Forest College, which is why I decided it was worth making the long journey every day.

“The course I did at college taught us not only design and garment making skills, but it also taught us the business skills we will need and I found I was quite good at that. As I want to have my own collection it is important to have marketing, promotion and business skills, which is why I chose to study fashion promotion at university.

“I would definitely recommend anyone who wants to study fashion to do so at Waltham Forest College. The staff are very patient and very positive. It was a beautiful and wonderful experience.”

The practical alternative to A Levels

From as nearby as the University of East London to as far away as the University of Cumbria, students from Waltham Forest College are choosing universities across the country to continue their studies.


School leavers are discovering that A Levels are not the only route to achieving success in their career goals. A variety of alternative vocational qualifications are offered by Waltham Forest College that enable young people to achieve their ambitions.


In addition to BTEC Nationals in engineering and fashion, they are also available in subjects including public services, travel and tourism, health and social care, sport studies, business and computing.


Other qualifications include the Cache diplomas in subjects such as childcare and education, OCR qualifications in business and computing subjects, and the AAT in Accounting.

Students showcase sartorial talent

(The following piece appeared in the Waltham Forest Guardian, Tuesday 30th June 2009)

WALTHAM Forest College was given a taste of the catwalk as fashion students staged their end-of-year show.

Flounces, frills and old socks all made appearances as models strutted their stuff on the runway on June 25.

With inspirations as diverse as Country Life magazine and the African savannah, the show ran the sartorial gamut, from street chic to evening wear.

In the “Make Do and Mend” category, first year fashion students stitched together old socks to create a range of shift dresses.

They also drew inspiration from TV series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, based on the novel by Alexander McCall Smith. The result was a collection of multi-coloured leather waistcoats, worn over blouses, skirts and shorts in African-style prints.

Benita Odogwu-Atkinson, the college’s curriculum manager for fashion, textiles and media, said: “Each year we look at different cultures for our inspiration and this year I wanted to focus on the British culture. We aimed to produce the Burberry look, with a collection of outfits in tweed and woollen fabrics.”

Models from the I Feel Experience agency showed off the students' work, as well as friends, family, other students, and in some cases, the designers themselves.

First-year BTEC student Luqman Ali, 17, said he spent 12 hours making a dress from old socks.
“I have always had a passion for clothes,” he said. "When I was younger I used to watch my mother sew and it stemmed from that.”

Taking a two-year course in fashion and clothing, Luqman hopes to go to university to study design and plans to become a designer and model.

The show was staged at the college in Forest Road, Walthamstow on June 25, featuring from students from a variety of courses.

Students complete mentoring scheme

(The following piece appeared in the Waltham Forest Guardian, Thursday 11th June 2009)


STUDENTS from Waltham Forest College have successfully completed a mentoring scheme set up by a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer.



A total of nine students took part in the scheme, called Aiming Higher, which was set up by Waltham Forest prosecutor Pauline Curtis. It was set up with the aim of “empowering young people to make positive life choices”.

Ms Curtis ran the scheme alongside seven other prosecutors from around London, including the Borough's crown prosecutor Antony Salmon.

Lasting five months, the nine students, aged 18 and 19, were linked with a role model or mentor, spending four hours a month together.

During this time, they took part in career planning and goal setting exercises and were also allowed to spend time in their mentors' workplaces.

Pauline Curtis said: “I first had experience of a mentor in 2004 and it changed my whole life. Most importantly, the mentor gave me confidence and I want to give young people the same opportunity to succeed.

“The scheme has drawn attention and we are hoping to expand to include more students at Waltham Forest College and to launch the initiative at Greenwich University in the autumn."

THE WALTHAM FOREST COLLEGE ART EXHIBITION 2009

Waltham Forest College hosted a reception evening to launch this year’s annual end of year art exhibition on Tuesday 9 June at its Forest Road site.

The exhibition, which closed on Friday 12 June, featured an incredible collection of artistic talent reflecting the diverse ethnicity of students who attend the College. Many of the artworks on display were based on their own personal experiences and family history.

Students worked with an array of media, including photography, sculpture, painting and appliqué to produce a wonderful visitor experience.

