Students from Carlisle, Lewisham and Southwark Colleges attended the NCG Learner Voice Conference at Southwark College, where they discussed the importance of inclusion, having their voice heard, diversity and mental health.
At the conference, the students expressed their views on these topics and discussed initiatives to create a fairer, more inclusive society for all taking into consideration cultural differences and young people's needs and wellbeing.
Working with representatives from the Student Union helped students establish the change they wanted to see in society. They also had the opportunity to participate in interactive activities designed to help them identify areas for improvement and discuss ideas on how to make the colleges more inclusive, considering diversity, language barriers, disabilities, religion, equality, age and sexual orientation.
Teachers also had an opportunity to participate in the conference and hear from the students' proposals, which included one-to-one sessions with the student committee, more interaction time with peers, and wellbeing days and cultural events to celebrate the diverse student body in NCG.
Lilly Conley, a Student Union representative, said: "The NCG Learner Voice Conference was an engaging event allowing young people to come together to discuss topics that matter to us. Having our voice heard has been exciting and motivational and encouraged us to share ideas on how we can positively contribute to improving the student experience and celebrate the diversity within the colleges in the group."
Shahul Mohideen, Head of Business, Finance, Digital and Access at Southwark College, said: "The NCG Learner Voice conference was a great opportunity for our students to meet their peers and discuss topics relevant to them. It was great to see so many students engage in discussion and devising plans for improving the student experience and celebrating the diversity of the student community across all NCG colleges."
The next NCG LearnerVoice Conference will take place in June. To find out more, contact the Student Services team.
Southwark College offers enrichment activities and support to students to help them make the most of their time at the College. To learn about the range of services available, visit southwark.ac.uk/student-services
