Police, fire and ambulance crews and military forces from across the globe have rallied together to wish a young boy with cerebral palsy a merry Christmas.

Festive video messages from services in the UK and as far away as Australia and the United States, poured in after Jack Andree was admitted to hospital in November weighing just three stone when his condition caused his body to stop absorbing vital nutrients from food.

The 12-year-old also underwent surgery in August after his disability, which can also weaken his arms and legs and cause muscle spasms, caused him to dislocate his hip in his sleep.

Jack’s older brother Brendan, 18, a student at City and Islington College, came up with the idea for the video, which also includes messages from family and friends, to surprise him this Christmas.

He said: “Jack spends most of his time in and out of hospital. He’s had a really tough year and I felt he really deserved something extra special. He loves TV programmes like Fireman Sam, Paw Patrol, London’s Burning and Ambulance, and anything about public services, because they’re the superheroes he sees nearly every day.”

Among the well-wishers in the video were officers from Wiltshire Police, firefighters from Philadelphia Fire Department, soldiers from 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment at Colchester Garrison, the 11th Combat Service Support Battalion of the Australian Army, and nurses from Tara Hospital in Queensland.

Brendan said: “I had no idea it would reach so far and get around the world especially as quick as it did. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to everyone. I’m so thankful and honoured to them for doing this and making this Christmas dream come true for Jack.”

Brendan lives with his family in Tower Hamlets. He is studying a Public Services diploma and asked his college tutor Nigel Lewis, a former Met police officer, for help with the video.

Nigel contacted some of his former colleagues and within 24 hours he was inundated with offers of videos from the UK, New York, Texas, Australia, New Zealand and Gibraltar.

He said: “Brendan is one of the most wonderful young men I have had the pleasure to meet and teach, his heart is so warm. He smiles every day and cares so much for his brother. He sent me a video of Jack in hospital. When I saw his huge smile despite being so unwell, I knew I had to do something to make his Christmas special.”

After Jack’s hip operation, Brendan spent many hours at his hospital bedside when their mum Keely was pregnant with their newly born sister Eva and later during his brother’s readmission for serious weight loss.

Keely, 38, said: “Bringing up a child with cerebral palsy is not easy from the minute they’re diagnosed. What Brendan has done for Jack is so special. When I think I couldn’t be any prouder of him, he does something even more thoughtful and caring.”

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that causes problems with movement, co-ordination and development and affects one in 400 people in the UK. It is caused by problem that affects the brain before, during or soon after birth and there is no cure. Click here for more information on Public Services courses.

Click here for more information on Public Services courses.

Students looking to gain careers in the military or emergency services learned how to control large crowds when they undertook public order training with the Metropolitan Police.

More than 40 students studying Public Services at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) took part in the exercise with the force’s Territorial Support Group (TSG).

Officers gave students an introduction to the role of the TSG and explained how public order plays an important part in emergency incident response and management of events such as rallies, protests, sporting events, state visits and parades.

Insp Steve Wilson, Sgt Jim Meier, PC Sachin Vishram, PC Aaron Bidewell and PC Ruth Cooper led the training in the rear car park at the college’s Tottenham Centre.

Students learnt about command and control when managing large crowds including creating a shield, line holding, crowd direction and interacting with the public via a range of practical scenarios.

Practical parts of the training involved using equipment such as helmets, shields, armour, and door openers, which were wiped down to keep students COVID safe.

Student Mert Mustafa, 20, who wants to become a detective in the Met, said: “It really ignited my passion for joining the police and was a useful step in training for our upcoming careers. We got to try out police equipment, see how they work and what tactics they use in crowd management.”

Another student, Elif Sevinch, 22, who also wants to join the police, said: “We learnt a lot about what the police do at events and protests and how they control them, and also about ‘stop and search’ and what they have to explain to the public.

“It was a good experience that I can put on my CV and personal statement for university, which has also prepared me well for my career.”

The training formed part of practical units on Command and Control, Responding to Emergency Incidents, Interservice Collaboration, and Security and Discipline covered on Public Services diploma courses.

These courses also explain how the military and emergency services operate and provide students with knowledge on human behaviour and social issues, and develop their skills in leadership, teamwork, and communication.

Brendan Berry, Curriculum Manager for Public Services, said: “Public order training is a voluntary service undertaken by the police across the UK to provide students with the skills required to deal with a variety of public order situations safely and effectively.

“This was a fantastic opportunity, enabling learners to engage with the Metropolitan Police, and offer them an opportunity to gain skills needed for their future careers. We look forward to the Met’s next visit in January for the team to work again with our student community.”

