#CollegeContinues – How Our Community Made A Difference During Lockdown

We’re extremely proud of our inspiring students and staff, who’ve all been doing their best to contribute to our local community during the Coronavirus lockdown. So, let’s shine a spotlight on some of the amazing things that have been going on…

Virtual Teaching and Learning

To keep learning going, we introduced virtual teaching and learning using all the technology available to us, and it’s been a fantastic success. College has continued, while keeping our students and staff safe. But we couldn’t have done this without your support!

Donating Vital PPE

With low supplies of vital personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals, our dedicated staff rallied to gather existing supplies from the College to donate to the local Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Donations came from the Science, Hair and Beauty, Engineering and Motor Vehicle departments and included:

• 28,700 disposable gloves
• 1,300 disposable aprons
• 92 disposable masks
• 159 safety goggles
• 42 full- face visors
• 130 safety glasses
• 7 litres hand sanitiser
• 1,400 antibacterial wipes

Donating Hairbrushes and Combs

Many hospital patients and care home residents can’t see their family or friends, and might not have everything they need. So, alongside our partners at Goldwell UK, we donated hairbrushes and combs to the Royal Gwent Hospital and local care homes. Thanks to our partners at Goldwell for helping us to help our community!

3D Printing Vital Supplies

Design and Technology Lecturer David Watkins, developed, tested and used our state-of-the-art in-house 3D printers at the City of Newport Campus to produce replica parts required for the machines used to test for COVID-19. John Williams, Lecturer in the School of Engineering, Art and Media, also took on some printing shifts and they were able to help increase the testing capacity in Wales by 10%.

Daniel Lockett, Engineering Course Leader, also coordinated the 3D printing efforts of staff from Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone. They leapt into action using sophisticated 3D printers in the Engineering department to produce face shields for the 3D Crowd UK Big Print campaign, producing hundreds of units of PPE for Llandough Hospital, Neville Hall Hospital and more.

Fast-track Refresher Training for Frontline Staff

To help Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, we opened our Usk Campus as a training facility. Two of our teaching staff and Registered Nurses – Helen Curtis from Pontypool Campus and John Whitcher from Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone – delivered fast-track clinical skills refresher training in partnership with Cardiff University, helping to mobilise more NHS staff to the frontline.

Students and Staff Volunteering

Well done to all our students and staff who have volunteered their time to help the local community. Over 40 students expressed an interest in volunteering to work in local health and social care settings and their voluntary work ranged from making deliveries of prescriptions, to directly caring for the elderly.

Virtual Open Events

Although our campuses are closed due to the government restrictions, we’re continuing to accept new applications for September 2020. But we understand that looking around our campuses and meeting tutors is an important part of your decision-making process. To help you do this, we’re developing interactive virtual open events instead, so you can explore college life from the safety and comfort of your own home!

Creativity from our Students and Staff

• Well done to Level 2 Support Teaching and Learning student Lisa Jones, who has been busy sewing 20 sets of scrubs for frontline workers at the Royal Gwent Hospital!
• Congratulations to Nerissa Vaughan, one of our innovative eSports students, for using her skills to successfully organise a gaming event – Teamfight Tactics – to raise awareness for mental health charity PAPYRUS during the lockdown!
• Coleg Gwent’s Football Academy Coach, Jack David, has been raising money for the NHS by wearing a different coloured football shirt, kit or training top, day and night for 30 days!
• We’re proud that two of our Coleg Gwent and Worldskills UK Sport Alumni have been leading live fitness and yoga sessions for UK colleges with AOCSport. The timetable of free weekly sessions has been getting the nation’s students moving during lockdown.

We always knew our staff and learners at Coleg Gwent were made for greatness… but we’ve never felt so proud of the kindness and dedication shown as #CollegeContinues despite the lockdown.

Become part of our inspirational community – apply now for September!