Community Week Highlights: College Students and Staff Give Back Through Social Action Projects
Community Week brings together students and staff from across the College to engage in social action projects which give back to the local community.
This week serves as a valuable opportunity for students to apply the skills they’ve learnt and are continuing to develop, whilst completing a project to help others.
Here’s a glimpse of the work the College has been involved in throughout this week:
Plumbing students | Water Flow and System Checks around the College
To give back to the community, and in this case the College, Plumbing students completed water flow and pressure tests around the Future building ensuring all was running smoothly.
Aspiring Plumber Ashton Braund told us: “This experience is good for us as we can learn things which will help us in the future with our Plumbing careers.
“It is important to help the College out in this way as it means the College is better for everyone and the toilets and taps are ready to use.”
The learners have been working out how much the maintenance and repairs will cost and will be reporting the issues to the College Estates Team, with the hope to assist them out with the repairs.
Plumbing lecturer Dan Hawkins commented: “The plan for this community week was to give the students an opportunity to put their maintenance skills and knowledge, that they have gained in the classroom into practice through real world experience.
“I hope this experience may open the opportunity for the students to work alongside the Estates Team to carry out the necessary repairs, furthering their experience in the trade, as well as contributing to their social action.”
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Professional Cookery | Raising money for College food bank
Catering students have been raising money for the College’s Food Bank, by creating delicious dishes to sell on the campus to students and staff.
The menu included lunch dishes such as Thai Green Curry, Cornish Pasties and Roast Pork, to sweet treats including Raspberry Cheesecake and Chocolate Brownies.
There was also a selection of pastry offerings from Focaccia to traditional Eve’s Pudding.
Level 2 Professional Cookery student’s Kacey and Evie enjoyed the chance to refine their customer service skills and showcase their culinary talents.
Kacey said: “Usually we’re not the ones serving the food, so customer service wise, events like today enable us to gain some practice. We’ve all worked really well as a team.”
Evie added: “I quite like the atmosphere of today. I’m on the dessert station, so I’ve been plating and serving and then on the till with the card machine. It gives us a lot of experience to do with food, as we all want catering-related careers in different areas.”
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ESOL | Planting trees at Bromstone Primary School
ESOL students are improving the outdoor spaces at Bromstone Primary School, where they planted 20 trees to provide much-needed foliage in the playground closest to the road.
This initiative was made possible thanks to the generous donation of Dogrose, Silver Birch, and Hazelnut trees from the College’s very own Nurture Forest School.
The students worked together to carefully dig soil, plant and water the trees, ensuring they will grow. Over time, the trees will enhance the natural beauty of the playground but also create a greener environment for the children.
Ubaidullah Taraki was amongst the green fingered learners, when asked about how I feels to help out the community he told us: “I feel so great, I’m really enjoying it and it makes me feel good.”
Assisting the students was ESOL Programme Director, Beena Amir, and Lecturer, Melanie Hudson-Scott.
Speaking about what benefits this will bring ESOL learners, Melanie said: “It’s a completely new experience for them. They’re able to learn all the different tools and get involved in doing something meaningful for the community, especially at a local school to the College. It’s great to introduce our students to different opportunities to enhance their cultural experiences.”
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Business | Helping at the Garden Gate Project
Level 2 Business students arrived at the Garden Gate Project in Northdown Park, Margate to assist the business with turning over large compost heaps on Tuesday morning.
The business has been running for over 25 years and benefits from volunteer contribution to maintain the site. They went straight to work with tools provided by the staff.
Business student Ben Kirk, who has experience gardening due to his family once having an allotment, commented that this experience can help, “you gain valuable life skills.”
Fellow student, Ellis Williams explained: “It helps the community, and it lets us see how a business runs, in a way. And it’s good exercise.”
Karen Wilks, Deputy Head of Professional Industries at EKC Broadstairs College attended with the students. When asked how the project will help the students she commented: “It gets them involved with the community and to realise how much community gives to the College. The Garden Gate Project has been used across multiple curriculum areas. It gives them some valuable life skills.”
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Engineering | Renovating Tricycles for Clifton Primary School
As part of Community Week, the Engineering Department has teamed up with Clifton Primary School in Margate to renovate the school’s children’s tricycles. The project focuses on repairing, refurbishing, and enhancing the trikes to ensure they are safe, functional, and enjoyable for the children.
Engineering students are gaining valuable hands-on experience by inspecting and repairing the tricycles, replacing worn-out parts, and making adjustments to ensure they’re suitable for the children. This project allows students to apply their skills in a real-world setting while giving back to the community.
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Hair and Beauty | Helping out the College foodbank
This week, our Hair and Beauty students have been offering a range of services, from relaxing facials and manicures to cuts and blow dries, as well as conditioning treatments. It’s been a great chance for them to show off their skills and practice with real clients.
We’ve had many people from across the Group, including staff, students, and members of the public, coming in to enjoy a salon experience. Instead of paying for treatments, we’ve asked clients to donate whatever they can to the College foodbank, which helps support a lot of our students.
It’s been amazing to see everyone come together to help out. Not only have our students been able to get some hands-on experience, but the donations are going to a great cause, making sure students in need can access food and focus on their studies.
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It has been fantastic to see all the projects staff and students have worked on throughout this Community Week. From helping to fill the College food bank to gardening within the community our learners have worked hard to give back throughout the week.
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