WIRRAL Met will be bringing a little Christmas cheer – with a lot of love – to children in desperate need.

Once again, the college is taking part in Operation Christmas Child’s Shoebox Appeal, a nationwide initiative that provides gifts for disadvantaged children in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The project is being co-ordinated by science lecturer Tricia Hardman who said: “Last year a small but enthusiastic group of tutors and students put together around 50 boxes filled with toys, warm clothes, stationery and other goodies. Considering the invitation went out rather late, I was really overwhelmed by the response. This year I hope we get an even bigger and better response.”

Tricia pointed out that putting together a shoebox filled with gifts is also a great team activity that builds awareness of the needs of others. She said: “If you don’t want to actually make up boxes yourself, students can bring in ‘filler’ items such as toothpaste, wrapped soap, small toys and games and wrapped sweets. The latter must, however, have a ‘best before’ date of March 2010.”

All shoeboxes will be taken over to the warehouse on Woodside Business Park where they will be packed before collection by the charity. Tricia added: “Tutors can also get students involved in helping to pack the boxes if they wish. It’s a great experience for them and very enriching.” The Woodside warehouse will be open from November 1 and, ideally, boxes should be ready as soon after that date as possible.

Email Tricia Hardman for more details of how to get involved in the Shoebox Appeal, leaflets are also available from Learner Services reception giving details of the gifts that can be included in the boxes and how to pack them.

You can also visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk for full details

BUSINESS is blooming for floristry student Jan Mullin. Only a year after putting her artistic talents on a formal footing at St James’ Neighbourhood College in Birkenhead, Jan now has a budding business as a floral designer. And although she readily admits that juggling work, family and her college course is at times stressful, she reckons her prospects couldn’t be rosier.

Jan, 40, hadn’t worked for 15 years before enrolling at St James’ in September last year for a City & Guilds course in creative floristry, covering Levels 1 and 2. She’s now working on a college certificate in advanced floristry techniques and will then go on to study for a Level 3 BTEC qualification. Said Jan: “I’ve always had an artistic leaning and enjoyed painting and drawing. I was in a position where I had to start thinking about a career for myself and I just had this thing in my head about floristry. I discovered there was a course at St James’ Centre – so I enrolled. It was as simple as that.”

Now Jan is finding herself in demand designing floral arrangements for weddings.
Her most recent was for friends who married early in October. “It’s amazing how, after only a year, things have taken off,” said Jan. “My last commission came as a result of the flowers I had done for a previous wedding. “It was such a stressful time though. I had to pick the flowers up from the wholesaler in Deeside on the Wednesday before the wedding in Crosby on the Saturday. They all had to be kept in the dining room – and our heating had to be turned off to keep them cool and fresh. “Wednesday and Thursday was spent making up the boxes for transportation to the wedding and it was only on the Friday that I could begin working on the arrangements – like ‘greening up’ the bride’s bouquet and starting on the bridesmaids’ flowers, the bridal car arrangement, wiring the corsages and doing the buttonhole leaves. It was a 5.30am start on the wedding day to finish off and, most importantly, complete the bride’s bouquet. “What a hectic time it was, particularly as I was a wedding guest and had to get myself ready. But it was all worth it and the couple were delighted. What more can you ask?”

Jan puts down her success to the floristry techniques she has been taught at St James’ and is now looking forward to tackling more complicated work on the advanced course.
She said: “The original course began with learning how to make buttonholes then we moved on to posies, head-dresses and hand-tied arrangements. “Your knowledge grows as the course progresses. I keep a photographic record of everything I’ve done from Day One and I can see where I can improve. I enjoy everything about my floristry experiences and like working with natural materials. I love doing what I call ‘weird stuff’ – arrangements with pieces of driftwood and making decorative butterflies out of wire.In fact, my house is full of flowers, even the bathroom and kitchen. I’m learning something new every day and constantly trying out different techniques.”

Do you sometimes worry about adding up on the spot or helping your child with their homework?

Taking a free course could help you get to grips with your maths and English skills, and increase your confidence.

You’ll be joining thousands of people across the country who have already transformed their work and home lives.

Then, to find out more about courses near you, just speak to a Get On adviser on 0800 66 0800*

Engineering student, Paul Chapman, has been named Most Improved Apprentice of the Year in an award scheme sponsored by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMECHE). Paul is completing his second year of a four-year Advanced Apprenticeship, Technical Route.

Earlier this year Paul, who works for ANH Refractories Europe in Bromborough, was runner-up as Young Apprentice of the Year in the Learning & Skills Council North West Learner Awards.

Mike Potter CBE said: “To receive such an award highlights Paul’s dedication and commitment to his studies which he demonstrates to a high standard at all times. The fact that he is achieving these standards at such a young age is terrific. As an engineer myself, I am immensely proud of the fact that an organisation as prestigious as the Institute of Mechanical Engineers should bestow this honour. These awards are highly prized and a great endorsement for the future of engineering in the college. It is fantastic to see our Engineering Department go from strength to strength. Here at Wirral Met we are now at the cutting edge of engineering”.

Presenting the award, David Barrett, IMECHE business development manager, said the future of the planet was now in the hands of young engineers like Paul. He said: “The key issues affecting us are climate change, sustainable energy and feeding the world. Solving these major problems will fall on the shoulders of people like him.”

At college Paul’s main areas of study include BTEC National Certificate, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Welding and Sheet Metal, Fitting and Machining with additional units in Communicating Technical Information and Efficiency Engineering. In the workplace he is responsible for producing and maintaining drawings of company premises, to include potential hazards, as well as undertaking detailed and accurate estimates and quotations for the global market.

Already his skills have identified a cost-saving initiative at ANH that involve the recycling of stainless steel pins, thus saving the company money and helping the environment. His studies at Wirral Met also included “exploring the application of engineering principles” – by way of a trip to Disneyland Paris to discover the engineering behind the amusement theme park when he provided support to students to understand technical lectures there. Paul is now keen to become a role model for Wirral Met’s budding engineers.

Paul said: “I feel my achievements at work and my proven ability to identify areas where I can save my company a substantial amount of money in times of economic depression are something I can look back on with pride. The knowledge I gained in my first 18 months as an apprentice inspired me and I hope I can now encourage other young people to take up a career in engineering”.

The blog of Wirral Metropolitan College Art student Carolyn Shepherd has been spotted by the Editor of AN Magazine, this has generated interest in her research. AN Magazine have interviewed Carolyn and have published a feature about her work and research on the site, this is intended to spark off debate on the Degrees Unedited blogs. Carolyn is the first student to be chosen to take part.

You can read the feature and Carolyn’s blog and also check out the work and progress of many of  Wirral Met’s artists who are also featured on the Degrees Unedited site at:

Click here to view Carolyn’s blog

Click here to view the Degrees Unedited blogs (to see other Wirral met student blogs, type “Wirral Met” in the “search for keyword box”)

Click here to view the AN magazine site