Exhibits included major projects produced by final year BTEC National Diploma students (equivalent to 3 A-levels) who have all secured university places. They will progress onto a range of degree courses such as architecture, textiles, fashion design and photography, graphics and the fine arts.

Peter Glasgow, Vice Principal at Waltham Forest College, said: “Some of our students exhibiting have overcome barriers to the exploration of and the fulfilment of their artistic potential; these barriers included disability, financial restraints and family commitments. Our students have devoted real energy to their work and this has resulted in some outstanding displays”
Sue Royle, Curriculum Manager, said: “I am really proud of the way in which all students have contributed to organizing this year’s exhibition. I would also like to thank our sponsors the Star of India for providing the buffet served during the opening reception”.

Mayor of Waltham Forest, Councillor Anna Mbachu, commented: “The Exhibition was brilliant and the work was very creative. These students are not only imaginative; they must also be very focused to produce such marvellous exhibits”.

Chris Kiernan, Executive Director of Children and Young People Services for the London Borough of Waltham Forest, commented on the extremely high standard of work at Waltham Forest College particularly at level 3, i.e. equivalent to A levels. He also felt that the work exhibited very much reflected the diversity of the learners at the College.

Art student, Courtney Joseph said “I came to the College three years ago as a BTEC First Diploma student and I now have a place at university. I would encourage anyone to come here because of the help and encouragement you get from all the staff including the technicians”.

Award Ceremony Celebrates Students Achievements

Waltham Forest College’s School of Service Industries held its annual awards presentation ceremony on Wednesday 27th May 2009. Certificates, trophies and cash prizes were presented to 32 students.

Held in the College’s Mallinson Restaurant, the presentation evening was hosted by Claire Shire, the College’s Director of Young People’s Learning. There was an atmosphere of great excitement as staff and guests celebrated the achievements of students who had completed courses in Travel & Tourism, Hospitality & Catering and Public Services. The awards were presented to students to recognise their commitment, hard work and outstanding achievements on their programme of study.

NVQ Level 2 Catering student Jade Combrinck commented: "I'm really pleased my team won the Mallinson’s Trust Prize. It was a great experience to organise a charity event for the Nelson Mandela Foundation, a charity close to my heart. I really enjoyed working as part of a team; we had a good team spirit and worked hard to achieve our goals."

This event was sponsored by several high profile organisations which included: Aramark, a world leader in professional services; Metropolitan Police, Swiftpack, Russus, Andaz Hotel, Queen Mary University and Anglia Ruskin University, and The Mallinson Trust.

Robin Jones, Principal and Chief Executive at the College said: “I would like to congratulate our students on their achievements. This ceremony highlights the excellent progress they have made. Many of our award winners are moving on to jobs or university where they will use the skills they have gained.”


Award recipients
Hospitality & Catering: Scott Hunt-McDonnell, John Modeste, Anna Powell, Shinder Singh, Bernadette Forde, Marcin Gronwald, Frazer Connelly, Clair Marie Suragh, Peter Phelan, Billy Best, Linsey Satnarine, Stephanie Giola, Ida Amegby, Jade Combrinck, Jade Modeste, Diasy Morgan, Jono Stephens, Anna Szarek, Carrie Veitch.

Travel & Tourism: Mohamed Hanafi, Paulina Kuskky, Cornely Mulumba, James Kennedy, Maria Stanczykiewicz, Gloria Mbuyi Kabengele.

Public Services: Anisa Aga, Adam Vandepeer, Kirstie Gifford-Pitcher, Sarah Ann Gills.

Charity Bike Ride by Staff Waltham Forest College

On Sunday 6th May eight members of staff at Waltham Forest College took part in a 20 mile fundraising bike ride. Braving the inclement weather conditions, they raised in excess of £200 which will be donated to Essex based The Little Haven Children’s Hospice.

The hospice aims to provide support and care for children and their families who are affected by life-threatening illnesses. The hospice offers short-term respite care and specialist terminal care when the need arises, to children from Essex and outer London boroughs.

The team are now gearing up to take part in the National 60 mile London to Cambridge charity bike ride which will be taking place on Sunday 26 July. Funds raised will be donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the UK's leading breast cancer charity.

