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!