Find out more about Public Services courses.

Nurseries for children of students at City and Islington College have been recognised in the Mayor of London’s Healthy Early Years London Awards.

The college nurseries at its Centre for Business, Arts and Technology (CBAT) on Camden Road and Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL) in Finsbury Park both received a Bronze Award.

The awards were introduced to recognise childcare and early years providers that do the best for their children’s health and well-being so they get a good start in life.

In letter to the nurseries, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I would like to congratulate you on taking these steps to help improve the health, well-being and development of your children, staff and families.”

Awards are presented by London boroughs with a Healthy Early Years London programme from applications made by childcare and early years providers.

The college’s nurseries can cater for up to 47 children at any one time and are open each weekday during term-time to fit around parents’ timetables.

Khadidja Dzanouni, 33, came to the UK from Algeria in January 2016 and is studying GCSEs in English and maths. Her 19-month old son Ahmed attends the nursery at CBAT.

She said: “To get a good job here you need GCSEs in English and maths. The nursery has been helpful because it’s given me more time to challenge myself and carry on with my studies.

“In the beginning it was hard keeping my son at home and trying to study. Now, I can leave him at the nursery and concentrate more on getting the qualifications I need to find work.

“It’s a nice break for a while. The nursery staff really look after him well. I see many mums on my course, and its better for them to be doing something rather than sitting at home.”

To qualify for the Bronze Award, the nurseries had to meet standards in children’s personal development, behaviour and welfare, as well as criteria in relation to the quality of teaching and learning and the effectiveness of leadership and management.

Islington Council praised the nurseries’ approach to children’s behaviour, speech and language development and its commitment to indoor and outdoor physical activity.

It also recognised staff’s good understanding of children’s interests and stages of development and their good ideas when it comes to supporting children’s safety

The nurseries were also applauded for their inclusiveness including their work with children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Management was commended for supporting staff through training and supervision and encouraging them to help parents understand the importance of healthy eating.

Deborah Evans- Rolfe, Head of College Nurseries, said: “It is fantastic that both our college nurseries have won a Bronze Award in the Mayor of London’s Healthy Early Years London Awards.

“These awards are a fantastic recognition of the hard work and commitment of all the staff at our nurseries, and show the excellent standards we have in place and the impact of our work to support children and their families.”

Click here to find out more about CANDI’s nurseries.

Former Westminster Kingsway College student named Met Police Cadet of the Year

A former Westminster Kingsway student who hopes to become a detective has been named the Metropolitan Police’s Cadet of the Year.

Andreea Vlădeanu, 18, was named among the winners in this year’s Met Excellence Awards, which recognise the dedication of officers and police work across London.

She was announced the winner at an online ceremony hosted by LBC presenter Nick Ferrari and guest presenters including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Stephen Fry, Robert Rinder and ITV London News reporter Ronke Phillips.

Andreea joined the Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) at the North East Basic Command Unit that covers Waltham Forest and Newham, in 2017 and was promoted to Head Cadet two years ago.

She said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be Cadet of the Year and not something I expected. I am proud to be a police cadet and glad I can help influence my generation. It’s made me realise I can do anything if I put my mind to it, and what I want to do as a career.”

Andreea, who is originally from Romania, was 14 when she came to the UK. Her father felt London would give her more opportunities and she threw herself into learning English and other activities.

She joined the VPC after seeing an advert on the internet, which helped her to continue improving her English and learn new skills. Her work in the cadets has included helping officers with traffic operations where she has provided translation for police and Romanian drivers.

Andreea studied A Levels in history, law and psychology at WestKing from 2018-20 and is now studying International Relations and Psychology at Royal Holloway University of London. She hopes to join the Met when she finishes university and wants to work to help prevent domestic and youth violence.

She said: “Working in the police is really inspiring. A lot of the time you only see what is happening on the street, officers making arrests and in dangerous situations, but there is also work going on to stop domestic abuse that you don’t see. That is what I want to do in the future.” During her time at WestKing she completed the Career Ready programme, which works with educators and employers to prepare young people for work through mentoring and placements.

She said: “I have good memories and friends from when I was at WestKing. My teachers were amazing. They helped me with everything and gave good feedback. I really enjoyed the Career Ready programme, which helped me a lot. The internship was extraordinary for me.

“I learnt so much at college and will always remember it as a great journey.”

The VPC is one of the fastest growing uniformed youth organisations in the country. More than 5,000 young Londoners aged 10-19 are currently based at units in every borough in the capital.

