An inaugural Awards Night has celebrated ‘the resilience and focus of the whole higher education learning community’ at Keighley College.

More than 80 students have now completed Foundation Degrees at the college since it introduced the HE provision, through its University Centre, in 2018.

Some 40 students and their families took part in the HE Awards Night – an online event that was hosted by Keighley College’s Higher Learning team.

As well as noting each student’s commitment to their studies, the awards also celebrated their ability to cope with the many extra challenges that were thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Special achievements during extraordinary times

Head of Service Professions at the college, Kevin Burke, said: “This is our third year of running foundation degrees but, due to the COVID-19 lockdown last year, this is the first one where we are able to celebrate the achievement of our learners.

“This has been even more important to us because of how committed our learners have been to continue studying during these extraordinary times – we wanted to celebrate this.

“All of our learners come with their own story. From continuing learning from post-16 to returning to learning for adults, the whole HE community at Keighley College has shown how resilient and supportive they are of each other, especially through this pandemic.

“Like the whole country, our learners have battled lockdowns, been part of bubbles closing down and home-tutored their own children while managing their family lives – but they have continued right to the end!

“The focus that they have maintained and the consistent drive to get to their destination makes their achievements that bit more special.”

Meeting the community’s needs

“These learners are the second cohort to complete their two year studies in both Health and Wellbeing and Supporting Teaching and Learning degrees at Keighley.

“We wanted to celebrate each learner’s uniqueness and this was achieved by having Silly-But-Sensible, Personal and Purposeful awards where staff told achievement stories about each learner’s growth and development.

“The knowledge of our students is essential for us to understand how they learn best and what we need to do in lectures to really drive their individual achievement and learner identity.

“Since we started HE at Keighley we have supported over 80 students with higher education opportunities and, as we establish higher learning in the town, more degrees will be developed in response to what our community want.”

Foundation degree benefits

Many of the college’s HE students decide to continue their studies for an extra year to top up their qualification and attain a full BA (Hons) – and secure places at local universities or other higher education institutions.

Mr Burke added: “The great thing about starting on the Foundation degree route, which takes two years, is that you can top it up and end up with an Hons degree after an additional year.

“Some of our learners also go into work: as apprentice teachers, health care supervisors, cover supervisors, learning mentors, Special Educational Needs co-ordinators, or lead carers.”

The University Centre at Keighley College will launch a new foundation degree, in Policing, this September. For more details about higher education courses at Keighley College visit https://keighleycollege.ac.uk/higher-education-at-keighley-college/, call (01535) 685000 or email: enquiries@keighleycollege.ac.uk .

As Keighley College prepares to host a Staff Careers and Recruitment Day, we hear from team members about the rewards and challenges of their jobs.

Reece Simpson’s work at Keighley College is quite literally helping to lay the foundations for a brighter economic future for the district and its people.

Reece teaches bricklaying, a role he landed after working as a ‘brickie’ himself for some years and then spotting an apprenticeship opportunity at the college.

He has now been teaching full-time for a year and a half and is enjoying sharing his knowledge to help his students achieve their full potential.

A chance to shine

He said: “This was a good opportunity for me as bricklaying was beginning to get the better of me physically and teaching was always a career I wanted to pursue.

“I started at Keighley College as an apprentice teacher which included studying the level 5 in education and training whilst working as a Construction teacher, this allowed me to learn the various teaching methods whilst also gaining classroom experience.

“Upon completing the level 5 training I was offered a full time teaching contract, which I have been doing for the past 18 months.”

A sense of accomplishment – and overcoming challenges

“The most rewarding aspect of the job role as a bricklaying teacher is seeing the students’ progression throughout the course, from learning to spread mortar to building decorative walls to a high standard.

“The pandemic has caused various challenges due to bricklaying being a mainly practical course.

“It meant learning had to go online and this was difficult at first, but learners responded well and made the most of it. This resulted in the minimum disruption possible.”

