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Staff and students at Southern Regional College have delivered an incredible 1,108 items to support local families in need and additionally have raised £1,734 for Alzheimer's Society NI through a Christmas raffle.
Through a month-long appeal running from 12 November to 12 December, students and staff joined forces to collect 310 toys and 798 essential food and toiletry items, making a tangible difference at a critical time of year.
Students across multiple campuses took the lead in several fundraising activities. Travel and Tourism students on the Newry campus hosted a coffee morning at the college's Graduate Restaurant raising £849, whilst students on the college's LEAP programme at Armagh campus demonstrated their creativity and enterprise skills creating a range of handmade Christmas crafts and sweet treats which were sold on campus, in addition to organising a raffle.
All proceeds from the Armagh sale and raffle were used to purchase additional gifts for the toy appeal. Armagh LEAP students also donated food items directly to the church-based community group VIBE in Armagh, further extending their support within the local community.
In Banbridge, LEAP students showcased their talents producing a range of handmade Christmas crafts and a festive hamper, which were sold at Tesco, Castlewellan Road earlier this month. Through their efforts, students raised £242, with the full amount being added to the overall donation made to Alzheimer's Society NI.
Commenting on the initiatives, Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College said: "The Christmas spirit is clearly alive and well across Southern Regional College and I am incredibly proud of the collective effort shown by our staff and students. From donating food and toys to supporting student-led fundraising activities, everyone has played a part in making a meaningful difference for others this Christmas. This is the perfect season for hope and generosity, and as a Further Education college rooted in our local community, we see first-hand the pressures many learners and families face."
The combined efforts of staff and students across all Southern Regional College campuses have ensured that local families will benefit from much-needed support this festive season, whilst also raising vital funds for Alzheimer's Society NI, the college's charity partner.
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Panto season has arrived at Southern Regional College with first-year Performing Arts Level 3 Extended Diploma students staging Jack and the Beanstalk with a playful western-themed twist on the timeless tale. The production at the Armagh campus welcomed over 700 primary school pupils from Monday, 1 December to Thursday, 4 December, with visiting schools including St Brigid's Drumilly and St Brigid's Glassdrummond, Crossmaglen.
In true panto style, the production was packed with humour, colour and audience participation, bringing the much-loved story vividly to life.
This is the first year Performing Arts students have staged Jack and the Beanstalk, having successfully undertaken multiple pantomime productions in recent years. The production takes a multidisciplinary approach, with students from Music, Art & Design, Hairdressing & Beauty departments bringing their expertise together.
Two special evening performances took place on Wednesday, 3 December and Thursday, 4 December for members of the public to witness the creativity and talent of students involved.
Student Cassie Donnelly from Dungannon takes on the role of villain Flash Creep. Cassie, who has been involved in performing arts from a young age, said that the teamwork involved in providing an entertaining experience for all has been second to none, and rivalling productions put on by professionals in the Grand Opera House, but on Armagh's doorstep. The production team at the College created this year's pantomime to provide comedy for both children and adult members of the audience. Student Amy-Lee Loney from Derrytrasna brings to life the role of Pat the Cow and gained a significant chunk of the audience's laughter.
Teresa McBride, Course Co-Ordinator for the Performing Arts Level 3 Extended Diploma, commented: "Nothing marks the start of the festive season quite like the arrival of our annual pantomime. This year's production of Jack and the Beanstalk has delighted primary school audiences and the wider community alike. Students have demonstrated remarkable professionalism, creativity, and teamwork to deliver yet again another performance full of energy, laughter, and Christmas spirit. The annual pantomime has been a wonderful way to showcase student's talent and spread festive cheer throughout the community and I'm excited to see what else students deliver throughout the remainder of the academic year."
The production marked another successful collaboration between departments at Southern Regional College, showcasing the diverse talents of students while bringing much needed festive entertainment to the community.
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has celebrated the winners of its annual Schools' Environmental Poster competition, with ten pupils selected from hundreds of entries submitted by over 50 schools across the district.
