A former Westminster Kingsway College student will be showcasing his talent for stand-up when he appears on Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club on ITV this month.

Babatunde Aléshé is fast becoming one of the most popular names in black British comedy and will be seen on the show for up-and-coming comics on Saturday 10 October.

The comic and actor studied Performing Arts at WestKing from 2002 to 2005.

Babatunde, 34, said: “I was always the class clown in school and was inspired by Eddie Murphy. When I was at college I met a comedian by the name of Kojo made the decision to step into comedy.

“Whenever I was acting, I would always try to make the audience laugh, even when it wasn’t a comedy. Stand-up seemed like the only option for me.”

Babatunde made his stand-up debut at the Upfront at Comedy Club in Croydon in November 2003 and has gone on to perform at venues across the UK including The O2 and Hackney Empire.

He is also a talented actor whose TV and film credits including Waking the Dead, Doctor Who, EastEnders, Pelican Blood and The Naked Poet.

His stage work includes Iya Ilé at Soho Theatre and Requiem for Tomorrow at Shaw Theatre.

“I love acting, but stand-up will always have a special place in my heart,” he said.

“The real highlight of my career so far is having my son show his grandmother me on the TV whenever he goes to her house!”

Despite his comedic leaning, Babatunde recalled the performance he considered his best at WestKing was in a serious role, as John Proctor in The Crucible.

He said: “I loved my time at college and had the pleasure of being trained by Rob Alexander, who was an awesome teacher. Because of him I was able to get into Central School of Speech and Drama and become a comic. Within three years I was there. I can honestly say that my time at WestKing wasn’t wasted at all.”

Giving his advice to future performers, he added: “Don’t overthink it, just do it. Trust the process and don’t be scared to fail. If you can withstand failure, over and over again, it makes you stronger. For a comedian it’s where our best material is made.”

Babatunde won Best Newcomer at the Black Entertainment Comedy Awards and was also the winner of the Amused Mouse National New Comic Award.

In 2018 he was chosen to appear alongside American stand-up Dave Chapelle on his live comedy show The Process.

Earlier this year he was seen on Celebrity Gogglebox on Channel 4 with fellow comic Mo Gilligan, and in September he appeared on Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports.

Rob Alexander, Lecturer in Drama, said: “Babatunde was a fabulous student to have in the classroom and showed great comedic potential from the off. From his early scenes in EastEnders to where he is now, I am very proud of his achievements.”

“What’s equally wonderful is how open and approachable he is, and how willing he has been to talk to our students about his work and career.”

A Westminster Kingsway College student has won a £6,000 scholarship to study for a degree in nursing at the University of Leicester. Hawa Olabanji, 19, was chosen to receive the scholarship after achieving a Distinction on a Health and Social Care Level 3 Diploma at the college.

The scholarship is worth £2,000 a year for three academic years of her four-year MSci Nursing degree, which she started in September.

Hawa said: “I am excited to be attending Leicester because I know what I am going to study will result in me doing my dream career as a nurse.

“When I went to the open day at Leicester University I really fell in love with the place and knew it was where I wanted to study. I was so impressed with the medical equipment and the practical facilities they provide. They have everything you need.”

Hawa initially wanted to become a doctor before looking at midwifery and finally settling on nursing.

“I am a very caring person by nature and wondered how I could use that professionally,” she said. “I decided I wanted to do something in the healthcare sector and chose to focus on becoming a nurse.”

While on her course at WestKing, Hawa completed a work placement at Whittington Hospital in north London.

She said: “I was really inspired by people working at the hospital and what I saw there and the tasks they asked me to do. I don’t like just waiting around and it seemed like an exciting and busy place to work.

“It’s a very rewarding profession and a job where I feel I can make a difference to people’s lives and be proud of myself. If I can help someone who might be having a difficult time and put a smile on their face, it makes me smile.”

Hawa was full of praise for her teachers at WestKing and the support she had from the college’s Careers Service in helping her get a place at university.

“The teachers really made sure we understood what we were doing. I am the type to always ask questions and they provided information and guidance for the coursework we had to do.

“They were very knowledgeable and were able to share a lot of their experience with us. When it came to choosing a university, the staff were very helpful in narrowing me down to one future goal and supporting me with my application.”

WestKing offers a wide range of Health and Social Care courses from Levels 1-3, as well as Access to Higher Education Diploma courses in Nursing, Midwifery, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, and Psychosocial Studies.

