Across the globe, millions of refugees have fled their countries as a result of war, violence, conflict and persecution. 

According to the UN Refugee Agency, 84 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide. 4.4 million of these people are asylum seekers, and 26.6 million are refugees. 

Statistics show that as of mid-2021 within the UK, there were 135,912 refugees, 83,489 pending asylum cases and 3,968 stateless people. 

These staggering statistics demonstrate the large proportion of refugees and asylum seekers who have fled to the UK, and often face many challenges as they try to rebuild their lives. 

How can we help?

There are many ways in which we can make a difference to refugees living in the UK. 

The best way to show your support is by getting involved with organisations who provide advice and help to those who need it. 

Here is a list of the top five local, regional and national charities and organisations that you can support.

1.  The Good Shepherd Centre 

The Good Shepherd Centre in Keighley supports and welcomes asylum seekers and refugees by offering them a place of safety. They offer a range of services from English lessons, health advice and practical assistance with clothes and furniture. 

There are a number of ways you can support The Good Shepherd Centre either by donating here, joining their team of volunteers or fundraising. If you would like to do something different, there are other ways to give here.

2.  CRSN (Craven Refugee Support Network)

Craven Refugee Support Network is a collection of groups around Yorkshire that aim to support refugees by raising money and awareness about refugee issues and providing financial support to refugee organisations. 

Take a look at ways you can support here. 

3. Solace

Solace offers psychotherapy to refugees and asylum seekers across Yorkshire and the Humber. Specialising in trauma and persecution, its practitioners provide talking therapy to individuals, families and children.

Solace has options to either leave a gift in your will, set up regular donations or submit a one-off donation.

4. British Red Cross

The UK’s largest provider of services for refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants. The organisation is dedicated to ensuring people find safe and legal routes to new countries and provide essential aid.

Show your kindness by discovering local volunteering opportunities or gaining work experience.

5. Safe Passage 

Safe Passage is a charity that works across Europe, particularly in the UK, to ensure unaccompanied refugee children, who are often at risk of trafficking and abuse, find safety and security after arriving in the UK. They have helped nearly 2,000 children to date. 

You can donate here.

Keighley College unequivocally condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the terrible suffering and loss of life it is causing.

We stand in solidarity with all of the Ukrainians who are enduring this war, including the millions who have been forced to flee their homeland and seek refuge in other countries.

As an education provider, we cherish the values of diversity, inclusion and tolerance that are at the heart of democratic societies which respect the dignity of the individual and freedom of thought and expression. Indeed, tolerance and respecting others are part of the college’s core principles.

It is such values that authoritarianism and its consequences, of which this unprovoked invasion is a shockingly stark example, seeks to destroy. 

We are also painfully aware that this crisis is far from an isolated event. Instead, it is the latest – and from our European perspective, due to its proximity and severity, most shocking – example of a wider and ongoing pattern of conflict that has created refugees around the world. 

Whenever such crises arise it is vital that we respond with compassion and conviction, while continuing to uphold and defend our values.

And so it is now when we realise that many parts of the college, and wider, community are being affected by the events in Ukraine and will need our support. That includes our Russian students, many of whom will be opposed to the war, and all of whom – of course – have a right to feel respected and safe.

In terms of what we are doing specifically, the college:

• Is providing information and advice resources, including details on how to support refugees, via its Student Information Hub.
• Has held a collection of toiletries and clothes to donate to the Good Shepherd Centre, which has been taking lorry-loads of supplies to help Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Many of our joinery, public services, adult and community and ESOL students have also been helping practically by sorting and packing items at the centre.
• Our students’ union has started a campaign, Us Against War, and is organising a number of fundraising activities to help UNICEF support victims of the invasion.

Keighley College has partnered with Screen Yorkshire to deliver an industry-led course for film and TV for the second year. 

Screen Yorkshire will be delivering six new specialist craft *courses in Lighting, Hair & Makeup, Costume, Production Assistant (scripted), Art Direction & Props and My First Factual TV Job.

As part of this partnership, students will be able to study the CoSE:Y: UK Film & TV Craft Certificate Costume at Keighley College. There will be two ‘boot camps’ exploring the world of film and TV, which enables students to get a taste of freelance life and the roles within a film and TV department. 

Costume for Film and Television at Keighley College

The British Film Institute (BFI), ScreenSkills and many UK-based productions have identified a huge demand across the UK for costume department crew in the film and television industries. This hands-on course will start in April 2022 and run through to August, giving trainees the opportunity to receive basic and advanced costume training, as well as specific rigours of working within the film and television industry. 

Students will be taught by industry professionals and textile teachers, to develop a range of technical and interpersonal skills including building work relationships, preparing work stations, and managing wardrobes and supplies.

The five-month course is excellent for students looking for a pathway into film and television. Organisations are actively trying to address underrepresentation within the screen industries by encouraging anyone of any background to apply.