Career and training opportunities at Keighley College

The college, which will play a vital role in helping the local area recover from the economic impact of COVID-19, offers all kinds of opportunities to anyone interested in a career in education, training and skills.

There are positions currently available across a number of fields including: teaching, learning support, technical, students support, leadership, administration, training and facilities.

More details can be found by booking a virtual slot on our Staff Careers and Recruitment Day, which Reece is encouraging anybody who is considering a career switch to take part in.

He said: “The advice I would give to anyway wanting to pursue a career in education is to not wait and go for it.”

To find out more about visit keighleycollege.ac.uk , call 01535 68500 or email enquiries@keighleycollege.ac.uk .

Carers help to hold our communities and country together – but the vital work they do often goes unseen.

That is something this year’s Carers Week, which runs from 7 June to 13 June, is determined to change.

The awareness raising campaign celebrates the unpaid work of millions of people who support relatives or friends who are growing older or who have a disability or a mental or physical illness.

WHAT IS A CARER?

Carers Week has provided its own definition and it is deliberately lengthy – to reflect the breadth of activities carers are involved in.

The campaign defines a carer as someone who “cares (unpaid) for family or friends who have a disability, illness or who need support in later life: Washing them. And their laundry. And their dishes. Keeping appointments. And records. And tempers.

“Giving medicine. And time. And hugs. Filling forms. And fridges. And silences. Dealing with doctors. And nurses. And pharmacists. And social workers. And benefits agencies. And care workers. And a lack of sleep.”

Carers UK estimates that there are about 6.5 million carers, of all ages, in the UK – though in 2020 that figure more than doubled, to 13.6 million, because of the pandemic.

Many look after more than one person and provide more than 50 hours of caring each week.

VISIBLE AND VALUED

This year’s theme is Making Caring Visible and Valued, which aims to make more people recognise the enormous contribution made by carers and ensure they get the practical, financial and emotional support they need.

Carers UK is teaming up with Age UK, Carers Trust, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Oxfam GB and Rethink Mental Illness for Carers Week 2021.

The six charities are calling on individuals, services and organisations across the country to get involved.

ADD YOUR VOICE

Anyone can leave a message of support on the Carers Week website’s Add Your Voice wall or Pledge Your Support section.

• Supporters are also being asked to: Spread the word about Carers Week on social media using the hashtag #CarersWeek
• Follow Carers Week on Twitter and Facebook
• Get in touch with local politicians and ask them to support the campaign
• Promote services for carers in your community

EVENTS

Hundreds of different activities have been organised across the country. A full guide – with interactive map – can be found on the campaign’s website where there are also tips on how to stage your own, virtual events for carers.

Locally, two virtual Lunch and Learn workshops are being held by Carers Leeds. For more details and to book a place follow these links:

• Understanding Dementia: Wednesday 9 June, 12pm to 1pm
• Wellbeing for Working Carers: Thursday 10 June, 12pm to 1pm

A COLOSSAL CONTRIBUTION DURING COVID

Speaking on behalf of the Carers Week charities, Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic unpaid carers have played an essential role supporting older, disabled and seriously ill relatives and friends, doing so most of the year on their own behind closed doors.

“They have forgone breaks from caring and much of the support they would normally have relied on.

“As restrictions ease it is vital that we acknowledge the enormous contribution that unpaid carers continue to make day in day out. I am delighted that many individuals and organisations are getting involved with virtual activities, helping carers to connect to others and access advice and information locally.

“Looking after someone can be a hugely rewarding experience, but it sometimes comes with difficulties, including getting the right support. This Carers Week I hope all parts of the community – family and friends, employers, businesses, schools, health and care services – do their bit to make caring visible and show it is valued.”

SUPPORT

Support and advice for local carers is provided by Carers’ Resource – visit here for more details or call the Bradford office on (01274) 449660.