Sally Edozie, Lecturer in Health and Social Care, said: “Hawa is a determined and confident young lady who was very clear from the very beginning of her course that she wanted to enter the nursing sector. Her scholarship is well deserved and recognition of the work and effort she put into her studies at WestKing.

“It always brings me joy to see my learners succeed and to have their hard work acknowledged. I have no doubt that Hawa’s drive will enable her to excel and succeed at university and her goal to become a nurse.” 

Sarah Tompkins, Global Recruitment Officer at the University of Leicester, said: “We really enjoy working with students at WestKing to support them on their path to Higher Education. We’re pleased to welcome Hawa to our campus, and we hope this scholarship supports her aspirations – we are sure she will be hugely successful in her MSci Nursing course.”

CANDI alum, Daniel Nikolla, 27, has been named the Future Face of Sales, Marketing and Communications in the Future Faces Awards 2020. The awards, run by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, recognise the top talent aged 35 and under across the region’s business community.

Daniel, who is Marketing Manager for Hardy Signs in Burton upon Trent, received the award for launching a new marketing strategy focusing on digital transformation and content marketing, which has had a huge impact on sales for the company.

He was announced the winner at an online ceremony, which was beamed from Chamber House in Edgbaston and hosted by Heart West Midlands Drivetime presenter Gemma Hill.

Daniel said: “I am ecstatic and really pleased, and I feel honoured that the work that myself and our team have been doing over the last two years has been recognised. This award means a lot and has motivated me to continue learning and work even harder. It will ultimately boost my career prospects in every aspect.”

Daniel joined Hardy Signs in 2018 as a Marketing Executive and was promoted to his current position of Marketing Manager at the beginning of 2020.

He studied an HND in Creative Media Production at CANDI from 2014 to 2016 and went on to graduate from the University of West London with a BA (Hons) Film Production, before completing a CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing at Nottingham Trent University.

“It was only my second year in the UK when I joined CANDI, and it genuinely felt like home,” said Daniel, who was born in Tirana, Albania and moved to London in 2013.

“The international team, my teachers and the student engagement team, among others, were fantastic. They helped me take all the classes successfully and progress to university. 

“There was a really good blend of theory and practice on the course and the college provided us with plenty of opportunities and activities, to give us hands-on experience in our subject and improve our soft skills. 

“I can talk about my studies at CANDI endlessly, and recommend it to everyone that asks me.”

While at CANDI, Daniel was elected President of the Students’ Union, during which time it was awarded runner-up FE Student Union of the Year at the National Union of Students Awards in 2016.

He was also recognised for his student activism with the National Union of Students. 

Sally Ingrey, Lecturer in Media at CANDI, said: ‘Daniel struck me as energetic and sociable as soon as I met him at his college interview, and I knew that he would make a success of the course. 

“I am still in touch with him and am delighted that he is making a name for himself in marketing and wish him every success in his career.”

Daniel has also been shortlisted in Generation Next – Young Professional of the Year category at the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2020. The awards, run by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, recognise top talent aged 35 and under across the region’s business community.

Twelve CANDI A Level students gained an insight into working for one of the world’s largest media agencies when they took part in a virtual internship during lockdown.

The students completed the 10-week NextGen Leaders programme with Wavemaker, part of communications giant WPP. Wavemaker’s clients feature many high profile brands including Vodafone, L’Oreal, Chanel, IKEA, Paramount Pictures, Xerox and Palmolive.

Students received mentoring advice from business leaders, learnt about working in the media industry, developed their business and presentation skills and had the chance to network with Wavemaker’s clients and partners.

Participants in the programme also watched pre-recorded sessions and joined in live discussions to share their thoughts and ideas with one another. The internship was supported by We Speak, which helps young people develop their confidence in speaking and connects them with business and employment opportunities.

Student Ruth Mbu-Nswingani, 19, said: “My experience of working with the mentors was very positive. Everyone I interacted with had good vibes and gave great feedback.”

Another student Aaliyah Handi, 18, said: “I liked how we got to talk about what we’re passionate about and where we want to go in our future careers.” 

Mentors providing support on the internship were impressed with the students’ commitment and attitude when it came to developing their skills.

Isabelle James, Planning Manager at Wavemaker, said: “The students were all very enthusiastic, bright and ambitious. It was very inspiring.”

Our Careers Service, which arranged for students to attend the programme, provides a wide range of work placement opportunities, resources and advice to help students achieve their university and career aspirations.