The prizegiving took place in the Council Chamber in Downpatrick, where Councillor Philip Campbell, Council Chairperson, welcomed pupils and guests. The competition required primary and secondary school pupils throughout the district to design a poster on an environmental topic of their choice, with this year's entries highlighting issues including climate change, single use plastics and litter.
Two winning posters will be displayed on billboards in Newry City and Downpatrick in early 2026. Dobrusia Mankowska of St Mary's Primary School, Barr and Alex Doyle of Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch, will see their designs transformed into the large-scale displays.
Councillor Campbell presented each winner with a framed copy of their poster and a voucher. "Everyone here today is a winner. I am highly impressed by how you all have been able to use your obvious artistic talents to highlight important environmental issues such as Climate Change, Single Use Plastics and the damaging litter it creates. I look forward to seeing Dobrusia and Alex's posters transformed into billboards in early 2026," said Cllr Campbell.
The primary school winners were Eoin Tumelty, Sacred Heart PS, Dundrum; Éanna McKibben, St Columban's PS, Kilkeel; John McArdle, Clonalig PS, Culloville; Dobrusia Mankowska, St Mary's PS, Barr and Erin Mackin, Carrick PS, Burren.
Secondary school winners were Kirya Young, St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel; Hannah Bradley, Sacred Heart Grammar, Newry; Alex Doyle, Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch; Daniel Campbell, Abbey CBS, Newry and Shea Friary, St Joseph's Boys' High School, Newry.
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Schools from across the Crotlieve DEA came together for a Christmas concert in Warrenpoint Town Hall on Monday 1 December, with 180 young people showcasing their talents through festive music, song and dance.
The event was produced by Caitriona Featherstone from St Mark's High School and funded by Crotlieve DEA.
Five schools took part in the afternoon celebration, including St Mark's High School, Dromore Road Primary School, St Bronagh's Primary School, Kilbroney Integrated Primary School and St Dallan's Primary School.
The concert was described as a wonderful celebration of local creativity and community spirit, highlighting the hard work of pupils and staff across the district.
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Students from Southern Regional College have delivered another impressive performance at the WorldSkills UK National Finals, securing second place on the national leaderboard for the second year running and maintaining their top two position amongst colleges and universities across the UK for the past four years.
The College's competitors particularly excelled in Mechatronics and Automotive Refinishing categories during the competition, which saw over 400 finalists compete in 40 different skills categories across four venues in Wales from 25-28 November.
Ross Graham, 22, from Banbridge and Carter McKnight, 22, from Moira claimed gold in Mechatronics, improving on their bronze medal from the previous year. Graham is currently studying the Engineering BEng level 6 degree at the College's Newry campus, while McKnight is furthering his knowledge on programmable logistics controllers at the College having completed his Engineering (Mechatronics) Level 5 Foundation Degree during the summer.
In Automotive Refinishing, apprentice Jack Harvison, 19, from Dungannon secured gold on his debut appearance at the national finals. Harvison is undertaking the Vehicle Accident Repair Paint Principles Level 3 Apprenticeship at the College's dedicated Portadown training facilities.
Bronze medals were secured by Matthew Conn, 21, from Waringstown and Phillip Fee, 28, from Dromore, both competing in Automation. The pair are currently in the second year of the Engineering (Mechatronics) Level 5 Foundation Degree at the Portadown campus. Body Repair apprentice Joseph Cullen, 20, from Portadown also claimed bronze in the Automotive Panel Repair category. All three were competing at the national finals for the first time.
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said: "For Southern Regional College to secure second place on the WorldSkills UK national leaderboard is an incredible achievement and a testament to the dedication, talent, and resilience of our students and staff. To be ranked in the top two for four consecutive years shows not only consistency in excellence but also a deep commitment to preparing our learners with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a competitive world. I could not be prouder - this recognition reflects their hard work, creativity, and unwavering drive to succeed."
