Last month, students from Keighley College teamed up with local arts hub, Keighley Creative, to create artwork for their annual Arts and Film Festival. 

The students created star-shaped lanterns from willow branches and tissue paper, which they then showcased in an evening light parade throughout the town. 

The parade is just one of a number of exhibitions and events that make up the festival sponsored by Keighley College, which aims to celebrate the creativity of local artists and provide free or low-cost attractions for the whole community to enjoy.

Madeleine O’Reilly, Keighley Creative’s festival and events director, posted about the event: “It was a joyous weekend, with mixed communities coming together to celebrate arts and culture in so many different formats.”

The festival is hosted by Keighley Creative, a local charity who commission projects and activities with local artists, communities, organisations and businesses across the region. 

Throughout the rest of the year, their work is mainly based at their multi-functional creative hub, which provides studios for artists and makers of all ages and abilities, alongside a purpose built gallery, cinema and education room.

You can find out more about Keighley Creative and the hub here.

Students have been finding out how artificial intelligence (AI) can unlock their creativity.

Tim Rogers, the founder of Future Transformation, came into college on 31 October to give a talk on Astro Art.

Tim worked with the college earlier this year, when we  hosted Keighley’s first ever TEDx talk. This time he was here to show Alternative Provision learners how they could use AI software to generate their own artwork.

Course leader for Alternative Provision, Philip Hartley, said: “The different cohorts of learners really enjoyed the session.

“Some ended up not actually creating any art as they were so engrossed in their discussion on AI, and the implications of it for modern life!”

A really positive adventure

He added: “But another group of pre-16 students enjoyed the adventure of creating images and altering them using different layers of AI.

“They created many different ideas that we look forward to sharing in the near future.

“Overall, this was a really positive experience for all who took part and we’re hoping to welcome Future Transformation back for another session.”

Future Transformation, which runs the TEDx talks, is a social enterprise that provides awareness, opportunities and programmes for people who want to get into technology.

Keighley College Games Design Lecturer, Adil Hussain, was honoured to meet King Charles III on Tuesday during the king’s two-day trip to Yorkshire. 

The monarch visited Bradford City Hall where he met with Adil and several other young leaders, and spoke to them for a few minutes.   

Adil was there representing QED, a foundation that aims to transform the lives of people from disadvantaged communities. He was recently shortlisted for their Yorkshire Asian Young Achievers Awards, an award that goes to those who have overcome adversity or broken down barriers in order to progress.

Speaking about his experience of the day, Adil said:  

“I’ve never met a royal before, I was very nervous.

“When His Majesty arrived, he went to each table and greeted us. I shook his hand and he asked me what I do.

“I was there representing QED Foundation Yorkshire Asian Young Achievers and I told him I’m a games lecturer at Keighley College.

“When I told him that I’m a games design lecturer helping students make video games, he asked if I made video games myself and joked that he hoped I was making appropriate ones.”

When asked about the king himself, Adil commented that:

“My overall impressions of him were very positive. He was very human and down to earth. He listened to every person. I was proud and honoured to meet him.

“I feel so appreciative towards QED for giving me the opportunity to meet His Majesty, King Charles III. 

“I want to thank Adeeba Malik CBE DL, the Deputy Chief Executive at QED, for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity, as well as Simon, Sarah and Eleni from the Digital & IT team and the rest of the team at Keighley College. 

“It was also a great opportunity for myself in terms of networking, I met some powerful and influential people.

“I’m over the moon, I feel like a little celebrity.” 

King Charles also visited Morrison’s headquarters in Bradford to learn more about their sustainable farming work. Following the City Hall reception, the king went onto Leeds where he visited Leeds Central Library and Leeds Art Gallery.

The winner of the Yorkshire Asian Young Achiever Awards will be announced on Friday 11 November at their celebratory dinner at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford. You can watch the event, which will be broadcast live online, here.

We were delighted to welcome lots of local community organisations to a recent Cost of Living Crisis Summit.

The event featured guest speakers from Project 6, an award-winning drug and alcohol dependency charity, and primary healthcare and community services provider Modality Partnership.

Some 17 groups attended to discuss the impact of the crisis and what they could do to help people cope, and there were also stalls from Citizens Advice, Keighley Food Bank, Keighley Pathways and others.

Pulling  together to help our communities

Principal of Keighley College, Kev O’Hare, said: “It was a pleasure for the college to host  this important summit, and welcome many of our partner organisations from the voluntary sector.

“The cost-of-living crisis is affecting so many people, including our students and their families. We are more than happy to support any initiatives, like this, that will help support our communities through these difficult times.”

