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A Kilkeel Dentristy student is one of there students to be awarded £1000 as part of the Choice Housing 2023 Prize. The initiative aimed at supporting students from Widening Participation backgrounds to achieve academic excellence and to complete their studies.
The Choice Housing 2023 Prize which is now in its fourth year was launched in 2019 and provides financial support to students in order to facilitate the completion of their studies. The three Queen’s students, who will each receive £1,000 in recognition of their academic attainments are Katie Stevenson from Kilkeel (Medicine, Health, and Life Sciences), who is studying Dentistry, Patrick Gormley (Engineering & Physical Sciences), studying Physics and Nicole Beck (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) currently studying for a bachelor’s in politics.
The financial support is provided to students who have participated in either the Pathway Opportunity Programme or Senior Academy Programme, both key Queen's initiatives delivered by the University’s Widening Participation Unit (WPU).
Choice Group Chief Executive, Michael McDonnell said “This partnership between Choice and Queen’s University has provided much needed support to students who have the motivation and determination to continue their studies but need some support along the way.
“The initiatives managed through Queen’s facilitate broader access to higher education and we are proud to be a part of this commitment to supporting students across the region and where possible, eliminate barriers to education. As a housing association our commitment goes beyond building quality affordable homes, pledging to support the local communities we invest in to allow them to thrive.”
Established in 2013, the Widening Participation Unit comprises the Junior Academy, the Senior Academy and more recently the Pathway Opportunity Programme. WP students may include young people who are eligible for free school meals or Education Maintenance Allowance, those who are care leavers, or adult learners.
The Senior Academy and Pathway Opportunity Programme target young people who have the ability to attend university, but who are least likely to progress to higher education and provides support to enable them to fulfil their potential.
The Choice Prizes are awarded to the Pathway Opportunity Programme or Senior Academy students, who achieve the highest overall mark in Level 1, and who will be continuing to Level 2.
Ted Jensen from Queen’s Widening Participation Unit said “We are extremely grateful to Choice Housing for their continued support of this impactful award. Prestigious prizes such as these enable us to recognise students for their academic achievements, celebrate their success and support them through their studies. Financial support is particularly important for students from Widening Participation backgrounds, and we are continually seeking to increase the support available to these students.
“I wish to congratulate the three recipients and thank Choice Housing for their generous support.”
The Pathway Opportunity Programme aims to increase the number of students from under-represented groups who will go on to study at Queen’s. The Senior Academy Programme raises awareness of higher education in post-primary pupils by developing their academic skills and supporting attainment. Working specifically with pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, these programmes are open to all and provide insights into university life.
For further information about Widening Access programmes at Queen’s, please visit www.qub.ac.uk or to find out more about supporting students at Queen’s, please contact Sorcha Mac Laimhin s.maclaimhin@qub.ac.uk
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Two Crossmaglen school pupils are the first Playr-fit Elite Athlete Scholarship recipients of the new year. Lewis Bellew and Siofra McCreesh from St Joseph's High School, Crossmaglen were presented with their awards yesterday 17 January.
The main sport for Lewis is Gaelic football and Siofra is a dual athlete taking part in Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie. Both athletes also participate in cross country running and other sports.
A Playr-fit spokesperson said "Being involved in a range of sports gives these athletes many transferable skills in sport and life. We are happy to support these athletes, helping them perform at the highest level in their range of sports and we have no doubt that you will be hearing their names a lot more in the years to come."
The Playr-fit Elite Athlete Scholarship was introduced to financially help students with their extra training expenses and allows them to focus on their sport and studies.
In the current cost of living crisis Playr-fit are making school PE uniforms more affordable for parents. Offering 5 items, a full tracksuit and a full playing kit from just £55.00 or €65.00.
If your school is interested in getting involved in this scholarship program please email sales@playr-fit.com
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Excitement is building as Southern Regional College’s BIG Apprenticeship events returns this February. The events will see exhibitors, employers, careers advisors, support organisations and College faculty staff come together to help people forge new careers.
The BIG Apprenticeship events are being held this year on Tuesday 7 February in SRC’s Newry West Campus and on Thursday 9 February in Craigavon’s Civic Centre. Both events are from 5:30pm – 7:30pm and are part of The Department for the Economy’s Apprenticeship Week.
The BIG Apprenticeship Events will provide attendees with information on over 20 apprenticeship routes plus alternative routes to university in the form of Higher Level Apprenticeships, where it is possible to get a degree whilst you learn, with the added bonus of no course fees!
