It’s important to remember when dealing with stress and anxiety that you’re not the only person feeling this way. This blog, written by work experience student, Erin Foye, shares tips and methods to use if you find yourself feeling anxious.
Indulge in a New Hobby
One of the best ways to take your mind off anxiety is to keep your mind active. I recommend art, sport or investing time into an old hobby.
Make Plans With Family and Friends
Spending time with loved ones gives you something to look forward to. It has been proven that your body releases endorphins through positive social contact!
Remember That Anxiety Isn’t Harmful
Whilst it might feel scary, it’s beneficial to remember that anxiety can’t physically harm you and isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Have a Plan B
If you’re feeling stressed about the outcome of something, think to yourself “is there another way?” For example, if you didn’t receive the results you had hoped for, there’s always another way to reach your goal.
Most importantly, you’re not alone. Many other people are experiencing the same feelings. You must avoid isolating yourself and if you find yourself struggling, speak to someone you trust.
Making the leap into a new career can be daunting, but for Lewis, a mature student at New College Swindon (NCS), the decision has proven to be a rewarding experience. Formerly working with logistics giant DHL and automotive leader Honda, Lewis is now pursuing a Level 2 Autocare Technician apprenticeship at Quins Specialist Cars in Wootton Bassett.
Lewis, who chose to return to education after years in the workforce, has found great support and encouragement at NCS. “NCS is my local college. I studied here as a teenager, and I was very impressed with the facilities and staff,” he said. “Having the ability to ask any questions and getting answers that are clear and useful has been valuable.”
The college’s commitment to providing accessible education has played a significant role in Lewis’s successful transition. “I’m able to contact my teachers at any time, which has really helped,” he noted, emphasising the importance of this accessibility in his learning journey.
At Quins Specialist Cars, Lewis is applying his new skills in a practical setting, where he has quickly become an integral part of the team. His passion for automotive care and dedication to learning are evident as he works alongside experienced technicians.
With the completion of his Level 2 apprenticeship, Lewis has his sights set on further advancement. “With this qualification, I hope to progress to Level 3 Motor Vehicle and Maintenance Technician and, from there, either go self-employed or open my own garage,” he shared. This ambition underscores his commitment to not only mastering his craft but also exploring entrepreneurial opportunities in the automotive industry.
Lewis’s journey serves as an inspiring example of how determination and the right support can facilitate a successful career change. NCS continues to be a pivotal institution in the region, helping students like Lewis achieve their goals and realise their full potential.
New College Swindon (NCS) Project Search students recently graduated from their programme, in which they undertook a work placement at Great Western Hospital (GWH). DFN Project Search is a one-year transition programme for young adults with learning disability or autism spectrum conditions. Giving young adults the opportunity to learn new skills, build their confidence and get ready for the workplace. Two students that undertook the Project Search Programme have been offered permanent jobs at GWH.
Frankie Faraone, Employment Advisor for Swindon Borough Council said, “It’s been an absolute pleasure supporting the students throughout the last academic year. The programme has been a pivotal journey for them, transforming classroom knowledge into practical skills and boosting their confidence for future career success”
The graduation took place at New College Swindon in which family and friends were visited to see the students graduate, as well as staff from GWH and Swindon Borough Council that had helped them along the way.
After the event we caught up with Business Support Manager, Tracey and Learning and Development Project Lead, Kelly from GWH, who added “We were delighted to attend the event to celebrate the graduation of this year’s students. Great Western Hospital and Serco are incredibly privileged to work with these fabulous young people across all our hospital sites as they gain their first experience of employment, and we’re absolutely thrilled to continue to support them and future students on their journey”
Good luck to all the students that recently graduated with their future!
Transform your future! Discover confidence boosting courses and nationally recognised qualifications at New College Swindon with The Prince’s Trust
New College Swindon is proud to announce the launch of The Prince’s Trust TEAM programme. Aimed at young people (aged 16-25) who are stuck in life, the programmes are designed to inspire, give direction, help build confidence, independence and gain essential skills for life and the world of work.
