Staff and students at Southwark College participated in a range of events and activities during Colleges Week to support the Association of Colleges' 'Love Our Colleges' campaign and celebrate the brilliant work Further Education colleges do to build communities, boost business, and support individuals achieve their career ambitions.
During the week, a series of events took place with students showcasing their work. They choreographed and performed a dance piece inspired by Black Culture accompanied by live music. Also, as part of the celebrations, the College opened its doors to Southwark residents during a Community Open Day to connect people in the borough with local organisations and employers.
At the event, attendees learned more about local services in the borough, heard about live job vacancies, and learned about schemes designed to support young people into employment and the courses and support available in the College. They also participated in Art and Drama course taster sessions and attended 'The Power of Perseverance' talk with guest speaker Jonathan Brown.
Annette Cast, Principal at Southwark College, said: "We hope that our Colleges Week celebrations have shown the positive impact Further Education colleges have on their communities, and the remarkable work colleges do to help students gain the skills, knowledge, and opportunities they need to take their next steps."
Jonathan Brown, founder of Ideas to Action, said: "Events like this Community Open Day are more important than ever in a post-COVID-19 world, and it's wonderful to see Southwark College offering these opportunities to the students and residents in the local borough. I hope that sharing my story has shown the importance of determination and that people can achieve great things."
Wenjie Wang, Maths and English student, said: "I've developed lots of skills on my course, and this experience has shown me how much I enjoy learning. Attending the Community Open Day helped me to find out more about higher education options and what I need to achieve to secure a place at university."
See the Colleges Week highlights here
