The Hair and Beauty Training Academy at Leeds City College’s Printworks Campus is a cut above the rest by offering free haircuts to members of the local community.
A group of hairdressing and barbering students are providing the service to those across the district who are homeless, job seeking, refugees, asylum seekers and members of mental health organisation, Andy’s Man Club.
Maxine Edwards, course leader within the School of Hair, Beauty and Media Makeup, said: “As a college based in the heart of Leeds, we are committed to serving the members of our community as much as possible. We appreciate that not everyone can afford a haircut, so we’re encouraging those who are less fortunate to let their hair down and get a cut with us.
“Whether clients are wanting a quick trim or a dramatic restyle, our talented students are happy to help. As stylists, we understand how having a haircut can make a huge difference to an individual’s self-esteem and confidence – and we’d like to offer this service as widely as possible to boost the wellbeing of our community.”
Students studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Public Services and Joinery, have provided their support for Ukraine refugees at a local community hub, The Good Shepherd Centre.
The centre has been working hard to collect items which are urgently needed for refugees, who are seeking asylum in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova and Romania.
The learners have been helping to sort out the donations, including toiletries, first aid items, activity packs and sleeping equipment. These items will be transported to churches and other charities on the Polish border.
The important work being done at The Good Shepherd Centre appeared on ITV Calendar News, where the learners spoke about the necessity of supporting those less fortunate than us.
Two members of Luminate Education Group have received recognition at this year’s Educate North awards.
Leeds City College won an award after receiving nominations from Smooth radio listeners, while University Centre Leeds was highly commended in the Business Collaboration & Partnerships category, for its outstanding apprenticeship work in the community.
The awards recognise the outstanding contribution by schools, colleges, higher education institutions or organisations in the North of England, to support their students or the wider community during the 2021/22 academic year.
The college was nominated for the ‘brilliant and innovative’ work it is doing, such as the 14+ Apprenticeship Academy. The college also received recognition for changing the system of education for the better, as well as developing young people and preparing them for the world away from school, whilst allowing them to grow and learn.
The college was also commended for the outstanding work and support given to students throughout lockdown, giving learners extra help and a place where they could feel safe.
Bill Jones, Deputy CEO at Luminate Education Group, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised by Educate North Awards for the work we are doing to provide first class educational experiences for our young people.
“Delivering excellent and innovative education which is supportive, inspiring and life- changing is at the heart of our agenda. Ensuring that students are able to thrive, and progress is one of our key priorities and we are honoured that this is being achieved and recognised.
“The staff went the extra mile and worked very hard during the pandemic, and it really made a difference to our young people. This award is a further testament to their commitment to enhancing students’ lives.”
The prestigious awards event, which attracts more than 300 education professionals from Further and Higher Education institutions from across the North, celebrates best practice and recognises excellence in the education sector.
Leeds Conservatoire is delighted to announce that it has appointed a new Chair to the Board of Directors – Carolyn Lord.
Carolyn, a solicitor, has spent all of her life in Leeds and Yorkshire. In a career spanning over 30 years, she has advised on some of the most significant development schemes in Leeds, as well as projects across the UK, and has been appointed to external roles to deal with areas of governance of local authorities in West Yorkshire. She is also a trustee of Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
With nine years as a governor at Leeds Trinity University and a further two years as a member of the Board at Leeds Conservatoire, Carolyn is passionate about opening up the opportunities of Higher Education (HE) to the widest diversity of students and helping to ensure the long-term success of specialist HE institutions that add to the region’s cultural richness.
In addition, Carolyn has a life-long love of music which she has passed on to her three sons. She has sung in many choirs and was a founder member of St Peter’s Singers in Leeds in her teenage years. She has also sung in or been associated with Leeds Cathedral Choir since the 1980s.
Carolyn says, “It is my privilege to take on the role of Chair of the Board of Leeds Conservatoire at this time when the importance of providing opportunities for talented young people to flourish is so necessary. I am looking forward to playing a part in strengthening the prominence of the conservatoire for Leeds on the international stage and supporting the work of its dedicated and creative staff team.”
Professor Joe Wilson, Principal at Leeds Conservatoire, adds,“Carolyn brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to Leeds Conservatoire and I’m sure that she will be an absolute asset as Chair of the Board. I am pleased to welcome her to this pivotal role.”
Undergraduate students from University Centre Leeds have been rubbing shoulders with some of the country’s top civil servants.
Ten degree students from the Business School travelled to London in March to spend two days working in the Department for Transport (DfT).