Empowering Young People: TEAM Programme at New College Swindon
One of the standout offerings is The Prince’s Trust TEAM Programme – a 12-week challenging, personal development programme which includes:
Community Projects: Engaging and rewarding projects that connect young people to their local communities and help them to build networks and connections
Employability Weeks: Work experience, mock interviews, CV workshops and guest speakers
Nationally Recognised Qualifications: Participants gain a qualification in ‘Employability, Teamwork and Community Skills’
Practical Skills: Development of essential skills for personal and professional growth
Residential Week: A challenging week away to stretch participants and build teamwork and resilience
Much greater than the sum of its parts, the programme opens up new possibilities. Participants leave inspired, with a clear direction in life and a plan for their next steps. Many move straight into work, having made connections on the programme. Others go back to education, start volunteering or start living a more independent life.
Join Us and Transform Your Future
The Prince’s Trust at New College Swindon is here to support young people in their journey towards a brighter future. Whether you aim to work on your confidence, gain essential skills for the workplace, or simply make new connections and friends for life, our programmes are tailored to meet your needs.
Elizabeth Postgate, who is setting the Prince’s Trust Programmes up at New College after 10 years of running them in Swindon, said, “I’m delighted that New College Swindon are starting The Prince’s Trust Team programme. It’s a life-changing course for young people, which Swindon needs now more than ever. Over 12 weeks, young people take part in a series of challenging learning activities. By the end they have grown in confidence, made friends for life, learnt new skills and increased their independence and resilience. There are always tears at the end of programme celebration when they see just how far they’ve come and what they’ve achieved!”
About The Prince’s Trust
Founded by King Charles with the aim of empowering young people who found themselves at a disadvantage in life, The Prince’s Trust is a youth charity that helps young people aged 13 to 30 get into jobs, education, and training. Since 1976, they have helped over a million young people in the UK, and continue to support tens of thousands each year.
The Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance is proud to announce that New College Swindon has joined as a patron, furthering the Alliance’s mission to promote diversity and inclusion within the apprenticeship sector. This partnership is a significant step towards ensuring that individuals from diverse backgrounds have equal access to quality education and career opportunities.
The Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance is dedicated to bridging the gap between underrepresented communities and apprenticeship and skills opportunities. With New College Swindon’s support, the Alliance will enhance its efforts to create pathways for talent from all cultural backgrounds, ensuring a more inclusive education, apprenticeship provision and workforce.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome New College Swindon as patrons of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance. Their commitment to diversity and inclusion in education aligns perfectly with our mission to create equitable opportunities for all. This partnership will undoubtedly enhance our efforts to bridge gaps and provide meaningful pathways for individuals from diverse backgrounds.” said Jagdeep Soor, Executive Director at Pathway Group and the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance.
As a patron, New College Swindon will actively support the development and implementation of initiatives that promote diversity within apprenticeship programs. This includes outreach efforts to engage underrepresented communities, providing mentorship and guidance to apprentices, and collaborating on research and advocacy efforts to address barriers to participation.
Matt Butcher Vice Principal – Commercial, Skills and Partnerships is thrilled about the partnership and comments, “NCS are committed to making apprenticeships available to all and we’re really excited to join the Alliance and benefit from their expertise in reaching out to all communities across Swindon and beyond. It’s an exciting time for apprenticeships at New College Swindon, and we’re determined that the whole community benefit from the opportunities they can bring.”
New College Swindon’s involvement with the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance is part of its broader strategy to champion inclusivity and equality in education and employment. The college has a longstanding reputation for excellence in providing high-quality education and training, and this new partnership further underscores its dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of students and the wider community.
“We are incredibly enthusiastic about New College Swindon becoming patrons of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance. Their dedication to championing diversity and inclusion in education resonates deeply with our mission. This partnership marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to ensure that individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive in apprenticeship programmes. We are excited to work together to drive meaningful change and celebrate the achievements of multicultural apprentices.” said Safaraz Ali, CEO of Pathway Group and Founder of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance.
Level 3 Art and Design Creative Practice students have been working on a collaborative project with Swindon Borough Council (SBC), creating individual pieces of public art based on the Mechanics Institute.
The Street Works project, led by Karen Phimister, SBC Heritage Actions Zone Project Officer, aims to improve the pedestrian route from the train station to the Outlet Village. Karen says, “We have been working with New College Swindon alumni, Luke Grey, designer of the Shepard Street underpass mural to support students in creating their own artwork based on the history of Swindon.” Karen continues, “it’s been a lovely project to work on, I’m so pleased with the outcome.”