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive of WorldSkills UK, said: "Congratulations to all those who participated in the WorldSkills UK national competitions. They have demonstrated their skills at the highest level and these exceptional young people represent the future of our economy. They are the new generation of highflyers that will give UK employers a competitive edge. Our competitions, based on global standards, play a vital role in developing the skills that will drive investment, create jobs, and fuel economic growth."
Medallists were announced at a glittering ceremony at the ICC Wales on Friday 28 November, bringing the four-day competition to a close and cementing Southern Regional College's position as one of the leading institutions for vocational skills training in the UK.
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Eight students from Southern Regional College are preparing to compete at the WorldSkills UK National Finals, which take place across venues in South Wales from 25-28 November. Four of the students are currently studying at the college's Newry campus and will be among competitors representing SRC in categories including Automotive Refinishing, Automotive Body Repair, Culinary Arts and the engineering disciplines of Automation and Mechatronics.
Professional Cookery students based in Newry Leon Ruddy, 17, and Andrew McVarnock, 20, are two of eight national finalists competing in the Culinary Arts category. The pair will compete individually for the chance to obtain a medal in what will be their debut appearance at the national finals.
Competition activity for Leon and Andrew will take place across two days starting at 8.30am until 5pm each day. They will be tasked with preparing a range of classical dishes, demonstrating their understanding of flavours, plating aesthetics and effective time management. They must remain calm and confident under pressure, a challenge both students are well prepared for.
When not in college, Leon works as a Commis Chef at Wine & Brine Restaurant in Moira training under the guidance of head chef Patrick Lee. Andrew is completing his apprenticeship at Six by Nico in Belfast, where his role and responsibilities continually evolve in response to the restaurant's regular rotation of tasting menus and themes.
Returning to the National Finals this year are teammates Ross Graham, 22, and Carter McKnight, 22. This year's national final will be the duo's third appearance, having won gold in the automation category in 2023 and bronze in the mechatronics category last year. Hoping to improve on their finishing position at this year's final, Ross says the biggest lesson they've learnt from previous competition activity is nailing down on their preparation and ensuring they have undertaken an in-depth analysis of all potential scenarios. Ross and Carter are one of six team pairings competing in this year's mechatronics final.
To be in with the chance of qualifying for the national finals, students had to compete at regional qualifiers earlier this year, before the July national finalists announcement following a UK-wide benchmarking and quality assurance exercise. The WorldSkills UK competition embeds excellence in over 40 skill areas and supports learners and apprentices to develop world-class technical skills.
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said: "As the national WorldSkills UK competition approaches, I want to congratulate our students competing for reaching the upcoming national final. These students have demonstrated remarkable talent in the relentless pursuit of excellence. I wish them every success in this prestigious competition and I am confident that they will not only make our College proud, but inspire others with their achievements."
The college will be hoping its students can bring home medals from the prestigious competition, which showcases the best young talent in technical and vocational skills from across the UK.
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Southern Regional College has partnered with a major cross-border alliance aimed at addressing critical skills shortages across the border counties.
The Southeast Higher Education/Further Education/Industry Cross-Border Alliance (SECBA) project was officially launched at Dundalk Institute of Technology on 24 October 2025. Supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, the €9.7 million initiative brings together higher education, further education and industry to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Running until October 2028, the project will ensure that learners gain industry-relevant skills while employers access a skilled and future-ready workforce. The SECBA partnership includes Southern Regional College, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Monaghan Institute, Cavan Institute and Workplus.
Training will focus on three key sectors experiencing rapid growth and talent shortages: software development, biopharmaceuticals and business and sports management. In software development, the focus will be on enhancing digital skills in AI, machine learning and cloud computing. The biopharmaceuticals strand will provide specialist biotechnology training across production processes, while business and sports management training will develop essential leadership and management skills through workshops and training sessions.
