Achieve

The Ashfield Centre is a specialist facility launched by West Nottinghamshire College three years ago designed to meet the individual needs of vulnerable learners. As well as offering a range of vocational courses at entry and level 1, the Ashfield Centre also offers a holistic approach to support and boasts a number of unique characteristics:

• separate building with a culture of understanding and acceptance;
• deliberately small and contained surroundings where learners feel safe and secure;
• fit for purpose facilities including a common room with games so when learners are there, they want to stay there.
• core value of respect embedded throughout the Centre and across all aspects of an individual’s programme;
• expectation and acceptance of appropriate behaviour;
• passionate, friendly and dedicated staff, offering a rounded and individual support service which can include finding a young person somewhere to live to advocating with young offender teams;
• inspirational and motivational grade 1 teachers who provide outstanding teaching and learning;
• provision of a free bus and breakfast for learners arriving before 9.00 am - encouraging good time management and ensuring they have eaten something before they start their day;
• wider activities including volunteering opportunities - giving learners the chance to give something back to their community whilst gaining a sense of achievement and self-worth in return;
• acknowledgement of learner achievement throughout the Centre.

“I arrived at Ashfield with nothing and left with qualifications, confidence and self-esteem… I was surprised by the change in my mindset. I soon found I was enjoying studying and once I was getting good marks and praise I was so happy that it just spurred me on.”
Kara, Ashfield Centre Learner