Careers Co-ordinator Jo Bishop said: “It was truly inspiring to hear the students speak with so much confidence and many have commented that they now have far more confidence in terms of applying for future opportunities. 

“Our students completed the internship alongside undergraduates, but really stood out with their engagement on the programme and their willingness to learn and develop.  We hope that this is the start of a fantastic partnership with Wavemaker and We Speak.”

A Level student, Esther Simuene, was offered a once in a lifetime internship with the renowned magazine ELLE.

Esther, who is studying politics, psychology and economics, spent three months learning everything to do with the publishing world during the lockdown. Read on to find out how Esther landed the dream role, how she found the internship and what she plans to do next.

How did you get the internship with ELLE?

ELLE offered the internship to 12 students around the country. The Careers Service at CANDI reached out to me and asked if I was interested. Of course, I jumped at the chance. I had a telephone interview with ELLE and I was lucky enough to get picked.

What was your first day like?

I was really nervous! I had never done anything like this before and I was nervous to meet the other students. But I had nothing to worry about. As we were in lockdown, we were introduced to each other and the team over Zoom and they really made us feel comfortable and at ease. We learnt about the ins and outs of ELLE which I found really interesting. The magazine has so many aspects to it, there is a lot going on. We were also told that the cover star for the September issue would be with British fashion model, Adwoa Aboah, which was very exciting.

What was it like day-to-day at ELLE?

The internship was two days a week, to fit around our studies and no two days were the same. We were each given a personal mentor who guided and advised us, and we got to work in each department. I loved trying new things and I learnt so much about the industry. 

What did you enjoy most about the internship?

There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t enjoy doing. I was lucky to have the editor at ELLE, Farrah Storr, as my mentor. I loved getting her advice and hearing about ELLE from an editor’s point of view. It was a great opportunity and I learnt so much from her.

What would you like to do after you’ve finished studying at CANDI?

Before the internship, I was clueless about what I wanted to do next. This experience has opened my eyes. There are so many exciting opportunities out there and getting into the media is something I would now seriously consider.

Do you have any advice for other CANDI students?

Trust yourself and step out of your comfort zone, especially if you’re unsure of what you want to do. It could lead to experiences you might never have considered. You may just find your dream career!

Capital City College Group and its three colleges – City and Islington College; Westminster Kingsway College; and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London – has taken to the airwaves to promote #Laptops4Learners, a drive to help disadvantaged students get online during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Restrictions brought about by Covid-19 mean that students will be learning through a mix of face-to-face lessons and online learning, so our #Laptops4Learners campaign is calling on businesses and the community to help provide 2,500 computers and tablets and raise £250,000 to buy more equipment to enable students to study at home.

67 per cent of our students are in the bottom three bands of social deprivation – with some living in the most deprived wards in the country – and almost a third have to share a computer, laptop or tablet with their family. The Government estimates that within the next 10 to 20 years, 90 per cent of jobs will need some sort of digital skills, so your generosity today will help us secure a young person’s future too.

You can donate to the campaign on our JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/laptops4learners

Speaking to BBC London News today (4 September), Roy O’Shaughnessy, CEO of Capital City College Group, explained how important it is to enable students to learn effectively online: “With the UK heading back into recession and unemployment rising because of the Covid-19 crisis, it is vital that our students do not miss out on their education.

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far and we’re continuing to stretch every muscle to support our students, but we know that there are many more who need our help. And with even more disadvantaged Londoners expected to enrol with us in September, we know we will need many more computers to support their education.

“With your support, we can help more of our learners, so they learn effectively online and gain the skills and qualifications they need to take their next steps into higher education or their chosen career.”

Students enrolling at Westminster Kingsway College say they ‘feel safe and reassured’ ahead of their studies in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. They join the hundreds of students that have already enrolled at WestKing and our sister colleges, City and Islington College and the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, with many more expected over the next month.

Throughout the summer, the college has been putting measures in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and is encouraging students to come to its centres to enrol, to give them the reassurance they need for when their course starts in September.

WestKing is also offering free courses for 16-18s and up to Level 2 to adults and free short courses up to Level 3 as the country looks to recover from the impact of COVID-19.

Carlet Biyeya, 16, who is looking to study a Business Level 3 Diploma, said: “I feel safe in this environment. All the staff are keeping their distance when you enrol, and when we go to college we’ll have online classes, which gives us less chance of getting coronavirus.

“I’m excited to be studying here because I’ve never felt the vibe of being at college. I’m looking forward to exploring that new part of my life.”

