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. 

Keighley College is providing a lifeline to the local community by offering free haircuts and manicures for unemployed individuals who have upcoming interviews.

Aspiring student hairdressers and barbers will be providing the service until the end of June, in a bid to support locals in boosting their confidence before attending an interview.

Ashleigh Taleb, Salon Technician at Keighley College, said: “We’re dedicated to going to great lengths to empower our community to achieve great things. We appreciate how difficult the pandemic has been, resulting in many being furloughed and unemployed. Our professional Hair and Beauty Level 2 and 3 students will be on hand to lift community spirit by cutting hair and offering manicures.”

To book an appointment, individuals who live locally can visit or call the salon on 01535 685 030 or send a message through Facebook or Instagram. Anyone receiving a free haircut or manicure will need to bring along an offer email or letter for the interview.

The salon will be operating in line with Covid-19 guidelines, including wearing face coverings and using sanitising stations.

Keighley College will host the town’s first ever TEDx talk on 24 February at its Bradford Road campus.

Taking place from 9am until 6pm, the college will be welcoming guest speakers from a variety of sectors including health, technology, entrepreneurship, and marketing. TEDx is an international community that organises TED-style events across the globe, celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage.

TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, with each event curating speakers on their own based on TED’s format and rules.

Kevin O’Hare, principal at Keighley College, said: “We are delighted to be bringing together speakers to share their views on a range of subjects that will inspire and engage our students and the wider community.

“This is an opportunity to raise the profile of Keighley and introduce the community to a range of exciting opportunities to expand their horizons and mindsets, as well as hear from like-minded experts in their fields who share their thinking and ideas that will lead to growth in the town and its surrounding areas.”

The overall theme for Keighley’s TEDx is ‘life chances’. The event will take into account the unprecedented experiences and stories that the world – and the Keighley district – has faced in light of the pandemic.

Speakers will include leaders from around Keighley who will cover topics such as mental health and wellbeing, start-ups and sustainability, positive marketing and more.

Tim Rogers, Founder of Future Transformations that runs TEDx, said: “Keighley has a rich history with the globally recognised Bronte Parsonage, Keighley Worth Valley Railway, manufacturing businesses and engineering businesses continuing to be the town’s bread and butter.

“Hosting it at Keighley College makes sense. Not only is it recognisable, it’s also important to highlight the college’s role in the town and its significance in shaping the minds, characters and skills of the workforce.”

Tim added that diversity of the town is key and that by representing the people of the town with their experiences, culture, and backgrounds, it would also showcase the town’s inclusiveness and commitment to building a better, stronger, and sustainable community.

“Keighley needs to bring together all of its assets, communities, educators and businesses to make it a sustainable place to live and work and I believe the town has the capacity, intellectual authority and motivation to become a successful, prosperous place which welcomes new ideas, business and education.”

The flagship TED Conference is held annually on the North American West Coast. The breadth of content includes science, business, the arts, technology, and global issues.

The event is free to attend, and the college would like to welcome businesses and members of the community to join. 100 tickets are available and can be obtained by sending an email to info@futuretransformation.org.

29 apprentices from Keighley College have been acknowledged for their determination and hard work throughout the pandemic at the annual Milner Awards.

Sponsored by Keighley Training Consortium, the awards celebrate the achievements of first year apprentices on the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) programme at the college.

For the first time in the award’s history, all learners received special recognition for their resilience and commitment throughout the pandemic. 

Ronnie Magee, Deputy Head of Technology, said: “We wanted to celebrate each and every apprentice in this year’s awards, as they have all remained engaged and focused, despite the fact they had to learn during two extensive lockdown periods. 

“The students have all been motivated to excel with the programme and achieve their qualifications while studying remotely, which has been challenging for many. These awards are a fantastic demonstration of the impact that working with local businesses can have on the next generation of talented apprentices.”

William Jowitt, director of Keighley Training Consortium and member of the supervisory board of the AME, added: “All of these pioneering apprentices deserve to be celebrated this year; they act as an essential cog in the area’s economic machine and are central to Airedale’s growth. To witness all 29 students receiving recognition for their efforts was a very proud moment for the community.”

The award ceremony took place on Wednesday 1 December at the college’s higher education lecture theatre.

Each apprentice received a socket set and digital callipers for their hard work during Covid-19.

Switching careers is never easy, and often takes real determination. Adult learner, Jodie Parker, built up the courage to pursue a different role at 24 years old after working as a support worker for many years.

Jodie decided to change lanes to chase a career in social work, after realising her passion for making a positive change to people’s lives and supporting individuals with mental health difficulties.

Making a change

Seven years’ experience as a support worker gave Jodie insight into rehabilitation in mental health, which spurred her on to change paths to become a social worker.

“I’ve worked a lot with individuals who struggle with mental health challenges; being able to support and advise them has been something that has really motivated me. Helping people improve their quality of life is such a privilege to me, and I believe that becoming a social worker can support my journey in doing this for more members of my community.

“I appreciate that social work can be a difficult profession, however it’s also incredibly rewarding to know that you can make a difference to an individual’s life or provide a family with the support they need.”

Taking the next step

With a career in social work in mind, Jodie embarked on a new journey at Keighley College to study Access to Higher Education in Social Care Diploma Level 3.

“Returning to college as an adult was daunting at first, but it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. The course is challenging, however my tutors give me fantastic support and my peers are so encouraging; we always uplift each other in class.

“I’ve learnt that I am capable of a lot more than I give myself credit for. Although it’s been challenging to study this course and work at the same time, I’ve managed to achieve distinctions and positive feedback for my work. The key to success is finding a balance and perfecting time management skills.”

Sights set on higher education

When Jodie completes the course, she’s hoping to study at university to pursue her dream career.

“I’m so pleased that I decided to take the step to go back to college; the prospect of university is incredibly exciting and I can’t wait to progress.”