This event will give participants the opportunity to cycle through beautiful countryside from Pickett's Lock, Lea Valley to the finish at Midsummer Common in Cambridge - a perfect place for friends and family to cheer you over the finish line. The route is fully signed with comfort breaks and marshalled to help you on your way.

Training sessions take place each Sunday so if you would like to take part in this event or simply wish to have some fun whilst getting fit contact Debbie Dennis 0208 601 8259.

Well done and Congratulations to all 20 mile bikers!!

Waltham Forest College Has Got Talent

The Waltham Forest College Has Got Talent Show brought together an array of artistry including singing, rapping, beatboxing and comedy. Auditions were held prior to the main showcase which took place in May. 17 students attempted to wow a panel of judges who would decide whether they had the talent to perform.

An audience of over 150 waited for the 8 finalists. The student common room was filled with energy and more importantly talent. The level of audience appreciation was used to judge each performance as the artists displayed their skills with enthusiasm and emotion.

BTEC National Certificate student Aroda Ryan was delighted and proud to be named Waltham Forest College Has Got Talent Winner. Aroda’s rendition of ‘Ready for Love’ by India Arie, with accompaniment by Engineering BTEC National Diploma Student Ade Damilola on guitar, won the hearts of the audience. Aroda was presented with a trophy, £100 and a voucher to the Waltham Forest College Hair and Beauty Salon for a pamper day. Second place and third place went to Tanika Richards, an RnB singer and Sara Hassan, a pop singer. The 7 runners up were Shannyce Oswald, Kevin Obrefo, Erik Obot, Mrinal Madub, Sid Zenaf, Zino Bouakaz and Ashley Cooper Clarke.

Aroda said “I’m thrilled to have won. I love singing but maybe lack the confidence to sing more in public. After this, I feel able to perform in front of crowds and I look forward to my next performance. I would like to thank Ade for accompanying me and also the WFC crowd for choosing me as the winner.”

Student Union President Batula Sharif added “the talent surpassed last year’s because of the diversity. Waltham Forest College really does have talent.”

The event was organised by the College’s Student Union who will now be putting their efforts into organising the End of year Student Ball.

Adult Learner of the Year announced at Waltham Forest College

College Principal Robin Jones presenting Les Fewings with his award.

Waltham Forest College, which has about 7,000 adult learners, kicked off Adult Learners' Week, by celebrating the achievements of adult learners at an awards presentation ceremony held at the Mallinson Restaurant at its campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

12 adult students were nominated by their lecturers to receive an award for the outstanding progress and commitment shown during their time at the college and all received Adult Learners’ Awards certificates.

Awards were presented by the college’s principal Robin Jones who said: “It was really hard to select the winner from the nominees as all students had worked exceptionally hard on their course in spite of having to deal with other issues such as health and maintaining a family. I believe all the award winners demonstrate that it is never too late to be what you want to be.”
The ‘Adult Learner of the Year’ award went to Les Fewings, who deals with challenging health problems daily, having been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, which amongst other things, left him profoundly deaf.

Les is studying for the IMI Level 1 Technical Award in Motorcycle Studies. Chris Roper Curriculum Manager Automotive Technology said: “Despite his challenges Les has made marvellous progress on his course and deserves to be recognised in this way. He works hard, progresses well with his studies, and is a pleasure to teach. He is always polite and pleasant to both teaching and support staff, and to his fellow students.”

Award winners were Kellie Fielder (Hairdressing), Ruvinia Callender (Food Studies), Simon Schendel (Learning for Success), Trea Brown (Beauty Therapy), Angela Sandford (Access to Law), Les Fewings (Motorcycle Studies), Shanthy Moothathamby (Health and Social Care), Stewart Bartholomew (StudyLink Plus) Ardjoun Nouredine (Motor Vehicle Studies), Malcolm Parker (Access to Law), Sharon-Marie Williams (Beauty Therapy), Tiffany Antonio (ICT).

For information about courses available at Waltham Forest College, please phone 020 8501 8501, email info@waltham.ac.uk or visit http://www.waltham.ac.uk/

Proving that it’s never too late to become what you want to be

A mother of three who has been out of work for two years and a woman who has two degrees but is only able to find part time work were among those who attended Adult Learners’ Week workshops at Waltham Forest College.