In a Facebook post announcing her win, the Met said: “Andreea has made an outstanding contribution for her cadet team in Newham, showing her dedication to tackling youth violence.

“When Andreea arrived in the UK from Romania in 2015, she couldn’t speak English. She joined the cadets and quickly volunteered at every event to improve her English and understand London’s culture.

Now Head Cadet, she leads a team of 40 cadets on how to give back to the community and is a role model to so many around her.” Click here to find out about A Level courses at WestKing.

Click here for more information on A Level courses.

A Level students at Westminster Kingsway College have been named among the top performers in this year’s UK Mathematical Challenge.

Nine maths students achieved two silver and seven bronze certificates in the Senior category of the nationwide competition run by the UK Mathematics Trust.

The challenge consisted of 25 questions to be answered in 90 minutes under exam conditions. and Participants’ answers were later marked by the trust.

Rin Moussa, 20, who achieved the highest score among WestKing’s silver winners, said: “I was so impressed at how well I’d done because the questions got harder as you went through it, and we also had been revising for our mock exams at that time.”

Ayce Ates, 21, who also attained a silver, said: “I feel very proud of myself. The challenge was not based on what you learn in class, so you had to use your own logic and knowledge. It was quite hard and I had to spend a lot of time on some of the questions, but I’m happy with the result.”

Rin and Ayce are also studying A Levels in chemistry and biology and hope to study medicine and chemical engineering respectively at university.

Fadi Faroukh, 18, who gained a bronze, said: “The first questions were fairly easy. There were some others that were hard and I struggled a bit, but overall I am happy with how well I did.

“I enjoy problem solving and looking at things from a different perspective to find a solution. When you get the right answer, it feels good.” Fadi is also completing an Engineering diploma and plans to study a degree in civil engineering.

The UK Mathematics Trust is a charity based at the University of Leeds and was founded in 1996 to advance the education of young people in mathematics.

It works with hundreds of volunteers across the UK to organise competitions, promote problem solving, teamwork and other mathematical enrichment activities.

Ali Elkayal, Lecturer in A Level Maths, said: “This was the very first time that we have enrolled our students on the UK Mathematical Challenge, and they have done brilliantly.

“Despite the pandemic, they have still gone the extra mile and stretched their abilities. It’s such a joy as a teacher when you see students understand how mathematical problems work and are able to relate what they are learning.

“I congratulate them all on their success and hope this experience will motivate and inspire them to continue using their problem solving skills in class and in every aspect of their lives.”

Click here for more information on A Level courses.

Students at Westminster Kingsway College are to create their own nutritious recipes to help disadvantaged families make best use of ingredients from foodbanks this Christmas.

Chef Lecturer Vince Kelly was inspired to take action following a sharp rise in the number of people using foodbanks during the pandemic and food hunger being highlighted by Marcus Rashford’s free school meals campaign.

The project will see BSc (Hons) Culinary Health and Nutrition students devise easy to follow recipes that will be printed on festive cards also featuring a QR code linking to videos showing how to make the dishes.

The cards will be distributed in food parcels by volunteers from four foodbanks supported by The Trussell Trust at St Margaret the Queen in Streatham Hill, with students being encouraged to help.

The four foodbanks at Norwood and Brixton, Clapham Park, Vauxhall and Waterloo came together to use the church as a base after adopting a delivery only service during the pandemic.

If successful, the college hopes to run similar projects with students on other Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses at WestKing to support more foodbanks.

The college also plans to launch free cooking courses to teach people basic culinary skills and how to make simple, nutritional dishes on a budget.

The Trussell Trust, which supports a network of more than 1,200 foodbanks in the UK, has forecast a 61 per cent rise in the number of food parcels being handed out between October and December.

The charity says families are the worst hit with nearly two in five households needing to use a foodbank. Half of people using its foodbanks at the start of the pandemic had never used one before.

Rebekah Gibson, Waterloo Foodbank Manager, said: “The need for our foodbanks is higher than ever. People are really struggling and anything to support them will make a huge difference.

“We’re really pleased that the students at WestKing will be providing us with recipe cards to help those in need this Christmas cook healthy, delicious meals.”

Vince has had his own experience of living and supporting a family while on a low income when his catering business in Ireland collapsed in 2011 in the aftermath of the last recession.

He said: “I have had my own personal struggle with feeding my young family but was always too proud to ask for help. I have only just recovered over the past couple of years thanks to the support of family, friends and work colleagues.

“Not everyone is that lucky. That is why I cannot sit back and watch this happen.”

