Interfaith Week at NULC

20.11.13

An Islamic Scholar attended college to meet four groups of Early Years students as part of the college’s celebrations to mark National Interfaith Week.

Isa converted to Islam in 2009, he lives in Middlesbrough and was born to an English father and a Greek mother. He is a graduate in Biomedical Science and is currently studying Law, as part of his pursuit for a greater understanding of his faith he performs at a variety of speaking events across Britain, meeting people of all faiths and none to explain Islam and help communities to understand his religion.   

Students had the opportunity to ask about the requirements Islam places on those who practice it and on the community as a whole.  Isa helped students to explore what following his faith meant for the practices he undertook during his day to day life.  He explored the Quran, its intent and the ways that this would impact the families students will meet as they gain employment and provide services to the community as Early Years/Childcare providers. 

Isa answered questions regarding the need for food to be Halal, women and their cultural dress and their position in the family, the right to access medicine, arranged marriages, whether he is allowed to celebrate Christmas, where cultural and religious boundaries overlap, the variety of interpretations of the Quran and the reality of what it is to be a follower of the faith in a modern British society.

If you would like further information regarding Religion & Belief at NULC contact the colleges Equality & Diversity Advisor theresa.kirkhamblair@nulc.ac.uk or the college Chaplain martin.ball@nulc.ac.uk

We'd like to thank Iftikhar Ahmed from Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Community Cohesion Team for helping us to arrange this worthwhile activity.

A trip to the Adventure Playground

All the current first year students studying the BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development walked  the short distance from the College to the Adventure Playground during one of their sessions in week commencing 20 May 2013. 

Childcare students study all aspects of childcare practice and education on this two year course and attend various placements within the local area.  Although the Adventure Playground is not a placement it offers the students an amazing insight into the provision available for local families and children with additional needs.  

During the second year of their studies this experience will support them when they focus on specific additional needs of children and the types of provision available.  This visit can provide some individuals with their first experience of how this provision is different to that which they have already seen in local schools and nurseries.

Mel Aubrey organised the trip with Hannah Dean from the Adventure Playground.

Staff at the Adventure Playground gave the students some background information on how they started the provision in 1989 and how they operate now.  The setting is based on a two-acre site and offers both indoor and outdoor facilities.  The outdoor area provides extensive opportunities for children to explore the environment with an aerial runway, an adventure trial and various fixed pieces of equipment.  Indoors the setting offers a soft play area and separate areas for creative and exploratory play.  The students were able to explore the environment and try out the equipment for themselves!

 The playground is a registered charity and relies on volunteers to help support the employed staff.  Childcare students were offered the opportunity to volunteer some time during the summer to work alongside the staff supporting the children and families who use these facilities.

To find out more about studying Childcare at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Childcare opportunity to visit Hungary

NULC is organising an exciting trip to enrich the studies of those on the Level 3 Health and Social Care and Level 3 Childcare courses.

The trip is to Budapest, Hungary in June 2013, exact dates to be confirmed.

The trip will be a unique opportunity to visit the Peto institute, specialising in the care of children with cerebral palsy. It will last for 3 nights and is priced at £395. Financial support for learners on bursaries may be available.

If you are interested please email louise.stalder@nulc.ac.uk

College lecturer runs London Marathon in memory of treasured colleague

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) lecturer Louise Stalder will be running the London Marathon on Sunday 22 April 2012 to raise money for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice after her friend and NULC colleague Marianne Howe died of cancer.

Louise, aged 33 from Stone has also organised a number of fundraising events in the run up to the London Marathon to help raise as much money as possible.  Louise has already spent a day at work dressed as the Douglas Macmillan sunflower mascot where she raised £300 and has also organised a charity curry night next month to aid her fundraising. 

Louise works part-time as a lecturer in Early Years at NULC and also has two young children aged three and five, but she still manages fit in marathon training around four times a week.  Louise hits the roads and lanes in her home town of Stone during the mornings before heading in to work.

Louise decided to raise money for the Douglas MacMillan Hospice after the death of her friend and NULC colleague Marianne Howe.  Louise said: "Marianne's positive and joyous spirit and enthusiasm in everything she did is an inspiration.  She was a fantastic lecturer with the welfare and success of the learners at the heart of all she did.”

 Louise has fond memories of the time she spent with Marianne “Marianne was a very happy and energetic person and her absence in our office is really missed.  She was professional and a passionate teacher constantly looking for new ways to engage the learners and further her own professional development.  When I joined the college as a new and inexperienced lecturer Marianne took me under her wing, supported and helped me every step of the way, unofficially mentoring me and sharing her good practice."

Louise says: "I have received loads of support from family, friends and colleagues at NULC, both in terms of fitting in my runs and financially through sponsorship but I still have a long way to go to hit my target of £2000, so all donations are very welcome and valued."

Anyone wanting to sponsor Louise and donate money to the Douglas MacMillan Hospice can contact Louise via email on louise.stalder@nulc.ac.uk or phone on 07984 514282 or donate by text: text SNJA59 and the amount to 70070 or visit www.justgiving.com/LouiseStalder.

Part-time care & childcare courses for adults available now!

Adults in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire who want to study part-time can now choose from a range of part-time courses which have launched at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC).

Local adults are advised to log onto the College’s website www.nulc.ac.uk/adults to view the part-time courses on offer and, in many cases, enrol online.

Part-time courses are available in areas such as care and childcare, where you can study for a range of courses including the Certificate for the Children and Young Peoples Workforce (QCF) and the Foundation degree (Fd) in Early Childhood Studies.

Janet Scrivens, Head of Lifelong Learning at the College, said: “We can provide help and guidance for anyone who wants to improve their job prospects, renew or refresh their qualifications or retrain for a new career. There’s never been a better time to enrol!”

To find out more about the part-time care and childcare courses available at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk/adults or come along to the Part-time Course Advice and Enrolment Evening on Thursday 8 September, 5.30pm – 8pm.

Alternatively, for more information, call the College Information Centre on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk

Well Done!

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) Early Years Tutor Vikki Bourne completed the Moon Walk in London over night.

Vikki walked the streets of London through the night on Saturday night/Sunday morning with around 15,000 other women to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness.  She completed the marathon in 8 hours and was ready for classes bright and early on Monday morning.

Well Done Vikki from everyone at NULC.

Pictured: Vikki (in white) during the marathon

NULC need your ideas

Would you like to get involved with the design of the new NULC 2012-2013 full-time prospectus?  Would you like to see your ideas to come to life?  We need your help to find out what worked and what didn’t, what you liked and what you didn’t!  As we start to research design and content for the new prospectus we would love to hear your views, because you are the people that matter.

If you haven’t already had a look at the current NULC full-time prospectus then take a look by clicking this link and then downloading the ‘Full-time prospectus 11-12’... http://www.nulc.ac.uk/pages/global/downloads.aspx

Then once you've had a flick through it, simply follow the link below and fill in the survey to share your views with us...http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LGN3YNP