The summit was attended by: KAWACC, DWP, Salvation Army Keighley, Roshni Ghar, Keighley Town Council, Oxenhope Village Council, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, WACA, Keighley Healthy Living, Good Shepherd Centre, James Project, Modality, Bradford District Credit Union, Community Action, Asda, Project 6, and NHS Airedale and Bradford.

Technology is something that is constantly evolving, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with all the applications and equipment available to us.

If you feel like this, then you’re not alone. Recent studies have shown that as many as 20% of adults have limited or no digital skills, which can make it challenging to navigate life in a digital-first world. 

7-11 November is Lifelong Learning Week, and we’re partnering with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Council to host a series of free taster sessions for adults of all abilities.

But by learning just a few simple skills, you’ll have access to a whole world of resources you may not have previously considered. Here are just some of the ways expanding your digital skills can improve your everyday life.

Take your job search online

It is estimated that around 180,000-200,000 jobs are posted online every week in the UK, meaning that if you’re wanting to get ahead in your job search, accessing online application services is vital. 

Online platforms also help to ensure you put your best foot forward when completing an application. Most platforms allow you to use spell check and forms are often coded to ensure you don’t accidentally miss out any sections. 

There are many ways you can find job adverts online, such as through social media and recruiting sites. Some sites will even help you create a CV and let you store it in your account, so that you can apply for jobs quickly and easily. 

If you are currently looking for employment, then Keighley Job Centre is hosting a Digital support for job searching session to help you take your first steps into online job hunting. 

Enhance your child’s learning experience

Many of us learned during lockdown that it can be challenging to support your child’s numeracy education, particularly as the methods students use nowadays may have changed since you were at school.

Luckily, there are some fantastic interactive websites that aim to support mathematics skills and help parents to help their children with numeracy.

Unsure where to start? Come along to the Maths support using digital devices session for an introduction to some of these resources and how you can access them from your mobile, tablet or computer. 

Access the right support for you

We can all feel anxious, low and stressed sometimes and it can be difficult to know where to turn when you need mental health advice.

This is particularly true in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, with many people stuck on lengthy waiting lists or struggling to make an appointment to access face-to-face support.

If you or someone you know are in this position, there are lots of ways to get support for your mental health online. Support ranges from online therapy, counselling and chatlines to support forums, mindfulness exercises and more.

Mental health support at Victoria Primary School

If your child attends Victoria Primary School in Keighley, then you’re invited to attend a short Mental health support using digital devices session which will explain how to access online support and services. 

By participating in any of the sessions listed above, you will discover a handful of tips that will transform your everyday life for the better. Why not make Lifelong Learning Week the time to finally get tech-savvy! 

We hope to see you there!

All the sessions mentioned above are available to learners aged 19+ of all abilities, and are being held at various times and locations across Keighley and West Yorkshire. 

A full programme of the Lifelong Learning Week’s events and further information can be found here.

Keighley College is collaborating with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Council to host a series of taster sessions for adults with a focus on enhancing digital skills.

Taking place between 7 and 11 November, Lifelong Learning Week is a celebration of continuous learning and encourages adult learners to develop new skills.

Nationally, it is reported that 52% of adults don’t have the essential digital skills needed for the workplace and with as many as 9/10 businesses across West Yorkshire requiring their staff to have basic digital skills, addressing this gap is a key priority for the region.

The week will feature a wide range of sessions, aimed at learners of all abilities and will be held at locations across West Yorkshire, including Keighley Job Centre. 

Kevin O’Hare, Principal at Keighley College, said: “The digital transformation our region has undertaken in recent years has meant that now, more than ever, we need to ensure our workforce has access to a digital education.

“It’s extremely important in preparing individuals for the jobs of tomorrow that we include adults in our conversations and provide them with the opportunity to upskill and reskill their digital understanding.”

“So whether you’re hoping to learn everyday practical skills such as how to use your smartphone or email, or take your first step into a digital career like marketing or coding, there’s something during Lifelong Learning Week for everyone.

A full programme of the Lifelong Learning Week’s events and further information can be found here.

Keighley College Games Design lecturer, Adil Hussain, has been shortlisted for the Yorkshire Asian Young Achievers Awards.

The Yorkshire Asian Awards is for young people aged 16 to 30 who are of South Asian heritage and who live, work, or were born in the county. 

The award goes to those who have overcome adversity or broken down barriers in order to progress.

Adil shared his experiences of being a teacher at Keighley College in the hopes of encouraging South Asian students to follow their dreams:

“I found it insightful to talk about the area of Keighley and the challenges the students go through in a poorer area, and how we try our best at Keighley college to make their experience better and happier. 

“Not only educationally, but in a humanistic manner as well – for example, helping them get aid for their bursaries and utilising a lot of team members in the college, not just myself.

