Rob’s session is aimed at encouraging children and young people to engage in reading with the adults in their lives. Rob Paternostro said ‘I heard of Leicester College’s campaign and wanted to be involved. As a father, reading a bedtime story with my son is incredibly rewarding, and to know that it impacts his long term development and confidence makes it even more worthwhile.

‘However, for those individuals who lack confidence with their reading or English, this simple pleasure becomes a challenge.’ The reading sessions will provide an environment where members of the community can visit to find out about the support and courses available to them, whilst enjoying the day’s papers or listening to some much loved children’s stories.

Our “Story Hour” and “Morning Papers” during Adult Learners’ Week are for learners and the local community to bring along son/daughter, sibling, niece/nephew, cousin or any member of their family, or friends along in the afternoon and listen to our story teller read some of the nations favourite children’s stories. Or come along and read a selection of the day’s papers with our literacy and ESOL tutors on hand to offer helpful reading techniques.

For more information please see our Adult Learners Week page.

Three hour long reading sessions will take place at Leicester College’s outreach venues on Tuesday 15th May, Wednesday 16th May and Thursday 17th May after school at 3.30pm to 4.30pm. The sessions are designed to promote reading for pleasure within the family environment or independently, and are run in conjunction with Leicester College’s Skills for Life and English for Speakers of Other Languages provision. As well as the literacy and language barriers to reading for pleasure, NIACE studies have revealed that approx 4 million children within the UK do not own a book.

Dean Hawkins, The Book People, has donated four boxes of books to the campaign, said ‘It is our pleasure to donate books to Leicester College learners, and members of their communities. We believe passionately in the power of reading and want to do everything we can in supporting the College with its campaign. If our books help even a couple of learners start reading for pleasure, it would be just brilliant.’

Sue Southwood, NIACE also commented ‘We are delighted to support Leicester College to promote reading as part of Adult Learners Week. There are so many benefits to reading; it widens our horizons and broadens our minds as well as being a great way to relax and unwind. Research tells us that reading to children is vital for their language development and boosts their ability to learn in school so working with families will make a real difference and encourage our next generation of readers!’

Ann Reeder, Skills for Life Learner, and now avid reader of NIACE’s Quick Reads said: ‘All through my life everyone has told me I am slow, and I wouldn’t progress in life. I would tell anyone of my age that you are not too old to learn, grab it while you can, nobody will laugh at you because you cannot read or write very well. Because I can now read I am now not scared of people approaching me to talk, and I can now give instructions and directions without feeling nervous. The Skills for Life course has opened doors for me.’

The books will be handed out to visitors at the three events next week.

Mariusz has been involved in music production for many years and has mastered many production techniques, however he thought it was important to return to college to help him boost his career.

“I think there is a certain level that we can achieve on our own but there are many things that I can still learn, especially from people who have been in the industry much longer than I. This is one of the reasons why I decided to go back to college.”

In addition, he also wanted to gain a formal qualification and to challenge his own knowledge and enhance his experience. Mariusz went on to do a BSc Game Audio Design at Staffordshire University. In 2010 he founded his own music production company, RareSound Production, and has made several mobile games and produced tracks for audio books, video guides and commercial sound banks for virtual instruments. His next project is to develop apps for musicians and DJs.

“I know that Leicester College is a high level institution. I’ve seen the course guides. The variety of available courses was impressive and the lecturers on my university level course are truly great people.”

Kirsty, 19, has aspirations of becoming the British equivalent of the high-end French footwear designer Christian Louboutin and has chosen Leicester College for her Foundation Degree course in footwear.

“I like shoes. I always did and always wanted to design my own,” said Kirsty.

Her dream is to start her own line and set up her own manufacturing company in Britain, breaking away from the tradition of having shoes made in China.

“Everything must be home grown. It will increase the cost of the shoes, however I want to cater to the high-end scale of the market.