The college staged four workshops over two days at its Uplands House Training Centre, Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, where staff supplied details of full and part-time courses offered advice about the type of financial support available.

“I came because I wanted to find help for me to come to some sort of decision about what I want to do next,” said Gina, 46. “I was made redundant two years ago and being out of work lowers your confidence, your skills and your self esteem.” Her last job was an administrative post for the NHS where she had worked for 17 years. “I would like to do something completely different,” she added. “I want to be skilled at something and do something for myself. I don’t want to be in a situation where I wake up in the morning and think I don’t want to go to work today.”

Becki, in her late 20s, has a master’s degree in scriptwriting and a bachelor’s degree in economics, but says that her work opportunities are sporadic. She said there are often long gaps between the scriptwriting she does for television programmes. “I do some exam invigilating at the University of East London and I am interested in finding additional work in teaching support, perhaps as a scribe for students with special needs. I came to the workshop to find out what training the college could offer.”

Tutors and students on Access to Higher Education courses at the college were on hand to supply visitors with the advice they needed.

Adult Learners’ Week is an annual national campaign which inspires thousands of adults, whatever their age or background to pursue learning opportunities. They may be interested in learning for pleasure, catching up on skills missed out on at school or getting that new job or promotion. People are also able to access information and guidance that can help them finance their studies.

The College continually tries to remove the barriers to learning for people who have difficulty juggling home, family and even working life. It has developed a range of flexible and highly effective programmes to accommodate their learning needs.

For information about courses available at Waltham Forest College please phone 020 8501 8501, email info@waltham.ac.uk or visit www.waltham.ac.uk

Improving Your Career Opportunities

Patrick Williams who trained as a chef at Waltham Forest College.

The economic downturn will affect many of us but it is a fact that those with a good skills base are more likely to improve their career opportunities. As a result, greater numbers of people are acquiring new skills through retraining.

It was watching ‘The Galloping Gourmet’ programme on TV that inspired Patrick Williams to train as a chef, at Waltham Forest College.

Patrick worked his way up in the kitchens of some of the most prestigious (and demanding) names in British cooking. Today he is a celebrity Chef appearing on TV programmes and owner of The Terrace In The Fields, a gourmet restaurant in a unique setting in the centre of London’s Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Robin Jones, Principal and Chief Executive at Waltham Forest College says: “People have difficulties juggling home, family and even working life. In order to help them overcome these conflicting barriers to learning, the College has developed a range of highly effective flexible programmes. Many of our part-time courses have variable start dates and times in order to meet adult learning needs at all levels”.

The College will be holding an Open Evening on Tuesday 19 May, 4.30pm to 7.30pm. Visitors will be able to meet advisors and lecturers, discuss training options and find out how to finance their studies. To obtain information about the Open Day or courses available at Waltham Forest College call 020 8501 8501, email info@waltham.ac.uk , visit http://www.waltham.ac.uk/ or drop into Forest Road, Walthamstow, London E17 4JB.

Summer University 2008 Certificate Presentation Evening

Students with their certificates and Peter Bendon, 31/03/09

Waltham Forest College and the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF) Youth Support Service teamed up to celebrate the success of students who attended the Summer University in 2008. An awards presentation ceremony was held in the College’s Mallinson Restaurant on Tuesday 31 March.

48 young people attended accompanied by their family and friends. A total of 92 students were awarded National Open College Network’s (NOCN) nationally recognised qualifications. Guests were treated to a delicious buffet which was prepared and served by the College’s Catering and Hospitality students

Young people had successfully completed a range of courses which included: Hairdressing, Beauty Make-up, Computer Animation, Web Page Design, Magazine Journalism, Catering and Fashion. These courses ran over two weeks in July and August 2008.

Lecturers from Waltham Forest College presented the certificates to their students and careers advisers from LBWF Youth Support Service were on hand to offer advice about progression opportunities to courses starting in September 2009.

