The reaseheath college student magazine
Issue 8
d a m G A R s e o g h t a e h e Reas
RAG Pi ct ure Th is
S o c ie ti e s
Also inside What a RAG - tastic year We care about your welfare We’re all going to the Zoo
YOUR STUDENT ASSOCIATION 2016
Introducing your new student association I would like to take the chance to welcome you all back for the New Year! We’ve got a jam packed line up of events and activities this term and I’m excited to continue to head up the Student Association (SA) as President, continuing to support them with all the RAG fundraising and hard work they do. As the year goes on there will be changes made to the SA team as members find themselves settling into their roles and deciding on what suits them best. Keep an eye out as the changes will be updated regularly on our Reaseheath Student Association Facebook Page and also here in Coverage! Finally I hope you enjoy the rest of this term, make sure you get involved in any activity for RAG, as help is always needed!! Any suggestions you may have regarding college life can be brought to either me or Lisa Harris (Student Liaison Officer) in the bar. Rob Sparkes President
Getting to know your Vice President… Hi my name is Josh Bufton, I’m a third year student studying for my zoo management degree. I have lived on site for the past three years and can happily say some of my best memories have been created here. I am involved with the Student Association (SA) by being the HE College Board Representative and also the SA Vice President. When I’m not helping out with the SA or doing assignments I also work at Reaseheath Zoo. The zoo is a great place to work as it allows me to further my hands on experience working with animals. Josh Bufton Vice President
Introducing your Student Association
2015-2016 Rob Sparkes - President Josh Bufton - Vice President - Academic and HE College Board Rep* Katie Gibson - Vice President - Social and Sports Rosie Swain - Secretary Ben Lloyd - General Chair Esther Keeys - Treasurer Jimmy Doodson - Equality and Diversity Rep Josh Berry - HE Academic Board Rep Ben Nickisson - Health and Safety Rep Tom Allen - RAG Chair* Paris Moran - RAG Vice Chair Faye McTigue - RAG Secretary Connor Mcmillan - Sports Chair Ben Wynne - Sports Vice Chair Carl Feeney - Sports Secretary Harry Cullum- Social Chair Sam Randell - Social Vice Chair Rhi Wolff - Social Secretary Sam Field - Press Officer Gemma Williams - Press Officer* Jazz Macdonald - Equality and Diversity Rep Charlotte Bedford- Health and Safety Rep Hannah Holwell - Sustainability Rep Jodie Jones - FE College Board Rep Georgia Coxon - FE Academic Board Rep *new roles
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION KEEP CHECKING THE FACEBOOK PAGE TO SEE WHAT WE’RE UP TO. WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/REASHEATHSTUDENTASSOCIATION
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CONTENTS Picture This (4) A Very Festive Carol Service (6) What a Rag-tastic year (7) We care about your welfare (10) Interviews (10) Meet the Reps
(11)
We’re all going to the Zoo
(11)
The Christmas Ball
(12)
The Sports Pages The Final Word
(14) (15)
Hello, my name is Sam Field and I am this year’s Press officer. Part of my role involves creating Coverage, the student magazine,to bring you the exciting news and events from the previous term. I hope you enjoy reading through this issue and its great hearing all the feedback from yourselves, the students! Enjoy and thanks for reading! Sam.
Keep updated with all the latest student news - follow the Reaseheath Student Association on Facebook reaseheathstudentassociation or read the student blog, Coverage Xtra reaseheathblog.org/coverage
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PICTURE THIS
UPCOMING SOCIALS 4
90’s Rave night - 21st January S*!t shirt night? - 28th January Pimps and Hoes Social - 4th February Valentine’s Social - 11th February
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A very festive carol service On Friday 11th December Reaseheath hosted their annual carol service. Our welfare officer Drew Walker, supported by his very own family band played us through traditional carols which got everyone up and singing along raising festive spirits.
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What a RAG-tastic year! It’s been a jam packed few months of fundraising for our RAG charity, British Heart Foundation. There’s been loads of activities on and off campus organised by RAG chairman, Tom Allen. From a human auction, monthly cake sales to our Crazy Christmas Jumper Day and two massive weekends of store collections at local supermarkets in Nantwich – it’s been none stop! The current RAG total is £3,912 and we’ve raised a further £4,500 for the Royal British Legion, so that’s an amazing £8,412 of charitable donations
£5,000
Totaliz e
r
The tota l raised so far £8 ,412
A very special thank you to Olywn from Sainsbury’s
in less than 6 months!
Thank you to Olywn Payton from Sainsbury’s in
Please continue to show your support with the
create so many fabulous cakes for our monthly RAG
host of events we’ve got lined up on the RAG
Nantwich for being the reason we’ve managed to cake sales!
calendar this year so we can smash our RAG
The Sainsbury’s PR assistant organised for the
target of £25,000.
Nantwich store to make a donation of a range of ingredients to bake our cakes ready to go on sale. Generous donations came in from all across the college with students and staff saying they really could ‘taste the difference’ in our cakes!