Discover more of our courses here.

Image credit: Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire – Costume Course / Lisa Stonehouse

*The courses are delivered as part of  Centre of Screen Excellence: Yorkshire, delivered by Screen Yorkshire, supported by ScreenSkills using National Lottery funds awarded by the BFI as part of the Future Film Skills programme.

Students studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Public Services and Joinery, have provided their support for Ukraine refugees at a local community hub, The Good Shepherd Centre.

The centre has been working hard to collect items which are urgently needed for refugees, who are seeking asylum in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova and Romania.

The learners have been helping to sort out the donations, including toiletries, first aid items, activity packs and sleeping equipment. These items will be transported to churches and other charities on the Polish border. 

The important work being done at The Good Shepherd Centre appeared on ITV Calendar News, where the learners spoke about the necessity of supporting those less fortunate than us.

Find out how you can help the centre here or by contacting them on 07756409246 or tgsc.keighley@gmail.com. 

Keighley College, a member of Luminate Education Group, has joined forces with local rugby league team, Keighley Cougars, to give young people an introduction to life as a professional rugby league player.

The partnership will see the college supporting Keighley Cougars’ innovative new Elite Talent Pathway; a performance programme aimed at young males aged 11 to 16. They will get the chance to train in an environment with professional support, learning and improving skills which they can take back to their local community clubs. The programme will aim to operate three development squads being U/12’s, U/14’s and U/16’s. Each team will get the opportunity to play matches against other teams from professional clubs.

Focused on supporting the development of young players and creating a performance pathway, the programme enables members of the community to gain access to professional rugby league coaching encompassing skills assessments, progress reports and education based on nutrition and lifestyle choices. 

Claire Fitzgerald, Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Growth at Keighley College, said: “We pride ourselves on being a community-led college, so partnering with a historically renowned club which inspires many local young people is a phenomenal opportunity. We’ll be working collaboratively on community projects, while proudly sponsoring the playing and training kits.

“Keighley is a town bursting with talented young individuals, and we’re determined to help fuel their ambitions to become skilled rugby players. In the coming years, we hope to work closely with Keighley Cougars in setting up a development academy, whereby young people aged 16 to 19 years old can develop their rugby skills.”

Andrew Henderson, Head of Rugby at Keighley Cougars, added: “Keighley College shares our vision for providing better opportunities for young people in Keighley, which is why we’re thrilled to have them on board as our major sponsor. We hope to not only support players in their journey to becoming professional players, but also provide them with the best educational opportunities alongside this which can be offered at the college.

“We’re determined to inspire the wider community through this initiative, as our players will take a wealth of knowledge and performance skills back to their local teams. Next year, our goal is to extend our programme to girls in the area.”

The programme will be launching officially in Spring 2022.

Keighley College students have been finding out about the support that they can access after completing their studies.

The college invited a range of guest organisations to take part in its Moving On event on Wednesday 2 March.

The day was organised to let Foundation Studies students in particular, along with their parents and carers, talk to the visiting groups about the kinds of assistance that will be available as they progress.

SEND Coordinator at Keighley College, Jeanie Forster, said: “This was all about helping the students find out about the support that they can access once they have finished their time at college.

“It was also a great chance for them to build contacts while seeing what organisations are out there.

“We had the guests set up tables with resources and information and then our students popped in to have refreshments, grab a goody bag and chat to each organisation about what they could offer.

“We have had some very positive feedback from both the participating guests and students about how useful this event was.”

The participating organisations were: School of Rock and Media, AWARE, Hft Bradford, Mencap, People First Keighley and Craven, Mind The Gap, Down Syndrome Training and Support Service Ltd, Focus Autism, Preparing for Adulthood, and Specialist Autism Services (SAS).

Foundation Studies at Keighley College are suited to anyone with disabilities, learning difficulties, or difficulty managing emotions and behaviour.

More information about our Foundation Studies courses can be found here

On 8 March, people all over the world come together to celebrate International Women’s Day. This day highlights the struggles of gender equality and brings people together to help diminish this.

It’s a chance to take action, and raise awareness of the economic, political and social achievements of women across the world. 

What is the theme this year? 

Bias and discrimination have been holding women back for centuries. This year’s official theme is #BreakTheBias, which looks at how we can collectively break the bias and misconceptions in the interest of creating a gender-equal and inclusive world. 

You can get involved with the #BreakTheBias campaign by sending in photos of yourself with crossed arms as seen in the below image, or taking a selfie with one of the pledge cards, which you can download here to show your support.

Inspirational women

As part of the celebration, we asked a few women leaders across the campus about who inspires them and why and how we can break the bias in education. 

Clare Fitzgerald, Head of Business Engagement and Growth at Keighley College, speaks about her mum being an inspiration. 