Peter Glasgow, Vice Principal at Waltham Forest College said that "The Media often provide us with negative reports about young people and this is not the whole story. All the young people here had voluntarily taken time out of their summer holidays to study and this is to be commended. Currently 8 out of every 10 students who attend this College succeed and it is dedicated students such as yourselves that are helping this College to move from good to outstanding.”

Peter Bendon, Lecturer and Co-ordinator of the Summer University said "I am really pleased with the energy and positive attitude displayed by students who attend this programme. All participants felt that the Summer University had been a worthwhile experience and a number of students indicated that the taster course they had selected had helped them to decide on their future career."

Phil Slaney, Lead Careers Adviser, LBWF Youth Support Service, said "Several students have applied for full-time courses or apprenticeship programmes and others were already enrolled at the College. The Summer University is in its third year and the progress made by these young people demonstrates the benefits of trying these ‘taster’ courses held over the course of a week."

Geron Gittens, who studied Animation and Web Design, said "I saw a leaftlet advertising the Summer University at the Connexions Centre and thought I would try two courses to see what they would be like. I really enjoyed them both so I decided to study full-time at Waltham Forest College. I am currently studying for a BTEC First Diploma in Media and intend to go on to take the BTEC National Diploma next year."

The College and LBWF are already planning another Summer University in 2009 based on last year’s success and hope to offer an even wider selection of courses leading to nationally recognised qualifications. If you would like to obtain further information about the Summer University or other College courses please call 020 8501 8501.

Judges Wowed by College Total Look Hair and Beauty Competition

Simone Ricketts, Kamola Jones and Waltham Forest’s Mayor, Councillor Sheila Smith-Pryor, 25/03/2009

The zebra look wowed judges at a hair and beauty show staged by students at Waltham Forest College on Wednesday 25 March 2009.

Student Simone Ricketts drew gasps of appreciation from the audience when she strutted the catwalk with her hair platted into a black and white mane. Elaborate black and white striped make-up adorned her face and body to complete the resemblance to the animal which runs wild on the African savannas. Her appearance won first prize for the hairdressing student who meticulously crafted it, Kamola Jones.

Kamola, 28, was placed top in the hairdressing level 2 adult category, in which students styled their models on an animal theme. She said: “I can’t believe I won. Simone who modelled for me is a health and social care student at the College and she helped me devise the zebra look.”

Kamola said she plans to take a course in beauty therapy at the college next year so she can achieve her ambition of becoming a personal stylist providing a total hair and beauty service to her clients.

She was one of around 60 hairdressing and beauty therapy students who took part in the Total Look competition held at the College’s main campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

Prizes were presented by Waltham Forest’s Mayor, Councillor Sheila Smith-Pryor, in seven different categories covering a range of hair and beauty courses from level 1, beginners, to level 3, which is A-level equivalent. She said: “What an absolutely splendid show. The students were brilliant, creative, and just fantastic. I am very proud of what takes place in this college because it reflects the achievements of people in this borough.”

The audience comprised family and friends as well as specially invited guests, including Mary Vine Morris, Area Director, Learning Skills Council (LSC) London North, Sarah Carrick, Partnership Director, LSC London North and Councillor Terry Wheeler.

Each prize category featured different themes, which included fairies, carnival, futuristic and horror.

Sabrina Hussein, 16, won first prize in the level 1 hairdressing competition, based on a punk theme. She is a full time student but works one day a week at the Walthamstow salon Talking Heads where her model, Nadine Mahon, works Saturdays. “In the long term I want to be a celebrity stylist,” Sabrina said. “I want to finish studying after completing a level 3 course, then work in a salon and make a name for myself. I will do whatever it takes to get to the top.”

Daljinder Riyat, 21, won the top prize in the level 3 hairdressing competition with her sister Pavan modelling for her. “My ambition is to be a stylist in theatre production,” she said.

Barbara Robinson took part in the Avant Garde show opening prom, which was not judged. The youthful looking 40-year-old has more than 20 years experience as a hairdresser, but is taking a level 3 course at the college so she can become a teacher and assessor. She styled her model, her niece Antoinette, in a punk-rock look featuring a colourful array of pinks, purples, blues and white. “I like wacky styles,” she said.