Getting to know your RAG chairman
Here’s a little more information about our latest fundraising feats Poppy Appeal: During the first two weeks in November, a number of students volunteered their time to support the Royal British Legion in selling poppies at Crewe Train Station. Thanks to generous donations, a total of £4,500 was raised! Christmas wrapping: Students provided a charity wrapping service for shoppers on Thursday 3rd December at the Market Shopping Centre in Crewe. The stand opened from 11am to 7pm and students acted as ‘Santa’s little elves’ by assisting shoppers in the area by wrapping their Christmas gifts in exchange for a donation to RAG. Human Auction: Several brave students decided to offer themselves to be auctioned off on Wednesday 25th November, a total of £25.68 was raised for the charity and even our own chairman was auctioned off for £10!! Morrison’s store collection 5th/6th and 12th/13th December : The local Morrison’s in Nantwich obtained their very own Santa and his elves over a double weekend of store collections, where dedicated students spent their time cheering up customers and staff and installing some Christmas spirit. A total of £923.69 was raised during both the weekends.
My name is Tom and I am a second year BSc Wildlife Conservation and Ecology student. This year I have taken on the demanding role of RAG chair- I basically get to raise lots of money for an amazing charity! The figure of funds raised so far is rapidly rising and with big RAG events on the horizon (keep an eye out during January onwards!) we are on our way to reach the £25,000 target!
If any of you have any ideas to add to our RAG calendar get in touch with me on the following email address: sa.ragcharity@gmail.com
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Santa dash: On Thursday 10th December Foundation students took part in a festive Christmas procession completing a one mile course around the college grounds and helped to raise a staggering £112 for RAG! The students and staff got into the festive spirit of the day by coming dressed for the occasion. Santa’s sledge was seen as well as many of the students asking for generous donations towards the British Heart Foundation charity.
Dont Miss RAG Week 2016
7th -11th M
arch
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We care about YOUR
INTERVIEWS
WELFARE
When you’re starting out in the workforce, it may seem that everyone is getting a job faster than you. Well, it’s time for a reality check.
My name is Drew Walker and I am part of
The truth is that over a million students finishing college each year, so I promise that whatever your situation, lots and lots of other people are right there with you.
the welfare team at Reaseheath College. The rest of my team include Amanda Pointon, who is involved with LGBT and counselling services and Natalie Williams. Our office can be found upstairs in the reception building ‘Centrepoint’ (that’s the same building as the library and student services). The welfare team are here to be ‘your safe place to be yourself’, providing a completely confidential environment to express and unload all your worries and stress. These services vary from: • Help with housing • Mental health support • Stress • Coping with student life • Depression and anxiety The welfare office is open Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm and drop in sessions are available throughout the week.
If you’d like to make an appointment to see one of the welfare team, you can do this via your tutor, student services or by emailing us directly on dreww@reaseheath.ac.uk.
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Take a look at the Q&As below for the real stats about college students and the job market: 1. How long does it take the average college student to get a job? It can generally takes several months to land a first job, so be prepared not to find a position overnight. 2. How long do most recent college students plan to stay in their first job?
last. While it’s commendable to look for an employer you’ll want to remain with for a long time, it’s okay to make a decision based on where you want to be for the next few years only. 3. About how many jobs will the average person have in his or her lifetime? The average worker currently holds ten different jobs before they’re forty, and this number is projected to grow. Forrester Research predicts that today’s youngest workers - that’s you - will hold 12 to 15 jobs in their lifetime. But don’t panic you won’t hold so many different jobs that you have to go through the whole job search process every year or two! Rob Icke Careers Coordinator
60% of college students said they planned to stay in their first job for two years or less. If you’re an average college student, it’s highly unlikely that your first employer will be you
WE ARE HERE TO HELP. • Look at Reaseheath 4 You on Moodle - for helpful websites • Careers Advice appointments – Monday – Friday • CV Workshops – by appointments • National Careers Service All students whilst on their study programme at Reaseheath College have an entitlement to a free impartial Careers and Guidance review with a qualified CEIAG Advisor For further information or to book careers advice appointment or CV workshop email
CAREERS@REASEHEATH.AC.UK
MEET THE REPS Hannah Holwell, Sustainability Rep I am currently in my second year studying for a degree in wildlife conservation. I am an active member of the SA helping out with ticket sales and events, however my main role is the sustainability rep. It’s my aim this year to try and involve as many students as possible in fundraising and different events to help make the campus more sustainable. If you have any ideas, would like to get involved or want to find out more about what it means to be sustainable, then please drop a message to the Reaseheath Student Association Facebook page with ‘sustainability ideas’ as the subject.