“My late mum, Sheila, was a trailblazer. Evacuated from Manchester to Ramsbottom in World War Two, she gained a scholarship to go to Haslingden Grammar School. Sheila loved sport and was the captain of the hockey team at college and university. My mum loved being in education, she went on to study for a degree at the University of Leeds to become qualified in social work. A true grafter, she also went to agricultural college during her university holidays.

“Until retirement, Sheila worked for the social services department in Wigan. She was a single mum and had a ‘never say never’ attitude. She loved watching sport and was a season ticket holder at Manchester United, as well as captaining the crown green bowling team for almost 20 years. My mum travelled extensively and had a huge lust for life; she never gave up, never saw limitations and was a true inspiration to me.” 

Clare says in order to #BreakTheBias there needs to be “fairness, inclusion and opportunities for all. Recognising, celebrating and actively encouraging diversity.”

Jo Rusden, Deputy Head for Adult and Community, also talks about her best friend being an inspiration to her. 

“My best friend inspires me. She’s a silver-haired curve model who didn’t go into modelling until her 40s. She continually battles for women of all ages and sizes to be heard and seen.”

Jo says: “To break bias is to educate and to bring in role models from all communities to speak to pupils and students.”Take a look at the International Women’s Day resources here.

Keighley College hosted the town’s first ever TEDx event, which saw talented leaders come together to inspire local listeners from the community.

The event welcomed talks from a plethora of ambitious guest speakers, from expert entrepreneurs to community champions and education innovators. Influencers from a wide range of sectors, including health, technology, film and marketing, addressed captivated audiences at the college.

Kevin O’Hare, Principal at Keighley College, said: “This event was a real milestone for the town which put Keighley on the map globally; showcasing its rich culture, gripping ideas and unbeatable community spirit. We were thrilled to welcome diverse audiences who engaged in deep discussions through this phenomenal celebration of ideas and concepts.

“We were ecstatic to host 20 like-minded experts who engaged with our community and students on a fusion of innovative topics, such as the rise of artificial intelligence, raising aspirations of young people in the district, the power of apprenticeships, diversity in the TV and film industry, sustainable businesses and many more.”

The overall theme for the Keighley event was ‘life chances’.

Tim Rogers, founder of Future Transformation, which runs TEDx, added: “Keighley is a national epicentre of talent, shown through its skilled individuals and unbreakable resilience. The TEDx event was a unique opportunity to show the world what the town has to offer, and champion individuals who are leading the way in some of the country’s most exciting projects.

“We want to help shape the minds and skills of the local workforce, and what better way to do this than by hosting TEDx at Keighley College, which sits at the heart of the community. Through this day of wonder and curiosity, we have brought together communities, educators and businesses to show the town’s capacity to become a thriving place which encourages a new way of thinking and working.”

Among the speakers was Jason Atkinson, whose career started as an electrical apprentice before progressing to a technical director at local manufacturing firm, Byworth Boilers.

Jason commented: “The Bradford district is a real melting pot of ambitious and diverse young people, however not all of them know about the vast career opportunities available in the area. I was fortunate enough to discover apprenticeships, giving me the chance to engage in real-world scenarios and put my knowledge into practice. 

“The aim of my talk was to demonstrate the importance of providing young people with the best life chances by exposing them to options and career sectors they may not have come across before. Through discussing my journey from apprentice to director, I hope to inspire the next generation to consider apprenticeships, which can often lead to fulfilling careers in exciting sectors.”

TEDx is a community-led initiative which celebrates locally-driven ideas and elevates them to a global stage.

Keighley College, a member of Luminate Education Group, has launched its second 100 in 100 campaign, following the success of the campaign in 2021, which aims to get 100 apprentices placed in 100 days.

The campaign is part of the college’s plan to support local businesses to develop skills for the future and increase the number of apprentices, as part of the levelling up agenda.

Last year, the college, in collaboration with Leeds City and Harrogate colleges surpassed the 100 target, placing 150 apprentices in sectors including business, hospitality, engineering and health and social care. Overall, the college now has more than 400 apprentices on a wide range of programmes.

Clare Fitzgerald, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at Keighley College said: “We want to be the provider that helps people take their careers to the next level and we are delighted to be running this fantastic initiative again. Whether you’re just starting your first job or looking to make a career change, we want to support you. We also want to address the staff shortages and supply chain disruption faced by many businesses in Keighley and surrounding areas.

“The business advantages of taking on an apprentice have never been more significant.

More and more employers today are seeing the benefits of apprenticeships, with several businesses in the Keighley district, including Airedale Hospital, Produmax and Canvasman, working in partnership with us to deliver a comprehensive apprenticeship programme.

“We would like to engage with as many businesses as possible to create the type of opportunities that will be beneficial, both to the apprentice and employer.”

Keighley College is one of the largest providers of apprenticeships in the district and works closely with more than 150 employers, including Airedale Hospital, to provide apprentices.

To find out more about the apprenticeship campaign and how to hire apprentices, contact Clare, clare.fitzgerald@keighleycollege.ac.uk.