Student Newsletter - November 2021

NOVEMBER 2021 | VOL.3

WEST LONDON COLLEGE STUDENT NEWSLETTER

Opening Welcome

WLC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Big Hello from WLC!

COVID 19 UPDATES As always here we are sliding into your inboxes with your fortnightly WLC Updates.

We know there's been a few changes this week. Yes, blame Covid once again, but we are extremely grateful for all your co-operation and hope that collectively we can work to ensure we are all best protected.

In the meantime read along to find out what else has been happening and will be happening around college.

SAFEGUARDING PASTORAL AND WELLBEING ATTENDANCE CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY CLASS REPS UCAS APPLICATIONS STUDENT FUNDS

Covid 19 Updates PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IT IS NOW COMPULSORY TO WEAR FACE MASKS AROUND THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES. IF YOU ARE EXEMPT YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE YOUR OWN EXEMPTION BADGE EITHER IN FORM OF A SUNFLOWER LANYARD/ EXEMPTION PIN BADGES.

Protect yourself and the community, get vaccinated!

All students are now eligible to receive their Covid Vaccination, please use the link below to get yours booked in!

NHS Covid Vaccination Booking You can also attend the following walk in centres local to your College site: Hammersmith Campus Ealing Campus Southall Campus Park Royal Campus Please always make sure that you are testing twice a week.

You can pick up lateral flow tests from the Student Services Office

Safeguarding

Chris Nixon Director of Student Services & Safeguarding

Safeguarding is of utmost importance to us and we are focused on ensuring we do the best to protect all our learners as best we can.

If you ever have any concerns about yourself, or any other student you can always pop in to the Student Common Room office.

We can offer support with a wide range of problems and if we can’t we probably know someone who can. Email safeguarding or fill in the student services referral form.

In the mean time please do complete this short Safeguarding Questionnaire and let us know what you think Safeguarding means!

Daniel Bristow - Bailey Safeguarding and Wellbeing Manager

Pastoral & Wellbeing RELATIONSHIPS & CONSENT

Maria Sevilla Progress Mentor (Ealing)

This week is Relationships & Consent Week

Relationships are key in life. They can be a support, a source of comfort and aid greatly in human growth and success.

Michelle Chamberlain Progress Mentor (Park Royal)

BUT...

The

is that those relationships need to be healthy relationships!

For a relationship to be healthy it needs to make people feel: Safe Equal Respected Positive

Alfie Heaps Progress Coach (Hammersmith)

AND NOT: feel pressured not feel abused verbally/emotionally/physically scared controlled

Negla Abdalla Progress Mentor (Hammersmith)

Pastoral & Wellbeing

This week is Relationships & Consent Week

Some key points to know about consent is that consent is: Active People incapacitated by drugs or alcohol CANNOT consent Consent is NEVER given under pressure Consent MUST be granted EVERY TIME. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IS NO MEANS NO.

If you are having any problems or have any questions surrounding Relationships and Consent let us know.

Pastoral & Wellbeing

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick shoutout from me. Have you heard of Y.A.N.A? If not, then you have now!

Y.A.N.A.’s aim is to help young people, aged 16 – 25 who are feeling isolated and lonely, make new connections in a fun and interactive way. It incorporates positive psychological practices, coping mechanisms, collaborative group activities in a bid to create long lasting social connections.

Visit the website to find out more info on how they can support and to sign up.

Jade Stirling Wellbeing Advisor (Hammersmith)

Attendance & Punctuality

Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance.

It's as simple as that!

It's crucial that we keep our attendance above 90% AND most importantly we communicate to the college when we cant attend and why.

Physically being present and on time is one of the most basic conditions of success, and the first building block needed for academic achievement.

Class Reps

All Course Representatives will be invited to attend our Student Voice forums to discuss your thoughts, views and opinions of your life at West London College. Our Student voice forums will be held in the following way:

Curriculum Student Voice Course Representatives will be invited to attend their curriculum meetings once every half term. They will have the opportunity to discuss all aspects of their curriculum area with Teachers and their Head of Curriculum

College Student Voice Course Representatives will be invited to attend Student Voice meetings at their allocated College site (Hammersmith, Ealing, Park Royal and Southall) once every term. This will be their opportunity to discuss all aspects of College life with Managers from departments such as Student Services, Careers and Employability, Student Finance, Catering, Security, Estates etc

Please make sure you are raising any concerns or positive feedback with your Course Representatives so they can feedback at these meetings.

If you have any issues which are affecting your attendance and punctuality please come to Student services and speak to one of our Progress Coaches.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women The 25th November is The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This date has been observed by Women's rights activists since 1981 in honour of the Mirabal sisters; three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered by order of the country’s ruler. On 20 December 1993, the General Assembly adopted this date to be the official day to raise awareness about violence against women and girls.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women also marks the start of 16 day campaign known as the UNiTE to End Violence against Women. It aims to raise public awareness around the issue as well as increase both policymaking and resources dedicated to ending violence against women and girls worldwide.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it, nearly 1 in 3 women have been abused in their lifetime.