A few words from Rhi Wolff, Social Secretary My job as part of the SA is to take the minutes from our weekly ‘social’ meetings and write down all the ideas that are generated so we can share them with all the SA members. I think that some of the most successful socials of the year so far have been Halloween Ball, Bavarian themed night, UV party and the foam party. We ended last term in real style with a magical ‘Harry Potter’ themed Christmas Ball, which was a complete sell out! Four hundred students partied the night away at a black tie disco in the bar (see page 4 for the photo highlights). Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we had great feedback.
We’re all going to the zoo Reaseheath campus holds its very own zoo, home to over 150 species, varying from harvest mice, ring tailed lemurs, creepy crawlies of all kinds and George, the Serval cat. Also known as the Animal Management Centre, this new building is a fantastic facility utilised by the students for regular practical sessions as part of their courses, as well as weekend volunteering. The zoo is also open to the public during holiday seasons, summer being most popular with additional activities on offer.
The
Christmas Ball 2015
The Student Association President’s Christmas Speech
It was hard to think of something to write, so I took some motivation from scrooge himself Mr Birkitt and thought about the past present and future of Christmas time. Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and happiness. But for many it can be a time of sadness, without those they have lost that year. So for my first toast I’d like you all to raise your glasses to the happy memories of lost ones this Christmas. The present! I’ve already had a pick at the roasties and they are amazing, so I’m sure you’ll join me in a thank you to the canteen staff for the food we about to receive. Remember to take your number up so the canteen know what you’re having please, they’re good cooks but they aren’t mind readers. At present charities like British Heart Foundation are fighting hard to find the cure for diseases that affect our lives way to often, so a thank you for all the RAG work that has been done this year so far. A big thank you to Meredydd and the Senior Management Team for the long hours they put into making this college the best they can. Furthermore, I’d like to invite student services staff to stand up and you all to join me in a round of applause for all the long, long hours the student services team put into providing you with the Reaseheath experience! Additionally to this, the Student Association, if you’d like to stand as well. These guys spend their free time creating amazing events, and wait until you see what they have given you tonight!!! Now looking to the future. You’ve seen the work the Student Association can do, I hope you’re as excited as me for what else is going to happen this academic year! You can’t guess the future, apart from that awful hangover in the morning. And the fact that NO ONE will be at Mr Birkitts desk at 8:30am? The future is yours forget about grudges and arguments they will only hold you back. I hope you enjoy tonight, and have a very merry Christmas with loved ones and a spectacular new year! Rob Sparkes Student Association President
The Sports Pages Bubble Football A huge well done to all who took part in the RAG Bubble Football match. We raised £57.88 for RAG, hope you enjoyed it! Keep an eye out for posters around campus and keep checking the Student Association Facebook page for more information about the next ‘one off’ event to get involved with as well as all of the usual activities we have on offer.
Reaseheath flies high at regional trampolining tournament Two talented members of Reaseheath College’s trampolining squad are to represent the north west region at next year’s Association of Colleges (AoC) Sport National Championships. Georgia Thomasson, 16, and Rosie Lucas, 17, who are both studying for their Level 3 Diploma in Sport Performance, took first and fourth place respectively in an AoC Sport regional qualifier for trampolining, held in Lancashire. Eight members of Reaseheath’s trampolining team took part in the tournament. All put in strong performances and enjoyed their first experience of inter
Get involved 14
college competition. Based on their outstanding performances, Georgia and Rosie were selected for the north west trampolining squad and will compete at the AoC Sport National Championships, to be held in Tyne and Wear in April 2016!
Netball training Monday evenings 7-8pm in the sports hall Football training Monday afternoons 4:30pm in the sports hall Rugby training Tuesday evenings 5- 6pm in the sports hall
THE FINAL WORD Dear All, As the new term is here, I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas break and have settled well back into student life at Reaseheath. You will be aware by now of the fantastic Ofsted result after our inspection in November and I would like to thank you all so much for the way you impressed Ofsted inspectors when they observed classes and met with you on campus. They commented on how positive, engaged and supportive you all were and that you are a credit to your family and the College. The Student Association work really hard on your behalf and in many ways, influences the way we run and manage
the college. This year a target of ÂŁ25,000 has been set for the RAG appeal and I am confident, working together as the Reaseheath family, we can achieve this. Please engage in every way possible with the events organised as this will ensure you really enjoy the RAG programme as well as help us raise money for such a worthy cause. Make sure you continue to take care of each other, keep safe and have a fantastic start to your term. Best wishes Meredydd
W E ’ V E S AV E D
YOUR
t a e S
Stay on to study a degree at Reaseheath Find out more www.reaseheath.ac.uk/higher-education
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Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th March Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th March
gle Combined and sin now attraction tickets line available to buy on
Doors open 10am - 4pm
www.reaseheath.ac.uk/lambing janec@reaseheath.ac.uk
BUY ONLINE BEFO RE SUNDAY 28th FEB TO RECEIVE A DISCO U
01270 613215
10%
NT
DISCOUNT
Reaseheath College Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 6DF
Please wear suitable footwear
This event is not suitable for expectant mothers
No dogs allowed