Salon owner and trainer Patricia Hope was one of the judges. She said: “The students were very creative, especially with some of the hand made costumes. “The judgements were made on how they interpreted the theme they were given on a combination of factors, not just testing their hairdressing skills but make up, costume, even down to the choice of model.”

The hair and beauty show has become an annual event on the College’s calendar and has been running for more than ten years.

Ruth Bennett, a lecturer in beauty therapy, said: “We have more than 100 students on full and part time hair and beauty courses. This show gives them the opportunity to showcase their work in front of an audience of their family, friends, and important people in the industry. They get a lot of enjoyment out of it, practise their skills, and they can use it towards their assessment.”

Claire Shire, the College’s Director of Young People’s Learning, said: “This show is another step on our way to becoming an outstanding college. It provides young people with the opportunity to develop all round skills such as presentation and allows the industry specialist to see the high standards of work they produce.

“It is about team work and allows young people to gain experience working with adults in its production and planning. Lots of students put in hours over and above their usual course hours. They research the themes thoroughly and present them in an innovative way.”

For information about courses available at Waltham Forest College call 0208 501 8501

Comic Relief Fun Run at Waltham Forest College

Staff and students representing many departments from Waltham Forest College took part in a range of activities to raise money for Comic Relief on Red Nose Day, Friday March 13.

The 20-strong group of fundraisers set off from the College steps at 11:30, they ran, jogged and walked the 1 mile distance to the College’s Café Horizon located in Lloyd Park. The main hall was a hive of cash-generating activities which included ‘Beat the Goalie’, ‘Rowing Challenge’ and ‘Have a Bash at Drumming’. Delicious Red nose cakes were baked by catering students and students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Jonathan Constable, the College Enrichment Manager, who led the team responsible for co-ordinating the event, said ‘It’s great to see so many students and members of staff taking part in these fundraising activities’. The College expects the amount raised by the end of the day to exceed £400.

College Students Support Fairtrade Fortnight

The Forest Café held a Fairtrade Coffee Morning on Thursday 26 February in support of Fairtrade Fortnight. This annual national event takes place this year between 23 February and 8 March 2009. Organisations and community groups are staging a variety of activities to encourage people to switch to Fairtrade products.

Throughout the fortnight Hospitality and Catering students at Waltham Forest College are preparing a host of goodies using Fairtrade ingredients. Competitively priced homemade muffins, banana cakes and other items are on sale in the College cafes.

Fukiya Abioye, a first year Hospitality and Catering student, said “I think it’s a good idea to buy Fair Trade products even if they cost a little more. It’s really good to know you are buying something for a good cause.”

Sally Allen, Senior Catering Supervisor at the College said “For the past four years the College has ensured that Fairtrade products are always available in its cafes.

“However, Fairtrade Fortnight is a great opportunity to alert students, staff and the general public to the importance of buying these products.”

Products that are Fairtrade certified carry the FAIRTRADE mark. This means that people from developing countries involved in the production process work under decent conditions and are paid a fair wage.

The Forest Café at Waltham Forest College is open to the public Monday to Friday 9:30am -11:30am and 12noon - 2:15pm.

The Students’ Union of Waltham Forest College would like to thank all who attended the Motivational Seminar on Thursday 12th February given by Andrae Palmer of Ground Up Development Limited, the young leader of a small business, from Lambeth. The event was a success and it received good feedback from students. Andrae is willing to come back to provide further help and support for students and staff who would like to venture into social enterprise.

As well as offering team building workshops and motivation speaking Ground Up Development Offers:

Lambeth Youth Bank
The Lambeth Youth Bank (LYB) is a new grant making initiative run by young people and for young people. With thousands of £'s to give away we want to hear young people’s (11-25 yr-olds) project ideas. Our young panel members decide who gets the money and how much.

Hidden Histories Project
The Hidden Histories project has been a revelation. Covering black history in Britain over the last (at least!) 2000 years, the project and its facilitators strive to raise the aspirations and self-esteem of its participants, as well as developing an appreciation of the power of history. Avoiding the common trap of focusing exclusively on slavery and the slave trade, the project covers both negative and positive aspects of African and Caribbean people’s experiences, over the centuries, of living in the UK.