We’ve made our college campuses as safe as possible since we reopened to many of our students. Thanks to the success of the NHS vaccine programme rollout and lockdown measures so far, the Government has relaxed some Covid-19 restrictions as of 17 May. You can find our latest campus rules and safety measures below.

Face coverings

You may have seen in the news that face coverings are no longer required in the classroom or communal areas, however, the Department for Education has said that face coverings should be used in response to localised outbreaks or new variants of the virus. Given the infection rates in Yorkshire are currently twice as high as the national average, we are taking a cautious approach to face coverings on our sites.

In corridors and communal spaces, face coverings must still be worn by staff and students, unless they have an exemption. 

In most classrooms face coverings can be removed, but when working closely with others, some people may prefer to wear one. We must all take responsibility and must respect each other’s preferences.

We will review our face covering position regularly and if local infection rates reduce we will update our approach.

Other safety measures on campus

Studying in college is important for the quality of our students’ learning and wellbeing. We will continue to take safety measures seriously to keep our students and staff safe. 

This includes:

• Home testing for staff and students twice a week – see below
• the continuation of 2m social distancing measures
• wearing face coverings in all corridors and communal areas
• the ‘bubble’ grouping system
• increased hand sanitiser stations on campus

If you haven’t already, please speak to your tutor before you return to college. 

We know you may have concerns about being at college during the pandemic, but the safety measures we’ve had in place have proved a real success at controlling the spread of Covid-19. We want to reassure you that we are teaching in a Covid-19 safe environment and we will continue to implement extensive measures to ensure student and staff safety. The safety of students and staff is at the forefront of all our plans for on-site learning.

Testing

To keep everyone even safer on campus, it is expected that all students who attend campus will take a Covid-19 test twice weekly. You can ask for Covid-19 tests at your local pharmacy or you can order these via the Gov.uk website.

Our campuses have had successful safety measures in place and these tests are an additional precaution. Testing is really important because Covid-19 cases can show no symptoms, allowing it to spread without the host realising.

This process may be different if you are an apprentice, higher education or adult learner, so please speak with your tutor to confirm your approach to testing.

For any students who are self-isolating, remote education will continue. If you are a student and have any questions, please speak with your tutor.

How to take a test

Taking a test is quick and easy. Watch this video from Public Health England to see how it’s done. You can also read the guides below.

How to take your tests (with a helper)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WGuBzkndBqbjsX4IxYDO_gk-bYsXKt30/view?usp=sharing

How to do a rapid Covid-19 self-test

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pelamroxJaBwcuSJrRI9lFHMuaw0ZQ0b/view?usp=sharing

Vaccine information

If you’re offered the vaccine, please take this opportunity as it is proving effective against Covid-19. You can find more information about the vaccine here.

Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place from 10 to 16 May.

Founded in 1949, the Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s leading charity for mental health.

Throughout the pandemic, millions of people across the UK have experienced a mental health problem. This week helps us to understand more about mental health, how it affects us, the different conditions and support available.

Nature

This year’s focus is on nature, as many of us have found the outdoors to be helpful in improving our wellbeing during the pandemic. 

Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in people gardening, going on walks and exploring the outdoors – all of which have been essential for our mental health. 

Research from the Mental Health Foundation showed that going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies, with 45% of us reporting how being in green spaces had been vital for our mental health.

During lockdowns, people have not only spent more time in nature, but have learnt to appreciate and notice it more; highlighting a fundamental need to connect with our outdoor environment.

Benefits

Bringing nature into your everyday life can have positive effects on your personal wellbeing. It can:

• Enhance your mood
• Reduce feelings of stress and anger
• Help you take a break and feel relaxed
• Improve your physical health
• Build your confidence
• Encourage you to be more active
• Helps you make new connections 

Getting involved 

Support the Mental Health Foundation by taking part in half an hour of outdoor exercise each day in May. This can include anything from walking, running, jogging and skipping – and remember to appreciate the nature surrounding you.