WestKing students at the college’s three centres in King’s Cross, Victoria and Soho are also donating food and other essential items to a foodbank at The Selby Centre in Tottenham.

Click here for more information on Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses.

Westminster Kingsway College has scooped two prestigious Catey awards, the hospitality industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. The Cateys are run by The Caterer magazine and recognise the most talented individuals, biggest brands and strongest performers in the industry.

Gary Hunter, Interim Deputy Executive Principal at Capital City College Group, won the Education and Training Award and WestKing received the Health and Nutrition Award at an online ceremony on 24 November.

Gary was awarded the Education and Training Award for delivering on his ambition to better the standards of culinary education in the UK. Judges hailed Gary as a worthy winner who has “continuously adapted and changed the college’s curriculum to reflect the needs of the student to meet the demands of the industry.”

The Health and Nutrition Award was awarded to the college for its creation of an academy in partnership with Culinary Medicine UK to educate students and clinicians on the importance of food as medicine. 

Judges described the relationship as a great example of partnership working that has “the potential to change the health of the nation and reduce costs to the NHS”.

Vince Kelly, Chef Lecturer, said: “I believe chefs can play a huge role in the nation’s health and can increase awareness by adding nutritional value to each dish. I see future career pathways into healthcare for professional chefs, and it is vital we set the standard now.

“Winning this award has only added weight to this argument and endorsed the fantastic work we’ve been doing at Westminster Kingsway College.”

The Cateys were first held in 1984 and are among the most prominent and respected awards in the hospitality industry.

Past winners of the coveted Chef Award include Raymond Blanc, Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsey, Tom Kerridge, Claude Bosi and Angela Hartnett.

WestKing has 15 operational kitchens and two training restaurants, The Brasserie and The Escoffier Room at The Vincent Rooms, located at its Victoria Centre, and trains more than 2,000 students and apprentices each year. Find out more about our Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses.

Westminster Kingsway College’s Enrichment Officer Esther Dahan has received a prestigious award for inspiring students to take on new challenges and boost their skills outside of the classroom.

Esther, who has worked at the college for just over a year, was among the recipients of a Jack Petchey Foundation Leader Award, after being nominated by her manager Laura Elliott.

The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up by Sir Jack Petchey CBE. It runs various programmes to inspire and motivate young people in London and Essex and recognise their achievements.

Esther’s win also means WestKing will receive a Leader Award Grant of £750 from the charity to spend on a project that will benefit its students.

She said: “I was touched to find I’d won the award, particularly after reading the heartfelt nomination that my manager put through for me. I’m excited to spend the grant on a new project for our learners.

“Enrichment is important in enabling young people to develop other skillsets; not just socially, but by strengthening a foundation of knowledge and experiences outside of the classroom, which they can take forward from college to live fuller, more enriched lives.”

Esther has led on a wide range of enrichment activities for students since joining the college in September 2019. Alongside the running of a regular weekly programme of clubs and activities, she has organised welcome and higher education fairs. She has also co-ordinated events focussed around our thematic monthly calendar, for example BAME history, LGBTQ+ issues, religious faith, student safety, health and wellbeing, and exam preparation.

In nominating Esther for the award, Laura Elliott, Head of Learner Services and Operations, said: “Learners know her well as she is front facing and always out and about speaking to learners, hosting clubs, societies, events and activities.

“Since moving more to online/blended learning she has gone above and beyond to ensure that learners know who she is, how to contact her and what activities and events are coming up. She has relished the opportunity to break down barriers particularly in the current pandemic, to ensure that learners do not miss out and that they are kept engaged and occupied.

“She has built a really good rapport with our class reps in particular and utilised them in the decision making behind the clubs/activities and events. Everything that she does puts the learner at the forefront, always thinking about how they will benefit and how we can make our outreach fully accessible.”

Since they were launched, Jack Petchey Leader Award Grants have supported more than 420,000 young people in schools, colleges and youth organisations across London and Essex.

Esther will be presented with her award at an online ceremony on a date to be confirmed. Click here for more information on Enrichment and Student Support at WestKing.

Westminster Kingsway College has been named a regional winner in the School or College of the Year Award category at the Career Ready Awards 2020. The award, sponsored by Arriva, recognised WestKing as the ‘Best School or College in the South of England’ for its commitment to the Career Ready programme.

Career Ready is a national charity that works with educators and employers to help young people fulfil their potential by preparing them for the modern workplace.

The award celebrates schools and colleges that have successfully implemented the Career Ready programme to provide an outstanding experience for their students.