Luke, who designs and creates murals all over the world, worked closely with the students and supported them in developing their designs, how to apply for a tender, how to meet the set brief, as well as discussing his experiences as a muralist in the creative industries.
Each student responded to a set brief from Diana Hatton at SBC, who came into college as a visiting speaker on numerous occasions to support the students in understanding how to apply for a tender, what is suitable public art, exposing them to artists who work within this field, and how to submit an expression of interest (EOI).
Each student submitted an EOI and had an interview with Diana and Karen to showcase their designs. Students used these ideas to produce work to a set colour palette,
which was representative of the area including the Great Western Railway, local people, the fire at the Mechanics Institute, as well as features of wall paper and the exterior and interior of the Mechanics Institute.
The students visited the local carriage works and Emlyn Square and were given the knowledge and understanding of the area and how the Mechanics Institute used to be the hub of the area. The students were given the opportunity to view archive photos of the building in use as well as the deterioration of the building and how it has become what it is today.
Eleanor Smith, Creative Art and Design student said, “The project has gone really well. We welcomed being given a brief and the opportunity to work collaboratively as a team and alongside the team at Swindon Borough Council. It was really interesting to learn about the rail workers, the trains, and all the big parts that make Swindon what it is today.”
The students work will be produced and installed outside the Carriage Works by the end of August.
New College Swindon University Centre has seen significant improvements across all seven areas of the 2024 National Student Survey (NSS) for its taught provision.
The NSS is commissioned annually by the Office for Students (OfS) and invites final-year students to provide feedback on their experience over the course of their studies at the college. The results, published on the 10th July 2024, covered areas such as academic support, student voice, and learning opportunities.
Students responded well to the survey with a good response rate of 74% compared to a sector rate of 72%. The New College Swindon University Centre has received incredibly positive results this year, increasing its positivity score across all themes of the NSS for its taught provision with notable highlights including:
Students rated the overall ‘Teaching on my Course’ section with a positivity score of 89.58%, an improvement on last year, with a particularly pleasing score in this subcategory for ‘How good are the teaching staff at explaining things?’ scoring 94.44% against a sector rate of 91.13%
The ‘Assessment and feedback’ section scored above the sector rate of 78.27%, at 86.94%
‘Academic Support’ increased to 93.75% from 89.55% in 2023, against a sector rate of 85.55%.
Commenting on the college’s results, Lynne Plested, Deputy Principal – Curriculum and Quality said, “It’s fantastic news that our students are rating us highly in areas such as academic support, teaching on their course, and assessment and feedback, all of which are fundamental to the first-rate student experience we aim to offer. We have improved on last year’s positive NSS results and continue to improve the quality of the higher-level education we offer to the people of Swindon and the surrounding areas.”
Head of Higher Education, Nicola Pedley added, “Our results reflect the work that takes place all year-round, across our degree-level courses, to deliver quality teaching in an environment which nurtures our students and supports them to develop the higher-level skills they need to advance their career.” Nicola continues, “As always, the survey allows us to monitor all aspects of our provision, analysing the results closely along with student feedback, to continuously improve the student experience. We thank all our students for taking time to provide their valuable feedback.”
New College Swindon hosted its 20th Media Makeup End of Year Show at STEAM Museum. Students from Level 1 to Degree-Level strutted their final pieces down a catwalk in front of friends, family, and members of the public, inspired by a range of themes such as ‘monsters from the movies’, ‘fruit’, and ‘the circus’.
Once again, students from the BTEC Level 3 Photography course attended to photograph the show, alongside Degree-Level film and media students. The Media Makeup Show allows photography students to document before and after photos and help build their portfolios.
Graphic Design Showcase
The final Graphic Design HND show was a fantastic way to conclude the course, as each student not only exhibited their unique work, demonstrating our distinct skill sets, but also demonstrated their ability to work as a team.
HND Graphic Design student, Muriel De Souza said “Throughout the training, I gained a variety of technical abilities as well as learnt how to pay attention to detail when displaying my work at the show. Through this course, I also received an opportunity to work at a start-up called My Racing Colours as a junior graphic designer, which is surely an outstanding start for my career in design.”
