FA County Youth Cup

For the first time in 51 years the Bedfordshire Football Association has won The FA County Youth Cup and four of our students were part of the successful squad.
Niall Lynch, Danny Howson, Gary Catling and Phil Feakes were part of the squad to win the Cup which was established by the FA in 1944/45 to provide representative football for the best young footballers throughout the country who had not signed up with a professional club. The competition saw the boys travel all over the country with trips as far apart as Cornwall and Kent before culmuinating in a 3-2 Final victory over Durham at Darlington FC. This year the County also won the East Anglian U18 Championship and won all 12 of their representative matches played this season.
All of the boys study on the Football Development Programme run at the College in conjunction with Barton Rovers Football Club, where the boys play their club football. They also achieved further success this year becoming the first team to retain the Allied Counties Youth League Cup and were also part of the successful College team which this year won the South East Students Challenge Plate with a victory over West Herts College, Watford in the final.
Kevin Thoburn, who co-ordinates the Football scheme on behalf of Barton Rovers is also the County Youth Representative manager for the Bedfordshire FA and described the boys’ achievements on the field of play as "remarkable" and one which the College should be "truly proud of".

First Class success for local student

Dunstable College’s team from the BA (Hons) in Graphic Design for Print and New Media is celebrating its students’ top results for the second year running.

Student Silvie French, originally from the Czech Republic and now married and living in Dunstable, has achieved a First Class Honours Degree. Five further students have achieved Upper Seconds and the remaining three Lower Seconds.

Course Team Leader Celeste Henney comments, “For the two years that I’ve been running this course, I’ve been delighted with the outstandingly high level of student achievements. We have yet another First Class Honours this year and our students have competed at international and national levels at top London design shows, matching their counterparts in terms of professionalism, talent and creativity.

“I’ve just received further great news from one of last year’s graduates, who also achieved a First Class Honours Degree, to say that she is starting work in September as a creative with BBH (Bartle Bogle Hegarty), one of the world’s top advertising and design agencies. This has always been her dream company to work for and she thoroughly deserves this success.

“Other graduates have just started up their own design company called Moo based in Milton Keynes. Given the quality of their work, including international competition success, I have no doubt that they will thrive in the highly competitive environment of the new city.”

The Show’s a Winner!

The Art, Design and Media Department put on another stunning End Of Year Show, covering displays of work from students in their first year here straight from school to those completing their BA (Hons) degree.

The Private View on Thursday June 23 saw hundreds of visitors pass through the doors enjoying the displays, including Mrs Cynthia Gresham, the Town Mayor of Dunstable, who also happens to be a floristry student here. A real buzz was created by the attendance of Faye Tozer, who chatted to students and showed a genuine interest in their work. The proceedings culminated with the presentation of several awards:

Photography Competition Winners –

Philippa Oliver ~ from Wing, age 11-15 category

Katie Kendra ~ from Dunstable, pupil at Manshead Upper School, age 16-18 category (Katie will be commencing a National Diploma in Photography course here in September)

Francis Whittaker ~ from Luton, age 19+ category

Higher Education –

Best in Show ~ Silvie French, BA (Hons) Graphic Design for Print and New Media

Runner-up ~ Gemma Loosley, Foundation Degree (FdA) Graphic Design and Advertising

Third Prize for Most Promising First Year ~ Thomas Bliss, Foundation Degree (FdA) Creative and Editorial Photography

Further Education –

Best in Show ~ Karl Lambert, National Diploma in Art and Design

Runner-up ~ Emma Barry, Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

Third Prize ~ Matthew Grimmer, First Diploma in Art and Design

Media

Chris Butcher, National Diploma in Media.

see the photo gallery . . .

National Wins for Students

This term has seen several students win national awards. Congratulations to them on their magnificent achievements!

Senior Young Carer of the Year Awards 2006 – Becky Ladds

Becky Ladds has won the Senior Young Carer of the Year 2006 award. Becky cares for her two brothers and a sister. She has won a £1,000 prize, half of which she has given to her charity, the Bedford based Spurgeons, which supports carers with events such as trips out of the home. Becky has just completed her Travel and Tourism course and is considering returning here in September to take a Public Services course.

British Design and Art Direction Global Student Awards

Gary Lovelock from the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design and Advertising has come 3rd out of 2,600 entrants from all over the world in the British Design and Art Direction Global Student Awards. One third of the awards went to students from overseas. The overall winner came from Tiblisi in Georgia. This is a huge achievement for Gary and bodes well for his career prospects.