Over 3,000 participants will be recruited throughout the life of the programme, with 2,459 expected to complete accredited training. Learners will gain qualifications designed in close collaboration with industry to ensure that skills development directly supports business needs.
Upcoming courses due to commence in the new year at SRC include Level 2 qualifications in Developing Computer Applications and Data Analytics, with options to progress available in Software Development at Level 3 and Artificial Intelligence available at both Level 3 and Level 4. Within the biopharmaceuticals sector a new Laboratory Skills Level 3 Diploma will be available in the new year, with a Sports Analytics Level 2 qualification available for sports enthusiasts.
Speaking at the launch event, Tracy Rice, Head of Business Engagement at SRC, took part in a panel discussion alongside partners from DkIT, Cavan Institute and Monaghan Institute. The discussion explored how SECBA will benefit employers, learners and the wider community through enhanced cross-border cooperation.
Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said the initiative represents a powerful example of how education and industry can come together to tackle regional challenges. "By working in partnership with DkIT, Monaghan Institute, Cavan Institute, and Workplus, SRC is building a cross-border workforce equipped for the future. The SECBA initiative represents a powerful example of how education and industry can come together to tackle regional challenges, close skills gaps and drive lasting prosperity for employers, learners, and communities alike," she said.
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St. Malachy's Primary School at Carnagat have hosted a wonderful vibrant and meaningful art exhibition to celebrate Anti-Bullying Week 2025, embracing this year’s theme: "Power for Good."
The event showcased the creativity and compassion of pupils from every class, who used art to promote kindness, inclusion, and the importance of standing up for others.
Each class explored the work of a renowned artist or artistic style, drawing inspiration to create unique pieces that conveyed powerful messages of empathy and unity.
The exhibition was not only a celebration of artistic talent but also a reflection of the school’s ongoing commitment to promoting and nurturing an inclusive environment where every child feels safe, valued, and empowered.
Proceeds from the sale of student artwork, along with funds raised through a raffle and generous donations, will be donated to theNorthern Ireland Children’s Hospice, supporting vital care for children and families across the region.
The exhibition featured a diverse range of influences, including:
St. Malachy's continues their mission to champion creativity and compassion, reminding everyone that the power for good lies in each of us.
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Seventeen-year-old Alan Holubowicz from Tandragee will proudly represent Southern Regional College at the UK National Finals of SkillBuild, the country's largest construction skills competition, taking place from 18 to 20 November at Arena MK in Milton Keynes.
Alan, a Level 2 Wall & Floor Apprentice based at the College's Greenbank campus in Newry, is one of eight talented finalists who will showcase his expertise against apprentices from across the UK.
Peter Farrelly, Alan's College lecturer and mentor, explained what the competition involves. He said: "The competition is an intense, time-pressured event running over three days. Competitors must complete a range of challenging tiling tasks, starting with a preparation phase that includes self-levelling a floor and repairing a deliberate construction issue, such as a missing wall stud, before moving on to the main tiling work."
He added: "Contestants have just three hours on the opening morning, from 9am to 12pm, to prepare their areas. Once midday arrives, no further preparation or corrections are allowed. Competitors are marked on this stage before progressing to the practical tiling challenges. These include creating a brick-and-bond pattern, a diagonal tile set with angles defined by the judges and finishing with precise trims and angled cuts to complete the design."
The competition is designed to test participants' technical ability, accuracy, time management and attention to health and safety. Judges assess competitors throughout the three days, marking everything from workmanship and finish to site organisation and compliance with safety standards.
Peter said: "It's a demanding challenge, but Alan has worked hard and is going to Milton Keynes determined to bring home a medal."
Lee Campbell, Principal & Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, commented: "Alan's success in reaching the UK SkillBuild National Finals is a testament to his dedication, talent and the high standard of training delivered at Southern Regional College. Competitions like SkillBuild showcase the outstanding talent being developed in further education and we're thrilled to see our students standing out on a national stage. We are immensely proud of Alan's achievement and wish him every success as he competes at a national level."
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