What’s On
Winter Events
PAGES 01 - 05
Best Student Eats
PAGE 06
Dyslexia Awareness Month
PAGES 07 - 08
Enrichment
PAGES 09 - 10
Writing Opportunities
PAGES 11 - 12
Upcoming Events
PAGES 13 - 15
Extras PAGE 16
Welcome to this extremely cool edition of the newsletter. This volume has been modified to make it dyslexia-friendly in recognition of Dyslexia Awareness Month, including the use of the Helvetica font. It also features the most student submissions ever. Countless thank yous to all students involved! And of course, with winter being just around the corner, we’ve curated a variety of events and articles to get you into the festive spirit. Below is a quick summation of what you can expect:
Winter Fair
Festive Charity Drive ��
Dyslexia Awareness Month ��
Enrichment updates ��
Writing opportunities ��
Children in Need ��
Careers Events ��
UCAS Workshops ����
Long Road Events Long Road Events
Winter Fair
With winter being just around the corner, we have curated a variety of events and articles to get you into the festive spirit. First up is the Winter Fair, an amazing event that has been running annually since 2022.
The annual Winter Fair is always a hit, and this year promises to be just as spectacular. Set up with the help of the students in the Humanitarian Society, the fair will take place on Tuesday 9 December from 10:30am - 2pm in the Student Centre. A few of the events will involve money, so we’d recommend you bring in both cash and card if you’d like to get involved with them.
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The Jimmy’s food donation drive is something we’ve done annually for a few years now, check out page 3 for more information.
If you have any questions or you’d like to get involved, send an email to enrichment@longroad.ac.uk.
Christmas Concert
Christmas Tree Decorating
If a Christmas Concert isn’t your thing, you can get in the festive spirit by helping us decorate the Student Centre! We’ll have a tree up in the entrance area and a whole host of deccies for you garnish wherever your heart desires.
Come to the Student Centre on Monday 1 December at 12:20. st
It’s going to absolutely sleigh.
Winter Fundraiser
The holiday season can be a difficult time for those most in need. Homelessness is a very important issue in Cambridge and also to our students, and there are numerous charities who are doing their part to help. Jimmy’s is one of them, and their aim is to provide support and housing to people sleeping rough.
We recognise that we can all make small contributions that make a massive difference, and so for the fourth year running we will be doing a fundraiser at Long Road. The donation of food and other items ensures residents have the essentials they need, freeing up funding for other critical support. See the poster to the right for a list of items that are acceptable to donate.
If you would like to donate any items, please drop off your items at the Student Centre or the reception. All donations must be made by Tuesday 16th December. Alternatively, you can donate money on the Jimmy’s website. Last year Jimmy’s sent us a letter thanking students and staff for their donations. This is what they wrote:
I am writing to express our gratitude for once again thinking of Jimmy’s with the wonderful donations donated just before Christmas from Long Road Sixth Form College Because of our community’s support, Jimmy’s has been able to provide nearly half a million bed spaces and serve one million meals over the past 29 years, but more than that, it has changed lives, helped people find stability, reconnect with family, secure employment, and regain their sense of self-worth. Your support means the world to us and to every individual who finds safety, dignity, and hope within our walls Thank you again Best wishes from us all at Jimmy’s
”
By Daisy Brooks
Entertainment will begin from 12pm and the lights will be switched on at 5pm making a wonderful day out in the Christmas time. The annual tradition also features another event on Thursday, November 13 at the Station where the CB1 area will be lit up. th
Or you could step into a winter wonderland on the 9 of December with Christmas Carols on the River. It is an enchanting event than shows the true heart and soul of the festive season in Cambridge. It is a unique charity event that takes place on the serene waters of the River Cam and offers a magical blend of music, community and scenery. As you embark on a lovely punt tour, the voices of the choir from St John the Evangelist fill the crisp air with beloved Christmas carols we all know and love. It is all the more special knowing that 100% of the ticket sales directly benefit Tom’s Trust, a dedicated charity supporting children with brain tumours. Book now for £70 for 3 people and be a part of a cherished Cambridge tradition that lights up lives, one carol at a time.