Your place is waiting at New College Swindon University Centre. What are you waiting for?
New College Swindon School of Art students had a busy end to the year with some exciting performances and showcases.
Mary Poppins – Performing Arts End of Year Production
Performing arts students teamed up with photography students to capture the end of year production, Mary Poppins. The production allowed students to develop professional and personal skills, such as time management and organisation. Clare Ashley, BTEC Level 3 Photography lecturer said “Photographing college productions is excellent work experience for my students. They’re challenged to work in low-lit conditions, still producing high-quality images.”
A BTEC Level 3 Photography student, Harry Jenner said “Mary Poppins was a great work experience. I loved the mutual benefit of working with other students. I’m a little shy, but this has helped me improve my networking and communication skills.”
A Level Textiles & Fashion Roundup
It has been another busy year for A Level fashion and textiles students who were involved in the Swindogs charity event where the student’s very own SwinPup was auctioned to a new home. In addition, students were involved in ‘Stitch your Story’ with a local production company, Create Studios, having their embroidery work displayed on heritage banners.
The work was displayed in the Swindon McArthur Glen Outlet showcasing exemplary printed textiles, lingerie pieces, woven garments, wallpaper, and interiors. To top it off, 91% of the Year 2 Textiles cohort gained places at university, with others progressing to do apprenticeships with various employers such as Rolls Royce and a kitchen design company.
Karen Pau, Assistant Curriculum Manager for Creative Industries said, “The End of Year Showcase was amazing and celebrates the diversity, dedication and creativity of all of our learners.”
Digital Music Production Show (DMP)
On the 27th of June, DMP students held a sell-out show in the Phoenix Theatre at Queens Drive, promoting their music. Of the 13 acts who performed, Casey Johnston won Track of the Year 2024, for her track “Fool”, voted by students and staff around the college.
Ewan Varney was awarded Student of the Year 2024 for his outstanding work over the two years and for helping other students with their work. Ewan said “Everyone has been so helpful in helping my band start a music career. My lecturer, Stuart Rowe has guided me through some tough moments. I’ll miss the college a lot!” Stuart Rowe, Programme Lead said, “The students were amazing, everyone stepped up to do a very professional show, they ran the sound, the lighting, the door, and all of the backstage organisation.”
In addition to all the fantastic events the students have held, they also have their work displayed in the main areas of the college campuses. Joanne Gennard, Curriculum Manager for Creative Industries said, “The End of Year Exhibition is a lovely opportunity to celebrate our student’s achievements throughout the year and showcase their favourite work.”
NOSCARS
At the end of June, Creative Media students hosted their “Noscars” evening to celebrate young creative minds. The evening that was advertised, set up, run, and photographed by the students was a resounding success.
New College Swindon (NCS) Supported Internship student, Freddie, has been employed as a permanent member of staff at The Strawberry Thief, Swindon’s newest pub in Tadpole Garden Village. The Supported Internship programme is designed to support young people who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to gain paid employment.
Freddie said “The programme has given me the opportunity to showcase my skills and get out of my comfort zone. I’ve built up my confidence and practiced good time management skills. I’m really pleased they’re [Strawberry Thief] keeping me on board as I enjoy the role and the staff are really welcoming and helpful.”
As a thank you for Freddie’s hard work and a congratulations for securing his job, Arkells presented Freddie with a hamper of beverages, popcorn and cinema tickets. All of his favourites!
During the presentation, Arkell Managing Director, George Arkell, commented about Freddie’s achievement, saying, “It is an accolade to you, Freddie, that you have been taken on as a full-time member of staff after just 6 months of your Supported Internship at The Strawberry Thief. The team are lucky to have you on board.”
After the presentation, we caught up with Michelle Ferris, Supported Internship Job Coach at NCS, who added, “Freddie joined the Supported Internship Programme at New College in September 2023. Freddie wanted to improve his customer service skills and Arkells were happy to place him at Strawberry Thief pub.”
Freddie has been working for three days a week at The Strawberry Thief. He has discovered he is a dab hand at making and serving coffee. He enjoys making sure customers are happy and now looks forwards to the regular customers coming in as well as meeting new customers. Freddie has done so well; Strawberry Thief has taken him on as a permanent employee.”