Chartered Society Of Designers Student Awards

Paul Blow, Gemma Loosley, and Gary Lovelock from the Foundation Degree in Graphic Design and Advertising have all won Chartered Society of Designers Student Awards. Members from the Society will be coming in to College in October to talk about the society. This is a long established professional body and the students have won a year’s membership to the society, plus free tickets to seminars and workshops.

Keeping it in the Family

It’s not unheard of to have siblings in the same department at the same time; but to have a mother and daughter on the same course simultaneously, with a younger daughter following not far behind is really unusual. This is the situation with the Woods family from Leighton Buzzard, all of whom are thriving in the Hair and Beauty department.

Mum Jayne, 35, and daughter Carlie, 18, have both just completed their Advanced Diploma in Beauty Level 3 and NVQ Hairdressing Level 1 together. In September they will embark on the Holistics Diploma Level 3 and NVQ Hairdressing Level 2.

Jayne started off on a basic make-up course three years ago, to get a taste of what it was like. She explains, “I was very nervous at first, it was daunting because I’d been at home as a wife and mother of three. I’d always wanted to do this from an early age, but my family took priority. The kids became old enough for me to do something for myself and pick up where I’d left off when I was younger.”

Carlie comments on having her mum in the same class as her, “It’s been really good. Our fellow students have been so supportive and didn’t realise that we were related at first, they thought we were just friends. We do case studies, visit the library and work on the computer together. We practice body massage, facials and hair on each other.”

Danielle, 14, who is a pupil at Vandyke Upper School, studies hair and beauty at the Learning Warehouse Leighton Linslade as part of her GCSE programme. In September she will progress to Level 2 there and plans to leave school after her GCSEs to study a similar programme to Jayne’s and Carlie’s at Kingsland.

As for the family’s future plans, they wish to stick together then too. Jayne explains, “We all really wanted to do this. Carlie and I want to gain experience of working in a salon first and then, because the three of us will all be qualified, we’d like to run our own family business. The tutors here have supported us 100% and encouraged us so much; we wouldn’t be here without them and would recommend this course to other people.”

The family connection doesn’t end there. Jayne comments, “My husband Christopher is very supportive. He drives us to College day and night and two days per week has to do four trips. He also lets us practice facials, massage, hair cuts and even waxing on him!” Carlie adds, “Dad even let me perm his eyelashes, because I needed to do it one more time to complete my course!”

Son Christopher, 13, who would like to enter the construction industry, clearly does not want to be left out of the family business and has offered to build the family salon in the future!

Public celebrates new Centre opening

The Kingsland Skills and Enterprise Centre threw open its doors to welcome the public to its official opening with a host of free activities on Saturday 20 May.

The recently completed Centre is located in Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis and is home to the College’s Hair, Beauty, Holistics, Motor Vehicle and Construction departments, plus Chiltern Business Training, which caters for the business community.

Visitors enjoyed a variety of activities including: nail painting, massage, theatrical make-up, face painting, plumbing, joinery and electrical demonstrations, art, pottery and craft classes, learning how to book a holiday or make a card. These activities reflect the courses and training options that are on offer at the Centre for teenagers and adults, run by Dunstable College and Adult and Community Learning.

Paras Career for Public Services Student

Public Services student Kieran McLaughlin, 17, is celebrating being accepted into the army’s highly prestigious Parachute Division. Kieran had his Attestation on May 18, at which he swears his oath of allegiance, prior to joining on May 21.

Kieran comments, “The Parachute Regiment is one of the best you can join. It will be really hard work, but I like to push myself and feel proud when I achieve something. The idea of parachuting really appeals to me as well.

“The course at Dunstable College got me interested in it; we had a visit and talk from the army, which got me thinking about my career and so I went down to the careers’ office and took it from there. The course trip to Bassingbourn, which I loved, helped me finalise my plans. The course is good, it’s hard work but worthwhile. The teachers know what they are talking about and it’s the right course for anyone considering a career in the public services.”

Accessing new opportunities – two adult success stories

In the past month two Access to Higher Education learners have applied for/been granted cash awards from two local charities.