There is a wealth of opportunities available at the College with multiple placement opportunities available for courses starting in September 2023, and more expected, so if you’re looking to change your career or simply unsure of your next steps, why not attend The BIG Apprenticeship event and investigate these further!
Current apprenticeships available include Construction, Electrical, Plumbing, Motor Vehicle, Professional Cookery & Butchery, Business Administration and Hairdressing ....to name a few. With many options available, come on down to the event and speak with employers and College staff to find a career path.
For applicants seeking degrees, the Higher-Level Apprenticeship (HLA) route is for you. HLAs are designed for people who want to get practical experience and be ahead of university counterparts. During the HLA experience applicants build up relevant work experience whilst studying, earning a wage, and avoiding tuition fees.
HLA course offerings include a diverse range of subjects; from Accounting, FinTech, Digital Marketing, Hospitality & Tourism, Sport & Exercise, Construction (Digital Construction and Quantity Surveying), to Engineering (Mechatronic, Electrical & Electronic, Technical Design & Manufacture), to Computing (For Industry, Cloud Computing, Analytics & Security), and Applied Industrial Sciences (Chemical & Life Science pathways).
Newry Mourne Down District Council (NMDDC) is one of the employers working with SRC and the HLA programme. NMDDC currently have several SRC apprentices working within the organisation and gaining their degree through the HLA route. NMDDC chairperson Michael Savage came along to launch the Big Apprenticeship Event in SRC’s Newry campus, and NMDDC will be available at the Newry event to speak with prospective apprentices as they launch their career. Current and past apprentices will also be at the events to speak with attendees commencing their journey.
To pre-register for one of the Big Apprenticeship Events, head to https://www.src.ac.uk and complete the registration form. Events are free to attend.
To view courses and apply for a HLA, head to higher-level.
To view apprenticeship options, check out SRC’s webpage at apprenticeships
College staff will be available on the day to provide guidance and help with applications.
Sylvia Moorhead, Business Skills Manager at Southern Regional College commented “We are delighted to have SRC’s Big Apprenticeship Events back live this year to help increase apprenticeship awareness and give more individuals along with their parents/guardians the opportunity to meet with local employers offering Apprenticeships and Higher Level Apprenticeships. The Events will give attendees the opportunity to attend drop-in sessions to hear directly from Apprentice Ambassadors on their Apprenticeship journey.
The College has a wide range of Apprenticeship and Higher Level Apprenticeship programmes available to meet the needs of our local economy. We look forward to welcoming you to SRC’s BIG Apprenticeship Events.”
#ThinkDifferentlyThinkApprenticeships
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St Malachy's Nursery School, Carnagat is open for admissions through the Education Authority Portal from today 10 January.
Children play, learn and grow together at St. Malachy’s. The school provides a safe, happy, family environment for each child. You can be confident that your child will receive the highest standard of teaching from dedicated staff.
The Education Authority Preschool Admissions Portal will open on 10th January 2023 for online applications, age 3-4 year olds.
pupilservices.eani.org.uk
The closing date for applications is 27th Jan 2023
For further information contact Mrs McKinney, school Principal on 02830 268536, or have a look on their Facebook page to see the exciting things the children get up to.
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Following the success of their 2022 programme, the Salters’ Institute will once again run 10 Discovery Days as part of its annual Festivals of Chemistry in May and June 2023.
Discovery Days give students the chance to hear from inspiring speakers, work in teams on a chemistry practical in university laboratories, and take part in a careers panel. The day is educational, challenging and encourages students to explore chemistry as a subject and as a gateway to many careers. There will also be CPD provision for teachers attending.
Spaces at Discovery Days are open to all schools. Priority, however, will be given to state schools that match our widening participation criteria that includes areas of socio-economic deprivation and low progression to higher education. The closing date for entries is Monday 6 February 2023. Schools can apply online at saltersinstitute.org.
The Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry is a three-stage, hybrid programme that includes videos, classroom activities, in-person laboratory experience at universities and a team challenge. Find out more on our website.
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Former Armagh senior footballer Oisin McConville has teamed up with Southern Regional College (SRC) to launch a survival toolkit for students moving to Further and Higher Education (FE & HE). As part of the event launch, local secondary schools from Warrenpoint and Bessbrook attended SRC’s Newry West campus last Thursday 15 December to hear Oisin speak on resilience and overcoming personal difficulties.
Oisin has had his own battles with mental health. Having overcome a gambling addiction Oisin now openly speaks of his experiences and champions available support. Oisin is a firm advocate of the importance of looking after your mental health, particularly amongst younger age groups studying and transiting between Further and Higher Education.
