Poole is a tourist resort, attracting visitors with its large natural harbour, history, the Lighthouse arts centre and Blue Flag beaches. The headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are located in Poole, and the Royal Marines have a base in the town's harbour. Despite their names, Poole is the home of The Arts University College at Bournemouth, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and a significant part of Bournemouth University (where I am walking tomorrow).
I was kindly hosted in Poole by Bournemouth and Poole College http://www.thecollege.co.uk/ who had measured a half mile circuit and had organised for their college students from a wide range of courses to join in on the walk throughout the day. The weather this morning was torrential rain and high winds, however by the time I started the walk with the students, the sun was shining. Once again I was joined by the Fire Fighters of Dorset Fire & Rescue who came from Poole Fire Station.
I was welcomed by Lloyd Perry, the Student Finance Supervisor, and Rachel Ingham, the E-Lounge Supervisor, who explained the format of the day, coordinated a photograph with the students, staff and Fire Fighters for the local press and then whisked me away to a college radio interview run by students on the Radio Production UCAS Course which will go live on Friday.
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| With students from Bournemouth & Poole College & Fire Fighters from Poole Fire Station, Dorset Fire & Rescue Service |
We then returned to the main campus where Sue Martin, the Course Coordinator and Lecturer for Skills Track, was ready with her students to start our 8 mile walk. I also met Will Lewis and Paul Staniford who are Foundation Studies Lecturers and talked to their students throughout the day.
Listening to the students who were attending the Skills Track and Foundation Studies Courses was both educational and fascinating for me. The first “Step up to College” Course is for young people between 16 and 18 who are out of education and training and unsure about their future. This programme is ideal to discuss aspirations, build confidence and enable young people to gain a qualification. The great thing about this particular course is that young people have the opportunity to build their employability skills and try different subjects http://www.thecollege.co.uk/course-search/results/skills%20track to enable them to progress onto an apprenticeship or another course at Bournemouth & Poole College to boost job prospects and the college provides tasters in;
· Catering - learn 'survival cookery'
· Childcare - learn the skills required to work with children
· Construction Skills - there are lots of different areas in the building trade
· Conservation - take part in volunteering and learn about your community and
the environment (time permitting)
· Customer Service Skills
· Work Experience
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| Talking to students as we made our way around the half mile circuit 16 times today |
Young People attending these courses and tasters are also given lots of support to improve their skills in English, Maths, IT and Life Skills (working as a team, communications and employability skills).
The enthusiasm from the students I talked to was superb and they were enjoying the different elements of the courses and were clearly bonding with each other and supporting each other in their own ways. What impressed me even more was that many of the students wanted to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award Scheme and the relationship and respect they had for Sue Martin, the DofE Coordinator, was clearly evident. I spoke to many of the students about this additional Scheme and they felt it was a way of them gaining a great deal more confidence and additional skills.
You can find out more about the DofE Award Scheme here; http://www.dofe.org/
It was a pleasure to meet the students and staff of Bournemouth and Poole College today and also the Fire Fighters from Poole Fire Station. I’m sincerely grateful to everyone who joined me and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to, and talking with, all the young people who encouraged me on today's 8 mile walk.
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| A final photograph as we completed the 8 miles at Bournemouth & Poole College |
1669 miles to go and I’m looking forward to walking at Bournemouth University tomorrow.
Best wishes,
Phil