Ignition of life Photography exhibition in Luton Library and UoB Campus Centre

Ignition of life is a collaboration between Aimhigher, University of Bedfordshire and On Track centre of alternative education. Ten teenagers worked with an award winning artist, Ania Dabrowska and her team to use photography as a way to reflect on their life, aspirations and their future. Every day students went out with cameras in their hands, to capture aspects of life that usually remain unseen to other people. Working individually during the morning, the young people shared their images with the rest of the group in the afternoon, discussing why a particular shot was taken and what it signifies. Apart from learning new skills of like handling a camera and understanding photography more, ten boys and girls used this time to learn more about themselves and people around them, creative self-expression, hope and ambition.

Aimhigher initiative works with young people to raise their awareness, achievement and aspirations and to promote accessible routes into Higher Education.

Participatory photography "places the medium of the camera into the hands of learners to democratize the image-making dynamic and give them the power to show and speak their own realities" (Journal of transformative education)

NHS Expedition - 13th October 2010

What kind of jobs are there in the NHS?  What career would suit me?  How do I become a healthcare professional in the future?  These are just some questions young people had when they attended the NHS Careers Expedition held on the L&D Hospital. 

Over 250 students from Bedfordshire in Years 9-13 attended the event which kicked off with a dynamic, fast paced performance called ‘Pathways to Healthcare’ from Impact Universal.  The performance was based on a story of a school student who decides to bunk off school for the day only to find himself in hospital (due to having no aspirations) he then explores all areas of the hospital from radiography to maternity meeting healthcare professionals on the way.  The students and staff were engaged from the beginning with the core messages that there are many numbers of careers from volunteering to becoming consultant available for young people.

After the performance students then went to the comet centre to meet the ‘real life’ healthcare professionals who were there to represent the hospital.  Students had the chance to speak to junior doctors, midwifes, student nurses, physiotherapists and many more to find out about entry routes, highs and lows of the job and much more.

The event was a great success with future event planned for 2011, so if your school is interested in attending sign up quick as places are limited. To find out more about the performance from Impact Universal contact Roisin Kendall (aimhigher@beds.ac.uk)

8th November 2010 Student Finance England presentation

Student Finance England presentation
Donna Isard from Student Finance England will be coming to the University on 8th of November from 2-4pm.  The presentation will be taking place in the new campus centre at Park Square in room GM01.  The session will include an overview of Student Finance, which will include the Browne Review, 2011 policy and procedures and practitioner resources and Student Finance calculator.

Car parking facilities are not available due to building works so I would recommend the use of public car parks.