Johnstone's Young Decorator of the Year 2015

Painting & Decorating students Liam and Jess competed in the Johnstone's Young Painter of the Year competition at Doncaster College on the 21st of April 2015 . Both students did really well and managed to mark out and paint a really complex design that commemorates Johnstones 125 years in the paint manufacturing business. We are really impressed by both students and are glad they enjoyed taking part in the regional heat. Here are a few photos from the day:

 

 

Construction did something Funny for Money! (Comic Relief 2015)

The Construction department has been raising funds for Comic Relief by participating in 2 fun activities. As a department we managed to raise over £101 for the cause by running a red brick road raffle and by asking for donations for facepainting selfies in front of a specially created back drop.

The red brick road raffle allowed staff and students to buy a brick on our road board. The bricks were all numbered and at the end of the week we picked out winning bricks to receive prizes including Meadowhall vouchers, new work boots, chocolates or a memory stick.

 

The winner of the main prize of a £25 Meadowhall voucher was Wall and Floor Tiler Jack Millington. Here he is receiving his prize:

 

 

The second activity involved the painters making a selfie board to use as a back drop while our support worker Beth went around the trades offering facepainting for a £1 donation.

The board was designed and painted by various students from the level 1 diploma and features a large red nose charater and the comic relief logo that was stencilled onto the board.

 

 

The facepainting took place throughout the week leading up to Comic Relief and both staff and students took part in the fun. Here are a few photos from willing participants:

 

We are really appreciative of all our staff and students who helped us raise over £101 for a worthy cause and we hope that our learners enjoyed doing something funny for money.

 

 

Plumbing students raise funds for Barnsley Hospice

Here is a thank you letter we have received from Barnsley Hospice in appreciation of the donation made by the Plumbing department in December 2014.

Thanks to all the students who contributed by buying a pen at the site and to tutor Brian Bellis who makes it all possible by donating the pens.

The Construction Department donates food and clothing to a local homeless shelter

During December the Construction Department encouraged staff and students to donate food and clothing to people less fortunate than themselves.

A donation box was placed in every site, including the STEM centre and the Think Low Carbon centre to allow unwanted items to be collected. We had an overwhelming response, with the department managing to donate 14 bags of food and 3 boxes of clothing, which was then delivered to the Barnsley Churches Drop in Project for distribution to local people in need.

Four members of staff also volunteered to help out at the centre after work on the 18th of December. It was a busy night for the drop-in volunteers, because as well as supporting and feeding up to 80 clients they were also taking part in the Rucksack Project. Throughout the evening kind-hearted members of the public arrived with rucksacks filled with warm clothing, hats, gloves, sleeping bags and flasks of soup, which needed to be organised and then given as a early Christmas present to the clients to ensure they stay warm at the coldest time of the year.

The four volunteers helped out in a number of ways, with 2 members of Construction management washing the pots in the kitchens, our Tutorial Team Leader helped in the dining room interacting with the clients and the Tutorial Learning Mentor organised the stores and distributed the rucksacks.

The Drop-in Project is doing a great job working with vulnerable people within the Barnsley community and the volunteers found it very rewarding donating their time. The centre relies on donations, so we have agreed to hold another food collection for them in the summer.

Thanks to all the staff and students who donated to the cause.

Christmas 2014 and a visit from Barugh Green Primary School

Christmas is always an exciting time in the Construction department, with many areas undertaking festive themed work.

This year the students in Plastering, Tiling and Painting & Decorating have worked together to create the Grotto at the Barugh Green site. It has become an annual event for the department to invite the children from Barugh Green primary school to the grotto to try out some construction activities and visit Father Christmas.

Here is a collection of photographs showing our students with their Christmas themed work along with pictures of the activities enjoyed by the school children on their visit:

 

 

We always look forward to the Primary school visit and hope that they enjoy their time with us.

Thanks to all our students who decorated the workshop and the Grotto to make the visit magical.