In general terms, it manifests itself in physical, sexual and psychological forms, encompassing: intimate partner violence (battering, psychological abuse, marital rape, femicide); sexual violence and harassment (rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, stalking, cyberharassment); human trafficking (slavery, sexual exploitation); female genital mutilation; and child marriage.

To raise awareness, this year's theme is "Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!".

Orange is our color to represent a brighter future free of violence against women and girls. Be part of the orange movement!

Here at West London College we have partnered with an external organisation who work with women who are survivors of domestic violence to provide them with a pamper package via our Hair and Beauty department. They have been given vouchers that they can come in and exchange for a number of hair and beauty treatments.

For more information visit www.un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-againstwomen-day

International Day of People with Disabilities International Day of People with Disabilities is a special time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities and increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance. It also aims to promote full and equal participation and to take action for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society and development.

This annual celebration takes place on 3rd December and this year's theme ‘‘Fighting for rights in the post-COVID era.” focuses on celebrating the challenges, barriers and opportunities for people who live with disabilities, in the context of a global pandemic.

This year the day is being used to recognise that people who live with disabilities are among the most affected populations amid the COVID pandemic.

Where marginalisation, discrimination, vulnerability and exploitation are every day factors for many people, due to reduced access to routine health care and rehabilitation services, more pronounced social isolation, poorly tailored public health messaging, inadequately constructed mental health services, and a lack of emergency preparedness for people with special needs.

According to the WHO World Report on Disability, 15% of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability. Of this number, it’s estimated 450 million are living with a mental or neurological condition.

This is a reminder of the importance of removing barriers for all people living with disability, both visible and invisible.

For more information please visit https://idpwd.org/

World Aids Day

World AIDS Day takes place on 1 December each year. It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day.

For more information please visit www.worldaidsday.org

Virtual Workshops UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Wednesday 1st Dec Hammersmith Intro to Parliament 10-11am + 11.15-12.15 SASH Consent 2.30-3.30pm Thursday 2nd Dec Hammersmith Drug + Alcohol awareness - 10-11am, 11.15-12.15pm, 1.15-2.15pm, 2.30-3.30pm

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Careers & Employability

Industry Placements If you are currently working in a role related to your course you could be entitled to our Industry Placement Bursary. Complete this form with your employment details and we will let you know if you are eligible!

Applying to University

UCAS The UCAS application deadline is fast approaching (Wednesday 26th January).

If you would like support with your UCAS application please contact j.wiredu@wlc.ac.uk We are currently running UCAS support sessions with some of the UKs leading Universities, please click here for the full timetable UCAS Key Dates UCAS Personal Statement Support WLC University Workshop Timetable

Student Funds BURSARY UPDATE

Most of you should have now received your November bursary payment.

If you have not applied yet, it is not too late, please click here to be taken to the online bursary application form on Pay My Student.

For further information regarding the college bursary, payments and support information please click here or check out the Student Services financial support page on your learner portal for further information.

All future bursary payments for the Spring and Summer term will be linked to your attendance being 85% or above, this will be looking at your attendance across different periods of time within the academic year. If your attendance falls between 75-84% attendance you will receive 50% of your award please refer to bursary payment schedule for further details.

Please Click here

Student Funds TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

Student Services strongly encourage those learners who live within a London borough and are aged 16,17 or 18 on the 31st August 2021 to apply for the 16+ Zip card from Transport for London which offers free bus travel and 50% off on trains. Click here Learners who are aged 19 years over, on a full time course can apply for the Student 18+ Oyster Card which will give them a 30% discount of the cost of a weekly or monthly travelcard. Click here There is a £20 admin fee payable to TFL to purchase both of these cards.

Always check the terms and conditions before you apply as there are some stipulations that you may need to consider first. Here is the link for more info. https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel

Student Funds STUDENT DISCOUNT CARDS

There are a number of student discount cards students can apply for using their college email, some are free apps others have a yearly subscription fee.

NUS - Student Discount Card It the number #1 discount card and app which gives you access to huge offers and discounts on food, fashion, tech, travel, beauty and a whole lot more. This card has a yearly subscription of £14 per year and is currently on special offer.

Buy a 2 year TOTUM membership card today and they will chuck in an extra year for FREE. You will need to apply directly through their website using your college email and select to have the card sent directly to your home address not the college.

Unidays Free online app offering student discounts to food outlets, shops, leisure facilities and lots more Student Beans Free app which gives easy access to all the best student discounts wherever you are.