“The topic I chose to conclude with was breaking South Asian stereotypes, i.e. becoming doctors, engineers and solicitors. These job roles are fantastic, but it may not be what they want to do and it’s important for students to follow their dreams.” 

There will be a celebratory dinner announcing the winners at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford on Friday 11 November and will be broadcast live online.

Keighley College offers a range of courses for anyone interested in a digital career. To find yours, take a look here.

Keighley College is one of six further education providers across the region that will receive £140,000 to invest in specialist equipment to deliver electric vehicle and retrofit training, grow and embed green knowledge within the curriculum and improve links with businesses to develop and enhance their green skills.

As part of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges (WYCC), the college will be involved in government plans to boost the nation’s skills and make sure more people can secure good, well-paid jobs that are closer to where they live.

Kevin O’Hare, Principal at Keighley College, said: “We are delighted to be working with partners across the region to help our young people develop green skills and learn about sustainability.

“Our Industrial Centre of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering provides students with the opportunity to gain real world industry experience and this project will allow us to explore more green opportunities available in these areas.

“It is our aim to ensure that we successfully embed sustainable development goals into our curriculum and prepare our learners for futures in a greener world.”

The Department for Education has announced that it will invest £2.6m in West Yorkshire’s colleges through the Strategic Development Fund. 

The fund was launched in 2021 to help colleges and further education providers to transform their facilities and offer high quality technical training that better meet the needs of local employers and boost job opportunities for their communities.

This would mean that local businesses have access to the home-grown talent they need for the jobs of tomorrow and more people don’t need to leave their hometowns to get a good job.

Project Director of the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges, Joanne Patrickson said,

“This funding will make a big difference to our colleges and in turn, the businesses and communities in West Yorkshire. 

“Part of the funding will be a capital investment into equipment and machinery to allow our colleges to train the workforce in electric vehicle maintenance and retrofitting buildings.

“Colleges will be employing dedicated teams to work closely with businesses in the region to understand what help they need to become more sustainable, and the WYCC The Green Skills Service to help employers access the training and resources they need to take action.”

The £2.6m is contracted to be spent by 31 March 2023, but this initial investment will allow these new initiatives to establish and offer training that will prepare the workforce for a sustainable future.

When Emily Ellershaw went for an interview at Keighley College she took her mother, Shirley, along for moral support.

Neither could have imagined that, a few years later, they would both be working for the college as teachers.

But that’s exactly what happened after Head of Service Professions, Kevin Burke, asked Shirley what she did for a living during that fateful interview. When Shirley replied that she was considering a career change, while wanting to continue working in health, Kevin told her about the college’s new Health & Wellbeing Foundation Degree.

Despite enrolling on different courses, Emily and Shirley were able to meet for study sessions, support each other through the Covid-19 lockdowns, and cheer each other on.

Never too late to follow your dreams

They succeeded and are now both enjoying careers at Keighley College.

Course Leader Shirley is delighted at how things turned out, and hopes her story inspires others to make a change.

She said: “It’s never too late to pursue the career you have dreamed about – even if the journey takes a little longer.

“Honestly, it is worth all the hard work when you finally have the job you want and love.”

For Emily, her time at the college, from starting as a student to ending up an employee, has been a transformative experience.

Amazing support through an amazing journey

It began when she was 15, and joined the college through a partnership programme with her secondary school, from which she  gained a Level 2 childcare  award.

She went on to complete a Level 3 diploma in Childcare and Education, a foundation degree in Supporting Teaching and Learning, a BA (Hons) in Children and Young People’s Care and Education, and finally a PGCE and teaching work placement.

She said: “It was when Kevin Burke started teaching me that I found out about the new supporting teaching and learning degree and, after numerous conversations, I applied for the course. I can say with absolute certainty that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

“If it wasn’t for the support and passion from Kevin when talking about my future, and all the pathways I had in front of me, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

“When I started my PGCE I was extremely nervous and continually questioned myself if I was good enough, or if I could actually do this. But my fears were soon put aside when I started my first day of placement – I was welcomed into this amazing environment and everyone in the staffroom was extremely friendly, and made the time to help and support me.”

Emily is urging other adults who are looking to make a change to also take on a course at Keighley College.

‘Go for it and don’t look back’

She said: “The support I have received has been amazing, any time I have asked a question or panicked over deadlines or my work I have always had a tutor to support me.

“Being able to study and work together with my mum has also been an amazing experience, and I believe it created this stronger bond between us.

“My first words to other adult learners would be ‘go for it and don’t look back’, because it would be the best decision they would ever make. Keighley College is a family where, no matter what you’re thinking and feeling, you would have the support you need.

“It’s never too late to make a change, even if it scares you.”

Click here for more details on courses at Keighley College.