The toolkit consists of insights and hacks to helps students navigate and settle into new surroundings. However, the toolkit is just one of a wide range of mental health support resources available. A transitioning to HE course and video case studies detailing what is mental health; adopting/adjusting to a new environment; financial, social and academic challenges plus how to improve mental health and well-being, are all available for young people to access and work through.
Lecturers and tutors have not been forgotten about either. A train the trainer course has been developed to help staff in becoming mental well-being coaches. The course includes coaching methods and materials to support students in their move to HE.
The mental health and well-being action originated from the Well Project, an Erasmus+ KA2 funded project. SRC led on the project and collaborated with three EU partners: Dundalk Institute of Technology; Decroly, a private Vocational Education and Training institution in Northern Spain and Kettle of Fish, a Northern Irish social enterprise organisation that makes documentary films addressing social and educational issues.
Libby Shackels, SRC Director of Curriculum was pleased to welcome students and staff to the event. Libby emphasised how the project will equip young people with the knowledge, tools, and resources to empower actions, and reduce stress levels and anxiety often faced when making that important move into independent adult life.
A demonstration of the toolkit was undertaken by Catriona Regan, Head of External Engagement at SRC. Catriona showcased how students and young people alike could access tips, hacks and practical advice featured within the toolkit. Students were encouraged to make this toolkit their first stop when navigating new environments and building resilience.
The importance of looking after your mental was hammered home with videos featuring young individuals. These individuals spoke of their own experiences with mental health and solutions sought. Mental health experts featured in the videos, detailing at length the tools and techniques which can be used to improve mental health and well-being. The importance of sleep, daily comfort breaks and regular meals was highlighted.
Libby Shackels, Director of Curriculum at Southern Regional College commented “The event was a wonderful opportunity for the College to highlight The Well Project and importance of maintaining good mental health and well-being. We understand the transition to Higher Education can be daunting and we hope these resources will assist students as they undertake their next steps.
For further information, please visit the website at: www.wellproject.online
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This time it was the staff at Southern Regional College (SRC) who were placed under the examination spotlight! With the launch of the new OCN Level Two and Three Awards in Cocktail Making, Chief Executive Brian Doran together with Directors Raymond Sloan and Libby Shackels were pitted against each other in a competition to see who could compose an award-winning cocktail.
All three competitors were carefully tutored in the art of cocktail making by external hospitality venues Killeavy Castle Estate, Newry, The Whistledown Hotel, Warrenpoint and The Canal Court Hotel & Spa, Newry.
All three hospitality venues put the Chief Executive and Directors through their paces to ensure cocktail quality and composition was impressive. They did not get away lightly in the final examination exhibit, as many hospitality industry professionals attended the final examination event in SRC’s Graduate Restaurant in Newry.
In attendance on the night were Michael Stewart, Belfast Chamber Immediate Past President and Director of Bar Czar Ltd; Brendan McCarty, Killowen Gins; Sean McCormick, OCN Qualifications and Innovation Manager; Robert Burgess, Chairperson of Newry Mourne Down’s Enterprise, Regeneration & Tourism Committee, together with other local employees in the Newry and Mourne area.
All three competitors prepared a gin-based cocktail with various other ingredients. Brian Doran delivered the “Doran Doran” cocktail following training from Killeavy Castle, a gin and coconut-based cocktail. Raymond Sloan tackled the “Lady Whistledown”, a cocktail containing hints of rhubarb, raspberries, grapefruit and hibiscus while Libby Shackels prepared the “Ruby Red” cocktail, containing Chambord and the juice of a full lemon. These cocktails were specific to each hospitality venue’s business.
On the night Kevin McAllister, Downtown Radio presenter served as the master of ceremonies, keeping participants on their toes as they prepared and served up the individual cocktails in front of the audience. As cocktails were served, videos of training undertaken by all were showcased, displaying training fails and successes. Michael Stewart gave an honest opinion of each cocktail attempt before the audience on the night voted for their favourite.
In-between cocktails, guests were treated to a five-course meal prepared and cooked by Level 2 and 3 Professional Chef students, under the guidance of Conor MacCann and Lynette McMath, Level 3 Chef lecturers. During food service, guests were treated to an interview from Michelin Star Chef Alex Greene, a past SRC Culinary Arts student, who now works in EIPIC, a flagship Belfast restaurant in Michael Deane’s empire of Michelin Star restaurants.
Following voting and result verification, Brian’s “Doran Doran” cocktail was evidently a crowd pleaser as it was announced the victorious cocktail.