Another chance to give back is The Big Give Christmas Challenge. All donations given to the Cambridge Acorn Project will be doubled as part of the pledge model of match funding. In 2024, the Big Five Christmas Challenge raised £44.7m for 1267 incredible charities with over 119,000 donations! There are many companies getting involved this year so be sure to check it out and be a part of the people helping those in need.
And lastly, a sweet event for this Christmas is Candles at Christmas 2025 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Chapel on December 2 It is a lovely opportunity to reflect and remember the life of someone special and to pause and cherish the memories of our lives. The services take place from 3pm to 6pm featuring music, comfort readings, and lighting of candles in honour of loved ones. The service is free but be sure to reserve seats. There is also an option to suggest a piece of music or make a donation.
By Laura Hunter
Dyslexia
noun 1 a condition of neurodevelopmental origin that mainly affects the ease with which a person reads, writes, and spells, typically recognized as a specific learning disorder in children.
Q.
Dyslexia cannot be defined in a single sentence.
It’s much more than that; its struggles, stories and importantly, achievements of 1 in 10 people in the world.
When writing this I didn’t want to produce another generic article on ‘words jumbling together’ and ‘struggling to spell’, although these may be common dyslexic tendencies they don’t define a dyslexic person So instead, I turned to the students of Long Road for their take on dyslexia to create a truly student-led article asking them the simple question of: ‘What is dyslexia to you?’ Sometimes dyslexia can feel so isolating and draining, but I wanted to showcase the power of this learning difference and how amazing it can be when used to its advantage through creativity, problem solving, and different approaches to learning and reassure anyone struggling.
A. A. A.
“It’s like swimming against the current only you can see”
“To me, dyslexia is the answer to the many questions I have had in the past. How is this person next to me reading the next page already? What is it that I’m doing wrong? I found it hard believing that I process things differently, but I wasn’t just stupid, but since then, I find my day-to-day life much more enjoyable as I go on with tasks, because I can appreciate the way I go around things that makes me unique to everyone else’s”
“Dyslexia to me is like a superpower that helps me see things from a different perspective to others”
“What is dyslexia to you?”
‘For me personally, dyslexia makes me get in my own head. I’m sat in exam halls questioning why everyone is turning their pages before mine. I’m sat reading articles for references questioning why lines of text are joining together. I’ve come to peace with how hard I find it to read and process information, but that makes me who I am, and I wouldn’t want to be a quick reader anyway!’
‘To me dyslexia makes me unique, although I sometimes find it hard to see others around me excelling whilst, I seem to do all I can yet am still struggling. I know I am strong and capable and sometimes society just doesn’t realise that, yet we do, together, so maybe we’re the smartest of all’
From Jamie Oliver to Noel Gallagher so many talented celebrities have this learning difference and have achieved great things and inspired so many along the way many speaking about their experiences along the way. These people have accomplished so much so why shouldn’t you…
There is such amazing support which can be accessed at Long Road, all you have to do is ask. My gratitude to those who have supported me through my learning at college can never be truly represented through words, but I will be forever grateful. How can a learning difference be embarrassing? Sometimes we just need that extra support whether it be differing coloured paper, a laptop or even just for something to be explained again, we are just as deserving of success as everyone else and having dyslexia is not going to change that.
Reach out, get the support you deserve, let Dyslexia be your superpower, wear it proudly and never let anyone tell you anything different. I am so grateful to all the individuals who have contributed to this article, some days are harder than others for us but always take comfort in the fact you are not alone and will never be alone.
Additional Learning Support email: support@longroad ac uk
EEnrichment nrichment
New Clubs
Curious about the secrets of business or how investment can benefit you? The brand new studentled Investment and Business Club will help you navigate the world of commerce. Come along to G19 on Wednesdays 14:40 - 16:10.
Model UN is an academic and recreational activity where students take on the roles of delegates from different countries, simulating the proceedings of the United Nations. Participants debate and seek solutions for real-world global issues. Interested? Join us in K103 on Wednesdays 12:20 - 13:05.