“The Foundation Degree course at Leicester College is providing me with all the things that I need to know to achieve this. I am learning the correct procedures for designing, making the shoes, costing, accounting and marketing. After I finish my second year, my plan is to secure a job as a shoe designer with one of the well-known lines and then go on from there to start my own.”

Chris left high school in 2005 with 12 GCSEs but was not interested in going onto college or university.

After posting out 30 CVs a week asking for a position as an apprentice carpenter or joiner, he found success with T Denman and Sons Ltd. He is now hoping to achieve his ambition to become a site manager.

T Denman and Sons Ltd teamed up with Leicester College to deliver NVQ Level 2 academic training. He worked four days on the job and spent the fifth in the classroom. He liked this formula so much that he went on to do his NVQ Level 3 then national certificate and now his Higher National Certificate in Building Studies.

“My lecturers at Leicester College have all been very approachable and friendly. They have such indepth knowledge and experience that they seem to know exactly what and how I want to learn.”

“When I first applied Leicester College, I never thought I would have achieved this much but with the combination of work and study I have. I would advise others to persevere in their quests and never give up.”

‘There are some things you just can’t Google’ will consist of two sessions delivered throughout the week – ‘Story Hour’ and ‘The Morning Papers’.

‘Story Hour’ involves bringing your son/daughter, sibling, niece/nephew etc along after school and listening to a story teller read some of the nation’s favourite children’s stories. Head Coach of the Leicester Riders, Rob Paternostro will be our story teller at the Greenacres event on Tuesday 15 May, 3.30pm.

‘The Morning Papers’ focuses on keeping up with current affairs. A selection of the day’s papers will be available to read with literacy tutors on hand to offer helpful reading techniques.

Angela Rooney-Tchetchnev Curriculum Area Manager, Skills for Life said “As a College we recognise that there are many reasons that stop people reading, and also simply finding the time to encourage the next generation to read for pleasure. Our provision in the community has many examples of adult learners who have begun learning again so that they can engage in activities with their children, or for their own personal advancement. We want to highlight the importance and long-term positive impact of reading for pleasure on an individual’s skills and self-confidence.”

Adult Learners’ Week is the UK’s largest annual festival of learning; inspiring thousands of people each year to discover how learning can change their lives.

For more details see: Adult Learners’ Week

The event, which will take place at the College’s St Margaret’s Campus between 3-6pm, aims to show young people how the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy can help them to realise and achieve their business dreams.

Leicester College has recently acquired the status of East Midlands hub for the Academy, and from September will be offering both a one year fast track and a two year BTEC in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

By studying for the new BTEC, learners will have the chance to set and run their own business, be taught by tutors with real life business experience, attend master classes and networking events and undertake a personal and professional development programme designed to guide and support their business aspirations.

Alan Jones, Assistant Principal at Leicester College said: “This event is a fantastic opportunity for the College to showcase to potential learners exactly what the new Academy can offer them. The new courses will open up a range of avenues in the business world for those who study them, and we are very excited that Leicester College can now offer this opportunity to its learners.”

The Peter Jones Academy (formerly the National Enterprise Academy) was set up by Peter Jones, CBE, entrepreneur and star of ‘Dragon’s Den’, with a view to encouraging more entrepreneurial activity within the UK, based on a philosophy of ‘learning by doing’.

Please telephone 0116 224 2240 or visit leicestercollege.ac.uk/pjea to register.

The role of President is to act as an ambassador for the AoC and the Further Education sector, and enhance the AoC’s work in reputation building and representing the interests of the sector at national level.

Maggie will formally take up the role, in addition to her post as Principal of Leicester College, on 1 August 2012. She has already announced her intention to retire as Leicester College Principal during the 2012/13 academic year but she always intended to maintain her involvement with the FE sector.

Maggie Galliers said: “It has been my privilege to work in a sector where there are daily reminders of the difference further education makes to individuals, communities and the economy.