During the trip they took part in a variety of practical exercises, designed to give an insight into the department’s work, including mock projects and interview panels.
They also got to meet two of the UK’s highest level civil servants, Permanent Secretary Bernadette Kelly and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Vere.
The opportunity came about after Carole Lovstrom and Charlotte Bedford, co-chairs of the DfT’s Social Mobility Network, gave a talk during UC Leeds’ Women in Leadership programme.
Lecturers Nicola Wilson and Greg Tidswell, who accompanied the students on the trip, hailed it as a ‘great success’.
A glimpse of a ‘whole new world’
Nicola said: “The visit provided students with invaluable opportunities to interact with people in many roles within the DfT, including the Permanent Secretary and Under Secretary.
“They were also given a range of practical opportunities to engage in to give them an idea of the type of work that is carried out, and a demonstration of what a typical civil service interview looks like.
“There was a real buzz throughout the two days and the students found the experience both rewarding and hugely enjoyable.
“They came away with a newfound knowledge of the diverse range of roles that are available within the civil service, and the flexibility and encouragement afforded to employees to move and grow within the organisation.
“We are hugely grateful to Carole, Charlotte, and everyone else at DfT who played a part in making it such a wonderful and rewarding experience.”
Greg said: “The two days we spent in London showed our students a whole new world – one that many did not know existed – within the civil service.
“The energy this trip has given to our students has been outstanding. Speaking with them, during and after the trip, has confirmed how valuable these kind of ‘out of the norm’ experiences are for exposing students to new avenues of working and development.”
The students were all drawn from Leadership, Business and Travel degree courses.
Students relish one-off opportunity
Students facing a mock interview panel at the Department for Transport, London
Leadership and Management BA (Hons) student Haleema Jabeen said: “I am in my final year and it was such a great opportunity to be chosen for this trip.
“It has given me a great insight into, and experience of, the workings of senior stakeholders in the civil service. They are dealing with complex projects in time-driven environments, and we saw how crucial management is to the delivery of all departments.”
Leadership and Management student Emily McCormick said: “I found the trip really useful in looking at the alternative futures available to me.
“I have always worked in a small business so it was interesting to see how a large organisation operated.
“I think the trip allowed us, as students, to envisage a potential career in the civil service.”
Fellow management student Ryan Shuckford added: “The experience was highly beneficial for my personal development and my awareness of the civil service and neurodiversity.
“The experience provided me with the opportunity to practise the theoretical elements of leadership that I have learnt at the University Centre, pinpoint my personal interest, and determine where my skills are most applicable.
“If anyone has the chance of a similar opportunity, I would highly recommend taking it!”
Leeds Conservatoire was the first confirmed working partner for Black Lives in Music (BLiM), and has now been working with BLiM for over a year.
This vital campaign organisation seeks to address the inequalities facing Black people in achieving careers as artists or professionals in the music industry, through research and advocacy. Black Lives in Music aims to bring together organisations and musicians to work towards the same goal: dismantling structural racism in the industry.
Leeds Conservatoire was first introduced to BLiM through Jazz Programme Leader Jamil Sheriff who currently sits on the BLiM leadership team.
Since then, the partnership with BLiM has helped inform and develop important work that the conservatoire is now engaged in. The organisation has consulted with Leeds Conservatoire’s Programme Leaders on how to achieve better representation in music repertoire, guest artists, and visiting staff.
In the past year Black Lives in Music has worked with multiple teams across the conservatoire on topics ranging from improving inclusivity in staff and student recruitment approaches to diversity awareness training.
Roger Wilson, Director of Operations at BLiM, expressed his thoughts on the partnership:
“It’s been great to work with Leeds Conservatoire as part of their EDI change programme. Black Lives in Music are proud to say that Leeds Conservatoire were our very first confirmed working partner. Our work together has helped to inform the important work that the conservatoire is now engaged in. The EDI Change team completed an impressive report that our work feeds into. The offer of pastoral support for students of colour through safe space sessions, reviewing student and staff recruitment procedures, review of curriculum and decolonising of spaces are all headline activities, but there has been so much more going on.
“The inclusive practice work of all conservatoires is crucial to better representation and culture change in the wider ecology of the sector. We have been pleased to have been brought into a number of conversations with likeminded arts organisations courtesy of Leeds Conservatoire.
“We must be realistic about change-making; discrimination and prejudice have been an issue for hundreds of years. Reprogramming and changing how we think and act takes time. I’m heartened by the huge amount of work undertaken by the conservatoire to lead on change and look forward to a rich and fruitful collaboration between our organisations.”