Karen Brandom is a second year part-time Access learner who has been nominated for the Helena Kennedy Foundation, Nursing Bursary of £1,000. Karen has successfully completed year one of the Access course and has accepted a place on the Higher Education Diploma in Adult Nursing at Stoke Mandeville Hospital (University of Luton). Karen is an inspiration to other learners and a credit to her cohort. She lives in Heath and Reach and is the mother of seven children. Although Karen has to rely on public transport to attend College (taking four bus journeys each day) her attendance and punctuality are excellent; as is the quality of her work and her attitude to learning. Should she be awarded this bursary, Karen will put the money towards the purchase of a car.

Kylie Howard is a full-time Access learner who has been awarded £1,500 from the Kathleen and Michael Connolly (UK) Foundation. Kylie is due to complete her studies this year and has accepted a place on the BSc Midwifery course at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital (University of Luton). Kylie is a diligent and committed learner who always produces work of the highest standard. Kylie will put the money towards the cost of childcare for her two pre-school age children.

Access to Higher Education is a full-time/part-time, one year/two year, level three course. It provides a direct route into Higher Education for learners over 19 years of age. Traditionally learners go on to Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work degree courses at either the University of Luton or De Montfort University. The Access course provides them with a guaranteed interview at either of these universities.

Both of these learners personify the possibilities available locally to adults who wish to go on to study at university. They are a credit to their course and we wish them well in their future careers.

Girls' team success too

The girls on the football development programme played in the final league 7-a-side tournament at Middlesex University on Wednesday 10 May. They have qualified for this in previous tournaments that have been played throughout the year.

There were nine teams who played a round robin competition with each game lasting 11 minutes. Our squad consisted of nine girls and they rotated for each game played. The overall result was that they came 4th, only losing to the teams ranked above them.

They all played enthusiastically and gave 100%. The conditions were very warm but the last two games were excellent and they won both 4:0.

The photo shows some of the girls in the team.

Cup Glory for Dunstable Boys

The boys' team from the Dunstable College Football Development Programme has won the SESSA Cup 2006. SESSA is the Southern England Students' Sports Association and the boys came away as the Soccer Intermediate Plate Winners 2005-6.

The final against West Herts College took place at the Ford Training Ground in Essex on Wednesday 26 April. The boys did not play particularly well at the beginning of the first half, but started to get together before half-time; however, they were unfortunate to go into half-time 1:0 down. They came out in the second half a much better, more controlled team and eventually managed to grab an equalising goal from Terry Billy. Towards the end of the half, the Dunstable boys were playing good football and seemed in control and were lucky to get a penalty 5 minutes from time. Phil Feakes mis-kicked the ball and it went wide. It was a nervous last few minutes to the final whistle. The final result then went to penalties.

The first penalty was taken by Phil Feakes who put this one in the net, the following goals were scored evenly with the opposition. Niall Lynch, Danny Howson and Gary Catlin all scored from the spot. Gary then went on to save a penalty from West Herts and the final kick was left to Ryan Mulford, who was playing his first match of the season due to a bad back injury. Nervously he took the kick, which was spot on target which allowed the boys to triumphantly collect the well deserved trophy.

The photo shows the boys in training.

Girls' Football Team success

The girls on the football development programme played in the final league 7-a-side tournament at Middlesex University on Wednesday 10 May. They have qualified for this in previous tournaments that have been played throughout the year.
There were nine teams who played a round robin competition with each game lasting 11 minutes. Our squad consisted of nine girls and they rotated for each game played. The overall result was that they came 4th, only losing to the teams ranked above them.
They all played enthusiastically and gave 100%. The conditions were very warm but the last two games were excellent and they won both 4:0.
The photo shows some of the girls in the team.

More Sugarcraft success

More Sugarcraft success at LE SALON CULINAIRE INTERNATIONAL DE LONDRES

The Sugarcraft students at Dunstable College have a long history of entering and winning awards at this competition – the first awards were won in February 1996 (one of which was won by Course Tutor Teresa King) and that success has been repeated at every Salon since, with February 2006 being no exception. Teresa is proud to report that 6 awards were won in this year’s competition:

Gold Medal and Best in Class for Miniature Sugar Flowers – Marcellina Lai

Gold Medal for Co-Ordinated Sprays of Sugar Flowers – Marcellina Lai

Silver Medal for Bridal Spray of Sugar Flowers – Marcellina Lai

Bronze Medal for Sugar Flower Arrangement – Jan Webb

Certificate of Merit for Miniature Sugar Flowers – Bee Allen

Certificate of Merit for Sugar Flower Arrangement – Marcellina Lai