Carlo Liu, Employability and Progression Lead at WestKing, said: “We are delighted to be a Career Ready regional winner. Working with Career Ready has been central to building our cross-college careers education programmes.

“Our students go on a journey, benefitting from all elements of the programme from the employer mentoring and masterclasses to the summer internships. This year’s students have had their interviews and we can’t wait to see their progress in the year ahead.

“Boosting employability skills and connecting young people with industry gives them all-important workplace experiences and the new-found confidence and motivation to succeed and achieve their future goals.”

A Level student Jasmine Duckworth also received Special Recognition in the STEM Student of the Year Award, sponsored by AstraZeneca. This award recognises students who have made the most progress towards a career in a STEM industry during the programme.

Jasmine 19, from Camden, said: “I wasn’t expecting to be nominated, but I feel very proud to have been recognised. It shows I’m doing well.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and when I heard about the Career Ready programme I thought I would give it a shot because I knew I would gain experience on an internship with a mentor. It was another opportunity and I just grabbed it.

“The experience helped me to develop my communication and teamwork skills. I was quite shy at first and did not know how to start a conversation, but I had to step out of my comfort zone and get to know different people and teams, which gave me more confidence.”

Jasmine undertook a six-week internship at BP while being mentored by Lucinda Pilkington, Business Engagement Manager at the Bank of England.

In nominating Jasmine for the award, Lucinda said: “Jasmine has made this past year a very enjoyable one for me, I feel lucky to have been assigned such a friendly, funny and might I say inspirational young lady. 

“I have watched Jasmine grow in confidence this year and explored skillsets I don’t think she honestly thought she possessed, but she has flourished.”

WestKing’s Careers Service has been working with Career Ready for three years as part of its range activities, support and guidance to help students to get into work or university.

A dedicated and hard-working student has overcome serious illness and setbacks, and is closing in on her ambition to be a doctor – thanks in part to an Access to Medicine course at City and Islington College. Sian Roberts has battled with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS), a genetic connective tissue disorder, from the age of 15.

Suffering with joint pain, instability, fatigue, migraine, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), Sian’s education was profoundly affected. After completing her GCSEs, she started her A Levels, but sadly had to drop out due to her condition. 

For years Sian continued to suffer and ended up bed-bound for months. In 2017, at the age of 23, she received the surgery that she had been waiting for and was given a new lease of life. Although she still suffers chronic health conditions, her experiences with health and the healthcare system sparked an interested in medicine and how the body works. 

Although she had missed many years of education, she is resolute in reaching her goal of becoming a doctor. She knew the best route to medical school was through the Access to Medicine course at CANDI, which she successfully completed in 2019. Sian is now a second-year medical student at St George’s University of London and well on her way to making her dream a reality.  

“I consider myself lucky. Although I still have chronic health conditions, I’m well enough to move forward with my life. Because I had been out of education for a while, I had very little confidence in my academic ability, but I really wanted to study medicine. After a lot of research, I knew my best option was an Access to Higher Education course which is aimed at over 19’s who don’t have the necessary qualifications to get into university. I applied to two colleges in London and after attending the open evening and interview, I knew CANDI was for me. Everyone was so friendly and supportive. 

“Starting the Access course felt very daunting as it was a big life change for me. The environment at the college and the friendly staff and students quickly eased my nerves. The teachers were all incredibly knowledgeable in their subject area and were supportive and approachable. They were aware of my health issues and were incredibly flexible, allowing me attend other classes when I had hospital appointments that clashed with my timetable. I also had contact with the disabilities advisor and was given additional support with exams. My tutor, Imran Ahmed, was not only incredibly supportive, understanding and kind, but also managed to convert me to liking physics! 

“The Access course really prepared me for the first year of medical school. The course is intense and covers everything that’s needed to start studying a medical or healthcare degree. It gave me a great foundation to then build upon in my first year of university. 

“Because of my health, education is something that I will never take for granted. I loved my time at CANDI and was determined to make the most of the course and do as well as I could. I had very little academic confidence when I started. Because of my health and its impact on my education, I felt I wasn’t good enough to achieve anything. But the positive experience and support that I had at CANDI really helped me to develop confidence in my own ability and go on to medical school.

“It’s natural to feel apprehensive and nervous about starting something new, I certainly did. But for mature students, Access courses are an amazing route to university. Being a mature student, you have a lot to offer and can bring different life experiences to the table. It’s a lot of work but rewarding and enjoyable. It’s all been worth it to now be studying my dream course at my first choice of university. I’d really encourage anyone who’s thinking about it to take that leap and do it!”