You are also encouraged to share your experiences by taking a photo or video and joining the discussion on how you’re connecting with nature by using the hashtags #ConnectWithNature #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.

To discover the best walks in the local Keighley area, have a read of these articles on Keighley News and Telegraph and Argus.

College activities

At Keighley College, we’ll also be celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week through a series of events. 

From 10 May, the college will have an information display in the atrium with local walks to reconnect with nature and general wellbeing support.  

Local support group, It’s Worth Talking About, will be coming into college from Monday 10 to Thursday 13 May from 11am to 2pm to offer local support and guidance.

Our college attendance and progress mentor, Alison Robinson, will be available over lunch periods to provide wellbeing support.

Student Relationships Officer, Tracey Turner, will be working with our Student Officer, Lara Duggan, to produce a student flower photo frame, so students can take selfies showing them reconnecting with nature. 

Celebrated in April each year, this month aims to provide an insight into autism and how it affects not only those living with it, but the people around them too.

Organised by the National Autistic Society, the month runs alongside World Autism Awareness Week (29 March – 4 April) and World Autism Awareness Day (2 April).

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder which impacts a person’s ability to interact and communicate.  Symptoms of autism often appear in early childhood and are identified when children don’t reach developmental milestones at the same time as their peers.

There are 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK, which is more than 1 in 100. When you also include their families, autism is a part of daily life for 2.8 million people across the country.

Having autism affects everyday life for individuals and it’s important that we understand some of the common symptoms:

• Not understanding the feelings and thoughts of others.
• Struggling to explain their feelings.
• Typically preferring their own company over making friends.
• Feeling upset if their routine changes.

Although autism does not present itself the same way in every person, many austistic people have common strengths. These include:

• Ability to remember information for long periods of time.
• Ability to learn things in greater detail.
• Strong visual and auditory learners.
• Excel in maths, science, music or art.

Insight on autism

We caught up with some students studying supported internships at Keighley College to hear their perspectives on living with autism.

What does having autism mean to you?

Student one: “It can be positive and negative. For example, I have a good memory with subjects that I’m interested in, such as history and football. However, people can sometimes discriminate against me.”

How does it affect you in everyday life?

Jim*: “I like to stick to a routine, so I get really upset when this is interrupted.”

Are there some tasks you find more difficult?

Jim: “Yes, such as mixing with other people and making friends.”

What are some of the challenges you face and how do you overcome them?

Jim: “I find it difficult to meet deadlines as I often need more time to complete work.”

Sally*: “It’s challenging when people don’t understand what it’s like to have autism.”

What support do you get to help with your autism?

Jim: “I get some great support from the job coaches at college.”

Sally: “College offers lots of support with my autism.”

What can others do to support you?

Jim: “I appreciate people helping me when some tasks are difficult for me to do.”

What do you enjoy most about your course?

Jim: “Talking to my friends and tutors.”

Sally: “The staff are very friendly; they help me learn skills and give me new opportunities. The students are also very kind and helpful.”

How does Keighley College help with your autism?

Sally: “The staff help a lot with my autism, they always make sure to understand and meet my needs.”

What are your ambitions for the future?

Jim: “I’d love to get a job in the future.”

Sally: “My ambition is to get a job in either the sports industry or a library.”

Support services

If you’d like to get support, there are many local services available.

National Autistic Society – Keighley and Bingley

A support group for local children and adults living on the autisitc spectrum.

Keighley Autism Hub

Free informal drop-in service funded by Bradford Council.

AWARE

Parent-run group supporting families with children and young adults on the autisitic spectrum. The group covers the Airedale, Wharfedale, Bradford and Craven areas.

*These are not the student’s real names as they wished to remain anonymous.

Barbering students at Keighley College are offering free haircuts to the local community.

In a bid to help build the confidence of local individuals following the pandemic, Level 2 students will be running this initiative until the end of May.

Caroline McGreavy, apprenticeship assessor coach at the college, is launching this initiative for the second time over the past year.

