Member Article

TyneMet College and Virgin Media laying strong foundations

The Foundation Learning Department at TyneMet College and Virgin Media Gateshead are working together to develop excellent work experience opportunities and a variety of initiatives for students studying on the Preparation For Employment and Broadening Horizons courses.

As part of the development of the work experience programmes, Virgin Media Gateshead wanted to make sure that the students were prepared in every way for their work experience and as a gesture of goodwill they recently came to TyneMet to present the Towards Independence and Opening Opportunities courses with 2 iPads. Young people accessing these courses have Autism and a range of complex learning difficulties and disabilities.

Tutors at TyneMet were delighted with these incredible new resources which will give some students a voice for the first time. The iPads will be used in a variety of ways but as an augmentative communication aid they are invaluable.

The Foundation Learning Department and Virgin Media Gateshead began working together in May this year to develop work experience programmes and since then a number of events involving the students have been organised. The students will take part in a sponsored car wash at Virgin Media Gateshead to raise money for the Foundation Learning Work Experience Bursary, a fund which helps students to access work experience, a charity football match has also been arranged, an event that the Foundation Learning Football Team are very excited about.

Paul Harrison, Sales Manager, Virgin Media Gateshead, said:

“We are really excited about working with the Foundation Learners at TyneMet. We’ve got a number of activities planned from workshops and work experience to charity football matches. We are all keen to contribute to the local community giving the young people at TyneMet a chance to learn outside the classroom.”

Sue Davison, Schools and Employer Liaison Officer, TyneMet College, said:

“Virgin Media Gateshead are helping us to achieve our aim for the future which is to see work placements being offered from a variety of local employers.

It is a delight to work with Paul Harrison and his colleagues who have come up with some fantastic ideas as to how to engage and help our students. We have discussed lots of possible opportunities for us to continue to work together, including TyneMet staff delivering disability and autism awareness training which will help their staff to better understand these conditions.“

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .