RCC Newsbite Winter 2025

Page 1


Redcar sees learners results soaring high

Leaving college with a job offer in her pocket feels like a pretty great place to be for Redcar and Cleveland College student, Ruby.

The 18-year-old from Brotton has secured a position as a primary school teaching assistant after completing the T Level in Early Years and Education.

Among those picking up her results, she said: “I have always wanted to work in teaching. The T Level offered the chance to learn and expand my knowledge but also came with a large placement.”

Helping to settle any nerves, she explained: “My placement was actually at the primary school I went to when I was little, St Joseph’s Primary School. It meant I already knew some of the staff and I settled right in.”

Assisting in the classroom and regularly working with the children in small groups,

all helped put what she was learning at college into practice.

Ruby said, it is that experience and knowledge that has given her a head start when it came to finding work.

Now looking forward to starting work as a one-to-one teaching assistant at Badger Hill Primary Academy in Brotton, she gets to work while also progressing on to higher education, studying the Foundation Degree in Early Years at Redcar and Cleveland College, in partnership with Teesside University.

Looking back at the last two years, she said: “It is so rewarding working with the children and watching them grow and create friendships. Being with them for two years I have seen them go from not being able to write their name to writing in full sentences.”

Well done, Ruby!

Bobbie

Originally from Guisborough, he is already taking steps towards his future career in health and social care, coming straight from a night shift at a care home to collect his results!

Achieving a double A* in his results, Bobbie spoke to us about his ultimate dream of working in dermatology. He has secured a place at Teesside University to study adult nursing and looks to develop his specialism from there.

The journey hasn’t always been the easiest for Bobbie, but when reflecting on his time at the college, he said “Even through all of the difficult parts, I’m so glad I picked Redcar and Cleveland College. My tutors have been the best, and I’ve been able to use everything I’ve learnt to get a job in care and now gain a spot at university.”

Congratulations Bobbie - you’re a superstar!

Ella-Mae

Ella-Mae takes motherhood and studying all in her stride.

Coming to our college from Outwood Academy Redcar, Ella-Mae spoke to us about her experience coming to college as a young mum. She said, “I had the drive and ambition to not let this stop me from achieving my dreams, and do what it takes to go onto my dream career.”

Securing her place at Teesside University to study adult nursing by achieving a grade A in health and social care, Ella-Mae expressed her excitement for her next steps. Longer term, her aim is to become a fully qualified nurse to support her family.

Well done, you’ve smashed it!

A huge congratulations to all our learners that achieved their qualifications at Redcar and Cleveland College!

OUR HAIRDRESSING STUDENTS GOT TECHNICAL WITH A WELLA MASTERCLASS

We had the pleasure of welcoming in Wella to give our hairdressing students a masterclass in all things colour!

From pigment to correction, they got a firsthand insight into creating amazing results on live models.

Thanks to Wella for supporting our students and getting them colour ready for their careers!

Check out our TikTok and Instagram accounts to see the work in action...

Piecing together new friendships in the community

Age was quickly forgotten when members of Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Later Life Club met with students from Redcar and Cleveland College to flex their creative muscles.

The result is a four-foot Tree of Life mosaic that now adorns the wall of a new community garden launched at Redcar Community Fire Station.

“Everybody is just in awe of what they have created,” said Nicky Huntley, Cleveland Fire Brigade’s befriending coordinator.

Davey Veitch, from the commissioned services team at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: “We had a bit of underused space that just needed a bit of love and attention. We decided to transform it into something a bit nicer for the Later Life Club members.”

With a £5000 community grant from The Woodsmith Foundation, to help cover the cost of the garden, and £2000 from Bupa, the small yard has been transformed into a much more welcoming space.

The club turned to Redcar and Cleveland College to ask if students could lend a hand with a bespoke piece of artwork. King’s Trust Achieve students met with the Later Life Club members to share themes and ideas.

“Everybody is just in awe of what they have created.”

Settling on a Tree of Life mosaic, Nicky said: “Working on the mosaic seemed to help the conversation to flow. Given something to focus on, age didn’t seem to come into it. The interaction was brilliant.”

Described by its members as “lifechanging”, the Later Life Club (LLC) was created by the fire service for those aged 65 and above, from Redcar and Cleveland, to offer social opportunities for those living alone or who may be feeling isolated.

Made possible with support from business grants and awards, including those from the Woodsmith Foundation and National Lottery, calls are now going out to businesses for backing to carry on the club’s work next year.

Bi-monthly meetings provide a safe place for a get together and a chat, with regular guest speakers, workshops, games and quizzes and, of course, there’s tea and biscuits.

Nicky said: “From the brigade side it’s a chance to share important safety messages as we offer advice, safer home visits and provide free smoke alarms. Most of all we are here to offer friendship and make sure members of the community feel welcome.”

Redcar and Cleveland College’s King’s Trust Achieve tutor, Daniel Ramsdale, said: “It was great experience for the students to be able to spend time with the

Later Life Club members, to chat and have a bit of a laugh together. It was so nice to see the two age groups working together, telling each other about their lives and generally sharing advice.”

Ronnie Iveson, 85, said: “The young ones were really good, we went and met them at the college, and they gave us some good ideas.”

Working on smaller sections of the design – which comprises 3962 pieces – King’s Trust student Toby, 17, said: “Because we worked on it in pieces it was good to see it all put together. It’s a bit bigger than I thought it was going to be!”

Assistant chief fire officers Simon Weastell and Kristine Ward were there to see the garden and mosaic officially unveiled.

Simon said: “The garden is now a lovely space for the Later Life Club members, the community and staff to enjoy. We regularly attend challenging incidents and so to have this space to come and relax and reflect will help with the wellbeing of our staff.”

REDCAR AND CLEVELAND COLLEGE

Corporation Road, Redcar, TS10 1EZ

Tel: 01642 473132

Email: info@cleveland.ac.uk www.cleveland.ac.uk

Don’t forget to check out all our news stories on our website. Scan the QR code below:

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
RCC Newsbite Winter 2025 by etcgroup - Issuu