Sadia Mobasshir, 18, who is returning to study a Health and Social Care Level 3 Diploma, said: “I think everything is going to be alright. The college is doing everything it can and hopefully it will be a bit more normal now. I feel safe and reassured about coming back.

“I’ve missed coming to college and my friends, and my teachers as well, they’re so nice.”

To reduce the number of people in buildings at any time, lessons will be given through a mix of online and classroom learning, with the proportion of online and classroom learning varying depending on the course.

When in college, students and staff will follow social distancing rules with one-way systems in place and staggered start and finish times. Classrooms have been reorganised and there will be limited access to lifts and other public spaces in the building where people could congregate. Hand sanitisers are also available, and an enhanced and more frequent cleaning regime is in place at all sites.

Staff and students will also receive a COVID-19 handbook that gives information about the safety measures in place, as well as a guide on what to do if they get any symptoms. 

They will be required to check in and out of college using their ID card and all visitors will be required to complete a ‘track and trace’ form before they can enter a building.

Roy O Shaughnessy, CEO of Capital City College Group, said: “We are proud of our long record of educating Londoners of all ages, but this year has been a very different and exceptional one in many ways.

“We have followed the Government advice along with that provided by the World Health Organization and others, and have taken timely decisions to ensure that the health and safety of our staff and students are always at the forefront of our minds.

“Infection rates in London have reduced considerably, but we cannot be complacent. Our priority is always to ensure the safety of our staff and students, while ensuring that students can continue to learn.”

As well as supporting students’ safety for the new academic year, we are also helping hundreds get online so they can learn effectively at home as well as in college. 

Since the lockdown started in March, CCCG has provided more than £188,000 to help provide 577 students purchase laptops and 3,500 get equipment to get internet access, but wants to do more.

The Group has launched a Laptops4Learners campaign to provide 2,500 laptops and raise £250,000 to help buy more equipment to enable them to study at home. Click here to find out more and support the campaign.

Unloc has teamed up with Westminster Kingsway College and Visionnaires, both part of the Capital City College Group, to launch a brand new innovation hub located at the front of Westminster Kingsway College’s King’s Cross Centre. 

The space is dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship and leadership skills in the students that attend the college, local feeder schools and the wider community. The hub is a physical and visual commitment to developing young people’s aspirations, ambitions and skills, whilst also creating a platform to engage with the wider community. 

The space, which will soft launch in September 2020 and fully open in January 2021, has three key functions: 

• A flexible events space, for up to 30 people, hosting workshops on entrepreneurship, leadership and social action
• Hot desking for Westminster Kingsway College students who are starting up new businesses, charities or community projects
• A collaborative office space to host Unloc staff and partners working across London

The Changemaker Studios brand is debuting at our King’s Cross Centre. It was designed to incorporate the vast range of methods by which young people can be change makers and innovators; including through student voice, social action, charity-projects, businesses, social enterprises and volunteering. 

The space will host various Unloc training programmes, including the Enterprise Short Course and Leadership Academy, alongside start-up programmes delivered by Visionnaires – a Capital City College Group social enterprise that supports and incubates new businesses. 

Unloc will grow its provision on offer in London, as part of their ambition to expand their reach and offer programmes in all English regions by 2023. In the 18/19 academic year, Unloc’s programme reach increased by over 40% on the previous year, to 10,910 young people. 

Hayden Taylor, Unloc’s Managing Director, commented: “This is an exciting project that will see students at Westminster Kingsway College and the young people of Camden benefit from a space dedicated to widening their horizons and offering support to those that wish to set up their own business. This is a truly collaborative effort with Unloc, Westminster Kingsway College and Visionnaires all working together to create something really special”. 

Jasbir Sondhi, Vice-Principal of Westminster Kingsway College, added: “At Westminster Kingsway College we believe in the transformative power of education and are committed to supporting learners into positive destinations. One of our key priorities is to provide learners with access to high quality opportunities that are aligned to meeting the needs of employers and the workplace. 

“We are excited to be working in partnership with Unloc and Visionnaires. Changemaker Studios gives us an opportunity to broaden learner horizons and inspire them to achieve their full potential. Through Changemaker Studios our aim is to provide all of our learners with access to a wide range of opportunities which lead to positive destinations.” 

Pablo Lloyd OBE, Chief Executive of Visionnaires, said: “More than ever, our communities need energetic support to shape their social and economic future. Changemaker Studios brings together proven, innovative expertise, helping emerging leaders make positive change for everyone’s benefit.”