Archive for category: Reaseheath News

Caring students and staff from Reaseheath College in Nantwich have raised a record £20,380 this year for Macmillan Cancer Support – with more to come.

Members of the College’s Student Association presented their bumper cheque to representatives of the cancer charity at the student summer ball last Tuesday.

Macmillan fundraisers have been so impressed at the success of the students’ RAG (Raising and Giving) activities that they have asked them to write a RAG Guide advising other colleges and universities who are considering supporting the charity.

Fundraising Manager for East Cheshire, Louisa Walmsley, said: “Macmillan Cancer Support is hugely grateful to the students and staff of Reaseheath College for raising such a phenomenal amount of money.

“We have been very impressed with the dedication, determination and passion shown by the Student Association, and we are absolutely delighted that the target of £20,000 was reached! This money will make a huge difference to people affected by cancer. On their behalf, I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has been involved in fundraising.”

Macmillan Cancer Support is one of Britain’s largest charities and provides specialist healthcare, information and funding to people living with cancer. The charity funds a Macmillan Benefits Advisor, based in Nantwich, who helps people to apply for a Macmillan Grant to help meet costs that can arise from the condition and its treatment. In 2013, 281 grants were handed out to residents of Cheshire East, totally £48,486.

Reaseheath’s Student Association organised 24 fund raising events in RAG week alone,  including a masquerade  RAG Ball, a staff versus students football match, a raft race on the college lake, a tractor pull and a Three Peaks Challenge by students and staff from the construction department. The public also had the chance to be a zoo keeper for a day.

Student Association President Rob Sparkes 22, who has just completed his Foundation Degree in Zoo Management, said: “We had a brilliant team of Student Association members who worked really hard to put together activities which everyone could enjoy while raising money for a good cause. All departments and academic staff have supported us and I am so proud of what everyone achieved.”

“We chose Macmillan because its services benefit the whole community and because many of the members of our group know someone who has cancer.”

In addition to fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support, Reaseheath students and staff raised a further £3,000 for the Poppy Appeal and £1,368.90 for the Epilepsy Society. Further funds remain to be collected and it is hoped that the final total raised this year may reach an impressive £25,000.

Over the past 27 years students and staff have raised over £215,000 for local charities.

 

Pupils from special schools marked the completion of their course with a celebration of achievement this week.

Over 30 young people received Certificates of Attendance after completing a 30 week programme made up of ten week sessions on horticulture, animal care and horse care.

The vocational taster programme is run by our Pre-entry Department and taken up by schools for pupils with special educational needs throughout the region. As well as learning practical skills, the pupils are introduced to a more independent life at college, with some enjoying their experience so much that they choose to join our pre-entry programme.

Our pictures show sixth formers from Greenbank School, Northwich, and Springfield School, Crewe, relaxing during some well earned down-time after receiving their awards. Pupils from West Kirby Residential School also attended.

Course Manager Lisa Alkins, who with our pre-entry team organised the celebration along with music and food, said: “Our programme offers pupils the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities out of the class room. They also gain a lot by participating in college life as far as they are able. It’s hugely rewarding to see how much the pupils benefit and grow simply by being in the college environment.”

Our horticultural students are busy preparing for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park (July 22 – 26). Instead of designing and building their customary show garden, undergraduates studying for their Foundation Degree in Garden and Landscape Design will exhibit an eye catching show feature depicting the elements within the structure of a leaf.

Supporting the RHS in its efforts to inspire the younger generation into careers involving horticultural science and viable food production, the show feature will link with an educational marquee where visitors can learn more.

A giant aphid sculpture, 1.8 metres high, will provide the focus of the show feature. It will be surrounded by a leaf section showing cells, systems and pathways. The students have been busy collecting thousands of plastic and glass bottles which they will convert into walls and sculptures. The planting scheme will demonstrate examples of edible and medicinal plants and will be recreated after the show at Reaseheath’s £8.5 million National Centre for Food Futures and the Environment, which is due to open next Autumn.

Undergraduate Matthew Kent, who has led the design and build of the show feature along with fellow students Nigel Barber, Sam Lawton and Andrew Degg, said: “We wanted to step outside the box with something which is young and interesting. We’re looking forward to seeing the reaction of visitors when they view the garden.”

 

Reaseheath will also be one of the partners on the ‘Cheshire Gardens of Distinction’ exhibit. Students will also contest the WorldSkillsUK semi-finals and the floristry competition at RHS Tatton.