The event was organised to mark the launch of SRC’s OCN Level Two and Three Awards in Cocktail Making. Launching in January 2023, the cocktail qualifications are aimed at upskilling hospitality businesses and people working within the hospitality industry.
Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager for the Faculty of Professional Services at Southern Regional College commented:
“This OCN Level 2 and Level 3 Award in Cocktail Making is aimed at staff working in the industry who wish to upskill and gain a meaningful qualification. The Hospitality team at SRC are passionate about working with local employers and offering the options of short snappy courses.”
ENDS…..
For Further Information
Heather Coote, Marketing Officer – PR & Publications
Photo Caption
Image Name:
Picture 1, Brian Doran – captioned “Brian Doran, Chief Executive and CEO of Southern Regional College showcasing the award winning ‘Doran, Doran” cocktail”
Picture 2, Raymond Sloan – captioned “Raymond Sloan alongside staff from The Whistledown Hotel who provided expert tutelage for the ‘Lady Whistledown’ cocktail”
Picture 3, Libby Shackels – captioned “Libbey Shackels undergoing videoing during training preparation for the ‘Ruby Red’ cocktail with The Canal Court Hotel & Spa”
Picture 4, pictured (L-R)
Back Row: Michael Stewart, Kevin McAllister
Front Row: Raymond Sloan, Brian Doran, Libby Shackels
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Southern Regional College’s annual pantomime is set to take centre stage in the College’s Armagh campus this week with students across disciplines currently in the final stages of rehearsal. The classic fairy tale of Snow White has been given a modern twist as an unpredictable series of events occurs to Snow White whilst lost in the forest with her friends, the seven dwarfs.
So, what can the audience expect? There are still the widely anticipated chants of “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all”, the poisoned apple and Snow White’s evil stepmother, the Queen, but as for the rest….. well the audience will find out on either Wednesday or Thursday 8December 2022 when the public can attend this ticketed evening event.
Student Mary-Kate Moore “Snow White”, commented “The pantomime is very unpredictable as there is a twist to it. We can’t wait to put on this performance, especially for all the primary school children. There is an amazing buzz within the cast and we cannot wait to perform.”
The pantomime is a big collaboration between students at the college, with students on the Level 3 Extended Diploma Performing and Production Arts, Level 2 Hair & Media make-up and Level 3 Extended Diploma Music Performance & Production all contributing. Students are performing under the expert oversight of SRC staff Teresa McBride (Director), Gilda Turner (Choreography), Amy Carson (Costume and Light), Matt Duke (Musical Director), and Paddy Craig (Audio Production)
The pantomime provides a rollercoaster of emotions with lots of gags and plenty of original music composed by college students.
Daytime performances of the pantomime have been snapped up by local schools, however tickets for evening performances are still available to purchase These evening performances will take place at the college’s Armagh campus, within the performing arts studio. Available tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite
An online premier of the performance will be available from 15th December. To sign up for the premier, submit the online form at www.src.ac.uk
Looking forward to the fun Teresa McBride, Pantomime Director, commented “With student input from performing arts, music, hair & media make-up and arts, Snow White is our biggest production yet. Our students have come together to produce a truly spectacular show which I am excited to share with you this December. You will be awestruck by the pantomime.”
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Prospective students recently got a chance to check out what Southern Regional College (SRC) has to offer in higher education and degree options. The event held recently across four of SRC’s campus’, gave attendees the chance to speak directly with lecturers on course requirements and progression routes, and receive 1-1 career guidance and advice on their next steps.
SRC have expanded course offerings for entry September 2023 and is a major player in the provision of higher level skills. New higher levels courses including degrees have been developed in a range of priority sectors including digital construction, advanced engineering, cloud computing, games development, accounting and fintech.
With multiple benefits to studying close to home, the time has never been better to look into local education options. Benefits include smaller class sizes compared to university intakes, increased pastoral care and access to state of the art facilities through the newly constructed campuses in Banbridge and Armagh.
With the current cost of living crisis impacting activities, the college is keen that education and skills development does not suffer. As a community based college SRC can provide access to quality higher education for less expense and travel time. Additionally, the college provides a focus on student life, by providing access to social activities, student discounts and incentives. Negating the need to travel further afield for higher education.
With an increased course offering, SRC aspire to make ‘Home Grown Graduates’ a realistic opportunity for all. On the night, the college welcomed many potential students through its doors. Reasons provided by attendees for attending the open evening event include the opportunity to get an education close to home and getting a relevant degree from experienced industry professional tutors.
Check out the courses on offer at Newry Campus www.src.ac.uk
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