Debate Mate is the talk of the town

There was plenty of debate among mates as the University of Bedfordshire hosted a launch event for high schools in Luton.

The Debate Mate organisation is a national charity which is already working in the big cities of London, Liverpool and Manchester.

Now a partnership between the University, the Hertfordshire Law School, Luton Sixth Form College and Aimhigher Luton has seen the launch of the initiative aimed at Luton schools and colleges.

Young people from all the Luton high schools were invited along with their headteachers and lead debating staff to the launch at the Luton campus on a recent afternoon. It took place in the Lecture Theatre in the new Campus Centre on Thursday, 9 December.

Three students from both Stopsley and Ashcroft were involved in a live debate, This house believes that qualifications equal success.

Other schools at the launch were Putteridge, Lea Manor, Cardinal Newman, Challney Boys, Barnfield Academy South, Barnfield Academy West, The Studio School and Lealands.

A second live debate was performed by some of the mentors who work for the Debate Mate organisation. The mentors, a mixture of international and national debating champions from some of the most prestigious universities in the country, go out to schools to train the students to debate.

Roisin Fulton from Aimhigher Luton said: “Debating is a fantastic and creative tool to inspire verbal intelligence in young people.

“We’re delighted that Debate Mate is coming to Luton and we look forward to entering their national competitions, the final of which is held at the House of Lords.

“It is our hope that every one of the 12 high schools in Luton will be debating by Easter - debating subjects that inspire our young people to greater achievements and to have a better understanding of issues that affect us all.

“Debating is a fantastic vehicle for social mobility and should be available for everyone who wants to give it a try. Our thanks go to the University for allowing us to use its facilities for this launch event.”

Events in the New Year to enable and encourage schools to take part in mainstream debate include a staff training day on Saturday, 8 January, which is again being hosted by the University in its new Lecture Theatre (10am - 4pm).

Teaching staff are among those invited to be trained to set up and run debating clubs in their schools and colleges. For further details on the training, contact Roisin at Roisin.Fulton@luton.gov.uk

Then six Year Ten students in every high school across the town, who are nominated by the schools, will attend the Debate Mate debating club at Luton Sixth Form College every Thursday from 13 January (4.15pm - 5.30pm). This means that up to 72 students will attend the weekly sessions for up to eight weeks where five experienced and skilled mentors will teach them the art of debating.

  http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/dec/101222-debating

Social Worker of the Year

The excitement builds, the winners will shortly be announced the lights are dimmed and the winner of outstanding social worker of 2010 is Martin Hill.  Martin received his award at the prestigious Children and Young People Now Awards in Westminster on the 18th of November.

The awards night communicated the national achievements of our unsung heroes, by celebrating the work they do to allow children and young people to achieve.  Martin was awarded the title of outstanding social worker for his collaborative work with Aimhigher Bedfordshire and University of Bedfordshire. 

Social workers should always go the extra mile for young people in care and over the past five years Martin Hill has continually demonstrated this by supporting the University’s Reach Your Goal programme.  Young people in care have traditionally been under represented in higher education our aim is to help decrease this gap by offering students the opportunity to take part in events and activities which demonstrate they can be future graduates. Martin has been a part of staff team who help s to make young peoples dream a reality.  

Over the past 5 years we have ran residential summer schools in confidence raising for Years 10 / 11 and independent living for years 12 /13.  Martin has attended all 7 residential summer schools helping out young people in care.  He has always gone the extra mile by taking part in all activities from tractor driving to kayaking.  He has been a shoulder for students to turn to when things have become too much and emotionally he has followed every students inquiries up so he gets the answers to personal life questions and issues they have struggled to resolve.  

Chantelle Westwood first met Martin on a Reach Your Goal/Aimhigher residential when she was 14, he then went on to become her social worker when she moved over to the 16plus team in Luton..  Chantelle is now 19 living independently and currently completing a BTEC in Health and Social Care with a view of going to University.


She said "Martin is my social worker he is very understanding he has always got an answer to all my questions and if he does not know the answer he finds it out for me.  He is committed to his job, a situation happened to me and I felt I could not speak to anyone about it except Martin, we have a trust thing.  He helped me overcome this and is setting up counselling.


Martin is really funny and he really cares about his clients.  He helped me with my move to my new flat and is always checking up that I am ok.  He is laid back but professional at the same time, he makes you feel really comfortable, I feel I can be myself as he accepts me for I am and does not judge me.  I feel really privileged to have Martin as my social workers because makes me feel worthwhile like someone cares for me".

On behalf of the whole team we would like to congratulate Martin on this great achievement.

Well done!

Get Boys Reading Achievement Evening

'Get Boys Reading' Achievement Evening was held at St Thomas More Upper School on Thursday 18 November. This event was designed to recognise the achievements of young boys who ‘Can Read’ but ‘Don’t Read’. Each pupil had managed to successfully complete a reading programme within their respective schools, enabling them to increase their reading scores in the classroom.

David Lewis, who is the Advisory Support Teacher for Ethnic Minority and Traveller Support at the Bedford Borough Council organised an inspiring evening of presentations and awards. Two of our student associates Adeola and Sean were instrumental in organising the awards certificates for the final presentation ceremony.
There was a larger than expected turnout on the night, with parents and pupils queuing at the entrance to the main hall. Guest speakers delivered a range of motivational presentations and BBC journalists, Dotun Adebayo delivered passionately about the value of reading. Aimhigher were also given an opportunity to present an aspirational speech about the merits of further and higher education.

At the end of the session, parents, pupils, guest speakers and academic professionals were treated to a Caribbean style buffet, which was vey welcomed and tasty. This social activity allowed people to mingle and network, which has resulted the prospect of developing collaborative projects in some of the Aimhigher targeted schools in Bedford.