Club Updates ‼
Dungeons and Dragons Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is immensely popular this year, so much so that the club is now running at full capacity. If you’d like to get involved with future campaigns, you can email Sophie at sgentry@longroad.ac.uk to be added to the waiting list.
Also back this year is Pokemon Trading Card Club. If you don’t have your own deck or know how to play don’t worry! We have pre-made decks you can borrow and Nadia can teach you how to play. Come catch ‘em all in E2 on Tuesdays 12:20 - 13:05.
Debate Club is back on this year with some changes to the times and room. Later in the year you can look forward to British Parliamentary Style Debates. Come to K104 on Wednesdays 12:20 - 13:05 or Thursdays 13:55 - 14:35.
WarHammer Club is back after a short hiatus. If you’re interested in building, painting, tabletop gaming, or the lore and storytelling behind WarHammer, you can join in. Come to G17 on Wednesdays 14:40 - 16:10.
If you love slasher cinema, you’ll just die for Long Road’s Slasher School. Learn about genre conventions, special effects, filming techniques, and practice making your own scary movie. Starting 11 November in G116 2:45 - 4:00. th
By Jenna Bourhani
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/tower-poetry/enter-tower-poetry-competition
48 lines or under Free entry, 16 - 18 years
Deadline:Thursday 19 February 2026 at 12 noon th
“Riddles are an ancient form of poetry, found throughout the classical and folk literatures of the world.” Riddles are the theme for the prestigious Tower Poetry Competition this year, with potential prizes between £500 and £5,000!
The Long Lens at Long Road Sixth Form
https://issuu.com/longroadsixthformcollege/docs/the
If you’d like to attend, register here: https://forms.office.com/e/r4QFfgiYuA
A Puppet Christmas Carol
If you’re a fan of the Muppets, this is for you! This is a truly delightful new musical take on the classic story, on Dec 14 @ Ickleton Village Hall and Dec 20 @ Atrium Theatre at Chesterton School. There’s no Kermit but the puppets are incredible – and you can even meet them after the show! Tickets are available here: https://corkscrewtheatre.co.uk/productions/a-christmas-carol/
Come and meet Justine Brazil who will talk about her career as an in-house lawyer for a large company and how to qualify as a solicitor This is a great opportunity to find out about legal careers outside law firms. Sign up using the QR code below or at this link:
https://forms.office.com/e/Kt1kBjm4J6
Are you a talented singer? Maybe you play an instrument and would like to strut your stuff? If so, you might be interested in our Open Mic events They run throughout the year on Wednesdays at The Stage and they are also livestreamed on YouTube. See previous performances on our YouTube channel. For further information email: erowlands@longroad.ac.uk.
Children in Need �� ��
Mark your calendars for Friday November 14th! The Humanitarian Society have organised a fabulous event for Children in Need, and it's going to be epic. You can expect:
A scrumptious bake sale
Guess how many jellybeans in the jar
An epic badmin-thon
Scan the QR Code to get involved with the badmin-thon, and swing by the Sports Centre from 9 AM to 4 PM—don’t miss the fun!
UCAS Workshops ����
Are you a year 2 student who needs some help with your UCAS Application? Not sure where to start? Come along to a UCAS Drop-in Session. UCAS drop-in Sessions will run weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting from Tuesday 11th November from 2:40 - 3:30 in E3, located in the Student Centre. Come along for personal statement advice and general support in completing your UCAS applications!
University Stands
During November we will have a number of university representatives based in the LRC to offer advice. Just come by and drop in any time between 10am and 3pm!
University of Lincoln - 20 November th Anglia Ruskin University - 24 November th
EExtras xtras
Bus Survey
Long Road is teaming up with Cambridge Citizens to campaign for better local buses. However, we need your feedback- no comment is too savage, or too sweet! Leave your feedback here: https://forms.office.com/e/K7PShyJ8Hu
Black History Month
October is Black History Month, and unfortunately we couldn’t find time to do anything to celebrate for it this issue. However, you can have a look at the display our Enrichment Co-Ordinator Charlotte did last year here: https://issuu.com/longroadsixthformcollege/docs/black_history_month_article_2024
You can also check out the Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, linked here: https://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/exhibitions/made-in-ancient-egypt
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