Fathers Matter Too (FM²)
Fathers Mater Too (FM²) is an expectant fathers training course scheduled for 2010. The 6 week course was designed to provide an inclusive and supportive setting in which young, first time dads and fathers-to-be can receive essential information on the birth and the early stages of a new-born baby’s development. It deals with practical skills, why fathers are important, the impact of becoming a father on other relationships and the role of the health service and key professionals. This will work precisely to help and enable young / new fathers to be more involved in the upbringing of their child. Lambeth has an exceptionally high rate of teenage pregnancy (see Public Health Directorate, Lambeth PCT: April 2006) with very little support for young or first time dads. Evidence shows this support is necessary in order to benefit the well-being and upbringing of children born to young parents, the programme also aims to support young men in their role as fathers.

http://www.groundupdevelopment.org/

BLIND-DATE Students pick their Valentine!

Love was in the air when students at Waltham Forest College turned back time to stage a “blind date” game show to celebrate St Valentine’s Day.

Reviving memories of Cilla Black’s TV matchmaking programme, four students set out on a quest to find their perfect partner.

Reshawn Davis, a 19-year-old studying for a BTEC national diploma in public services, had to pick from travel and tourism student Naomi, hairdressing student Honey, and student leader Hannah.

Naomi was the nickname used by Marsha Daley, Honey was Laura Popo’s pseudonym, and Batula Sharif was Hannah.

He asked the girls “if you could pick a song to describe yourself, what would it be?” and “where would you take me on our first date?”

Reshawn said: “I am doing it for fun but who knows what might happen. I’m hoping it might lead to romance.”

He said he was a big fan of the TV show which ran for 18 years until Cilla bowed out in 2003. “I used to watch it and thought I would like to be a contestant one day. This was my chance,” he added.

He turned down Naomi who said she would take him to KFC on her first date because that was all she could afford, and he said “no, no, no” to Honey who revealed that the record that best described her was Amy Winehouse’s Rehab.

He chose Hannah, and their prize was a meal for two at the Mallinson Restaurant at the college’s campus in Forest Road, Walthamstow, where catering students demonstrate their cooking and serving skills.

Student union president Batula Sharif, who organised the St Valentine’s Party with enrichment manager Jonathan Constable, said the blind date show was the latest students have held on a TV theme.

“We had a W Factor contest last year, and we have a Waltham Forest’s Got Talent show planned for next month,” she added.

The Valentine’s Party was held in the Student Common Room, decorated with heart-shape balloons, low lighting and soft music to set the tone for romance.

College hits back at fashion teaching criticism

FASHION teachers and students in Waltham Forest have hit back at criticism that colleges are failing to teach young people the practical skills needed to succeed in the tough industry.
Skillfast, the skills council for the fashion industry, says young people are unable to find work because practical skills, including pattern-cutting, sample-making and machining, are being left out of college courses in favour of fashion design.
Research by Skillfast has also shown that five per cent of the workforce, about 17,000 people, have stayed on beyond retirement age because employers cannot find skilled younger replacements

Skillfast chief executive Linda Florance said: "The UK model for competitiveness requires highly skilled people with a broad range of practical talents, but the education and training system just is not delivering enough of them."
But modern college courses have been vigorously defended by Penny Holden, Head of the School of Arts at Waltham Forest College.
She said that all fashion courses at the college, in Forest Road, include pattern cutting and sewing.
She said "We have a history of producing students with very good technical skills that goes back 40 years. Our teachers have industry experience and are practitioners who work outside and for the most part do their teaching on a part-time basis."

Ms Holden said nine in 10 Waltham Forest College fashion students go on to university while the others find work in the industry.
She added that the college aims to create an "industry-style" environment to replicate a real sample room.
The college's methods were also defended by former student Alison Donohue, who now works for top designers Pascale Smets and Jaeger.
She said "I gained invaluable technical skills from my course at the college. I now work for a number of well-known companies as a sample garments technician responsible for making prototypes for their collections."
Skillfast has launched a campaign, called Behind the Seams, calling on politicians to support more workplace-based training in the industry.

Check out the latest show of the students creations below!