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.

Keighley College students are being offered the chance to experience a once-in-a-lifetime, fully funded work experience adventure in the United States.

We have teamed up with Camp America to secure the opportunity for up to 90 adult students.

All travel, accommodation and living costs will be covered on the trip, which is designed to hone students’ employability skills while giving them a taste of a different culture and the chance to make new friends.

While working for Camp America – supported, whenever needed, by guidance from a mentor – students will have the chance to become a role model for the children they are looking after.

Participants need to be 18 years old or over and will have the option of extending their stay, by up to 30 days, to further explore the US after they have completed their nine week placement.

To find out more about the offer click here. A snapshot of what life on a Camp America placement is like, meanwhile, can be found here.

Today marks the start of LGBTQ+ History Month, an annual celebration and remembrance of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + others) community.

LGBTQ+ History Month has been an annual celebration in the UK since 2005, however, the month was founded in the US after Rodney Wilson, the first openly gay teacher in Missouri, originated the idea.

The importance of LGBTQ+ History Month 

With a lack of education and awareness, members of the LGBTQ+ community still face prejudice today. The overall aims of this month are to promote equality and diversity for the LGBTQ+ community, to acknowledge and value their contributions to society, and most importantly; to ensure they feel safe and accepted. 

Achievements of the LGTBQ+ community can often be overlooked; it’s important to carry on educating those on the sacrifices made by the community which led to milestones such as the Sexual Offences Act 1967.

Although there have been huge milestones for the LGBTQ+ community there is still a great deal of work to be done to move towards social justice, fairness and inclusion. 

What is the theme for this year? 

This year’s theme is Politics in Art: “The Arc is Long” which is inspired by a Martin Luther King quote: ‘The Arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.’ 

Some of the LGBTQ+ artists featured in this year’s theme are Keith Haring with his dancing figures, which were used to draw attention to the growing AIDS crisis of the early 1980s. Graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat was also significant in the ‘80s for his neo-expressionist paintings. 

How you can be an ally

Being an LGBTQ+ ally is about helping to create an inclusive environment where people can feel safe and be themselves around you. 

If you are a straight ally, here are some of the ways you can help improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people everywhere.

Familiarise yourself with the terms 

Educating yourself with the correct terminology and pronouns is a simple but crucial step in becoming an ally. Take note of what words a person uses to describe themselves and their sexual orientation and gender identity, using the correct terms and pronouns is being respectful to those around you.  

Stonewall has created a Stonewall glossary of terms for you to learn and begin to familiarise yourself with.

Expanding your reading and watch list with cultural content is also an easy step but an important way of learning about LGBTQ+ history and LGBTQ+ existence today.

Show your support

A good way to show support is to engage with charities and events in your local community. 

Cliffe Castle has the Keighley Pride patchwork flag up on display which was created over lockdown in 2021. On 25 February, they will be doing a Sew Keighley Pride Flag and  Just a Ball Game LGBTQ+ History Month special. This will involve a discussion and Q&A with organisers from Sew Keighley Pride and Just A Ball Game, an anti-discrimination in sports campaign. For more information click here. 

Bradford City FC will be hosting an LGBTQ+ Convention at the Utilita Energy Stadium on 19 February as well as giving out free tickets for the club’s home matches for LGBTQ+ groups during February. 

There are also small LGBTQ+ businesses out there to show support to, this can be done by sharing their social media on your own accounts or if you can afford to, purchasing something from them. 

Celebrating at college 

Keighley College is celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month in a variety of ways this year, stay tuned on our socials to find out more. 

On the 1 February at 12pm, some of the staff and students will be attending a Progress Pride Flag raising event to mark LGBTQ+ History Month which will remain in place in the Town Hall Square for the whole month of February. The Town Mayor, Cllr Julie Adams, will be raising the flag and invites anyone to join the event. 

LGBTQ+ support

If you are struggling with mental health or just want to chat, there is plenty of support available.

Keighley College’s LGBTQ+ Society provides a safe space for 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 the page on the Students’ Union page to see what’s going on. 

The Yorkshire MESMAC is a sexual health organisation that offer a range of services for  members of the public across Leeds, Bradford, Rotherham and Hull. They offer a range of mental health and wellbeing services, including counselling, one-to-one support,  group sessions and training as well as LGBTQ+ support groups. 

Mindline Trans+ is an emotional and mental health support helpline for anyone identifying as transgender, non-binary, genderfluid.