“When we first offered free haircuts in September, it was fantastic to see the positive uptake from people in the area. During a time when many people are struggling, it’s important to give back to the community and help individuals feel empowered. 

“This service also gives Barbering Level 2 students the opportunity to develop practical skills and build their local clientele. It’s the perfect chance to enhance their abilities while engaging with people in the area.”

All students will be following government guidelines including appropriate use of personal protective equipment and sterilised equipment.

If you would like to book an appointment, contact the hair salon on 01535 685030, text 07825058234, email salonandspa@keighleycollege.ac.uk or message us on social media.

On 6 April, people across the world will be raising awareness for International Asexuality Day. 

This day aims to celebrate the full asexual spectrum, focusing on four key themes: advocacy, celebration, education and solidarity. 

What is asexuality?

Asexuality is a spectrum of identities related to an individual not experiencing sexual attraction. It is paired with aromanticism, which refers to people who do not experience romantic attraction. 

These are collectively known as A-spec identities, which encompasses a number of different experiences within these categories. 

Asexual people are part of the LGBTQ+ umberella, because they do not experience attraction to another gender.

Many asexual people have found it helpful to describe their identity in more detail, so there are many sub-identities to be aware of:

• Asexuals – who don’t experience sexual attraction, but may experience other forms of attraction, such as romantic attraction.
• Aromantics – who don’t experience romantic attraction, but may experience sexual attraction.
• Aro-aces – who don’t experience romantic or sexual attraction.
• Grey-asexuals – who experience sexual attraction only very rarely.
• Demisexuals – who experience sexual attraction only after forming a close bond with someone.
• Sex-repulsed asexuals – who have an aversion to the idea of having sex.
• Sex-favourable asexuals – who like sex despite not experiencing sexual attraction.
• Aegosexuals – who can find things arousing despite not feeling sexual attraction.

Local community support services

Keighley Pride

We are proud to be partnered with our local LGBTQ+ festival. We work together with this festival to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and celebrate by taking part in the pride parades. 

We have also worked with the Keighley Pride Flag Project, helping to create a patchwork flag to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Keighley and Craven LGBTQ+ Support Group

A local group which has been serving the LGBTQ+ community for over five years. Meetings are held each month in Keighley at The Healthy Living Centre.

Hear about Keighley’s LGBT Group from the chairman in this video.

Bradford LGBT Network

This network meets four times a year at the Equity Centre, giving individuals an opportunity to get together to share what their groups are up to and ideas for future development.

Equity Rainbow Bradford

This social group is open to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and immigrants who are keen to meet new friends and support each other.

Phoenix Trans Youth Group

Community group for young people aged between 11-21 years old. Meets every other Wednesday at the Equity Centre.

Sound LGBT

Sound is a group for young people aged 11-19 which meets in Bradford and Keighley. These groups offer a safe, confidential and supportive place to meet other people.

Why do we have a day dedicated to asexuality?

Asexuality is relatively unfamiliar to many people, so today aims to raise awareness for asexual and aromantic people. 

The day also hopes to tackle discrimination against asexual people, including a range of predjudices, such as negative attitudes, behaviours and feelings toward people who identify as part of the asexual spectrum. This may look like the belief that aromantic and asexual people:

• Are less than human or against human nature.
• Are deficient or broken as a result of mental illness.
• Have just not met the ‘right’ person.
• Are confused or ‘going through a phase’.
• Cannot experience love and have relationships.
• Are ‘prudes’; that asexuality is a choice rather than an orientation.
• Don’t face oppression and are damaging the LGBTQ+ cause.

How can we support A-spec people?

Educating yourself about asexuality is a good place to start. Take a look at some key resources, such as this Shades of Noir video and Stonewall’s six ways to be an ally to asexual people.

Validating the feelings that A-spec people have is a great way to show your support. Society tells these people that they’re broken, which can be a really difficult experience. One way to help is by not assuming that everyone has or wants a partner.