“I see the AoC as crucial in helping colleges navigate the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. It will be an honour to serve as AoC President, a role to which I will bring all my energy, commitment and passion for celebrating and advancing further education.”

Martin Ward, Chair of Governors of Leicester College said: “We are delighted that Maggie will be the next President of the AoC. As we know, she is a powerful advocate for learners and Further Education in Leicester and nationally. The sector could not have a better ambassador.”

Martin Doel, AoC Chief Executive, said: “All at AoC look forward to working with Maggie as President. Having worked with her in many fora, and knowing of her outstanding achievements at Leicester College, I am certain that she will bring great wisdom and energy to the role.”

The Council’s fleet of vehicles and workshop facilities are maintained by Northampton-based Specialist Fleet Services, who selected 18-year old Christopher Ellix from Ibstock as an Apprentice Commercial Vehicle Technician, from a range of candidates hand-picked by the ATA.

Bob Sweetland, Managing Director, SFS said: “The service from the Leicester College Apprenticeship Training Agency is excellent. They manage the whole process and there is minimum risk to us.  More companies should give it a try.”

Mike Brymer, Chief Officer, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council said: “We’re delighted to support the Apprenticeship Training Agency at Leicester College. It’s important that we provide opportunities for young people in our local community. Christopher will gain valuable hands on training at our workshop whilst he continues with his studies towards becoming a fully qualified HGV Commercial Vehicle Technician.”

Lesley Ganda, Recruitment Account Manager, Leicester College: “Leicester College ATA provides a vital link between young people in training and local employers.  We aim to take all the hassle out of the recruitment process. Once we have taken a detailed brief from an employer outlining what they are looking for in an Apprentice, we screen potential candidates, in person, and assess their suitability for the role.  This includes checking their qualifications and their English and Maths aptitude. We then provide a shortlist for interviews and we can offer the use of College facilities to conduct those interviews if required.”

Continued Lesley: “We have so many talented and enthusiastic young people just waiting for a chance to prove what they can do.  We just need more employers to come forward.”

Once a candidate has been selected, the ATA gather references and takes care of employment contracts. The Apprenticeship Training Agency invoices the employer on a monthly basis for the Apprentice’s salary plus a management fee.  The employer can decide to employ their Apprentice direct at any point during the Apprenticeship.”

Christopher Ellix, who has already completed a City & Guilds course in Motor Mechanics said: “I’m really enjoying it.  There’s a lot more to refuse vehicles than normal trucks, as there are so many complex moving parts.  I’ve always loved cars and engines so it’s great to get the chance to do what I love as a job.”

Any employers interested in finding out more about Apprenticeship opportunities through Leicester College ATA should contact Leicester College on 0116 224 2240 or visit www.leicestercollege.ac.uk

Jodie Payne, Shannon Dempsey, Krupa Mehta and Marie Neville, who are all studying the level 3 Hair and Media Make-up course at Leicester College, will not only prepare the models for the shows which run at 11am, 12.30pm, 1pm and 3pm, they will also be on hand throughout the day to share their expertise with shoppers.

Learner Jodie Payne said: “I am really excited and looking forward to having this experience at the Haymarket fashion show. I think that doing this will give me more confidence, and it is a great opportunity for people to see my work.”

Evie Kalopedis, Trainer Assessor for Artistic Make-up and Special Effects at Leicester College, said: “This is a great opportunity for those involved as it will help them become more confident, not only with applying make-up, but also working with people/clients they don’t know. It’s a fantastic chance for them to showcase their work, and there is always the possibility that this might lead to future work for other fashion shows or photo shoots.”

The event also features Kate Solomons, Haymarket’s Live for Less expert, who will provide style advice including how to ‘Flatter your figure’ and ‘Dress like the stars’.

For more information please contact:
Lesley Pilling, Communications Manager, on 0116 224 2186 or email lpilling@leicestercollege.ac.uk