If you think you might identify as asexual, there are plenty of resources to help you explore this. This Reddit thread looks at some key asexual FAQs.

What is International Transgender Day of Visibility?

31 March 2021 marks the 12th annual International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV). This global event takes place to celebrate the success and resilience of trans and non-binary people and raises awareness of transgender rights.

Over the past few generations, we’ve seen a significant increase in transgender movements due to the biases that some people assume about the transgender community. 

Although there are holidays to acknowledge transgender people who have suffered, such as Transgender Day of Remembrance, TDoV highlights the positive elements of what being transgener means and aims to take action in changing the biases of people who don’t understand transgender. 

What is the history?

The day was originally created back in 2009 by Rachel Crandall, who is the head of Transgender Michigan. 

Rachel asked the question – why isn’t there a holiday to celebrate transgender people? 

While we have Transgender Day of Remembrance to commemorate the transgender people who have died without recognition, Rachel wanted to create a better way to celebrate the lives of transgender people.

TDoV was brought about to help empower trans people, encourage allies to voice solidarity within the trans community and educate people about trans issues.

How can I support?

In recent years, there has been increased visibility of our transgender communities. However, 2020 went on record as one of the most dangerous years for transgender and non-binary people, specifically impacting trans women of colour and youth. Therefore, it’s incredibly important that we help make change.

In order to support the transgender community, we need to learn about the issues that are important to them. Have a read of some transgender FAQs here. 

It’s good to have an idea of the appropriate terms to use, which can be viewed on the Stonewall Glossary.

Listen to the experiences of trans people like Shash and Roch on what the Gender Recognition Act reform means to them.

Raise awareness of trans rights and help to build understanding by sharing The Truth About Trans with friends, family and colleagues. 

Becoming an ally of transgender people will help change the culture, making society a better place for the community. It’s important to remember the following tips to help you to become a better ally.

You can’t tell if someone is transgender just by looking 

Transgender people don’t look a certain way. You should always be mindful and assume that there may be transgender people in any space.

Don’t assume a transgender person’s sexual orientation

It’s important to remember that gender identity and sexual orientation are two different things. Gender identity refers to our own personal sense of being a man, woman or neither of those binary genders. However, sexual orientation focuses on who we’re attracted to. 

Transgender people can be gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual or straight.

Listen to pronouns

If you’re unsure on which pronouns to use, listen first to the pronoun other people use when referring to them. If you must ask which pronoun the person prefers, state your own first, such as “Hi, I use the pronouns she and her. What about you?”

Take a look at more tips on how to become a better ally to transgender people here.

How can we celebrate International Trans Day of Visibility?

The Covid-19 pandemic has limited in-person celebrations, however we can celebrate by looking through useful resources.

Hear from transgender people about their experiences here.

TransEDU provides resources for raising trans awareness including posters and workshop materials.

Gendered Intelligence has produced useful information on the issue of bullying for trans and gender variant students in colleges.

The Department for Health has created a guide for young trans people in the UK.

Accessing support

There are many options for support for transgender and non-binary people across the country. 

TransUnite

A database where you can find a transgender support group near you.

GIRES

A charity that hears and gives a voice to trans and gender non-conforming individuals, including those who are non-binary and non-gender.

Imaan

A charity to support LGBT Muslims and runs a support group for trans Muslims.

Trans Bare All

An organisation running events and retreats to help members of the trans community explore body positivity, emotional wellbeing and intimacy.

SupportLine

Confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual.

LGBTQ+ Society

As a student at Keighley College, you have access to the Luminate Education Group FE colleges LGBTQ+ Society, which provides a safe space or those who identify as LGBTQ+ to be fully themselves without fear of judgement, criticism or discrimination. The society also welcomes straight allies who are encouraged to attend events.

If you’d like to get involved, visit this page to see what’s going on.

We also have a LGBT+ Forum for staff. Get in touch with Lisa Jordan if you’d like to find out more.