On Friday 25th February students and staff from across Gateway College collaborated on an innovative initiative that created ‘real life’ opportunities for learning within the healthcare sector. The idea of the Disability Awareness Marketplace was created across three teams to achieve meaningful outcomes and included students and staff from Additional Leaner Support (ALS), Learning for Life and Work (LLW), and the Health and Social Care department.
Amy Mark, Curriculum Leader for Health and Social Care and Health T level Lead said,
“Our Health and Social Care students have had first-hand experience in a ‘live’ situation learning about disability and sensory impairment from students who live with these conditions and the skilled college staff who support them every day. This invaluable experience prepares the students for employment and higher education in healthcare and medical fields and fulfils a key unit in their L3 qualification.”
Students and staff within the ALS and LLW departments created and delivered demonstrations for the Health and Social Care students to participate in. The Disability Awareness Marketplace included:
- Assisted living demonstrations with overhead and mobile hoists
- Visual impairment and sensory impairment demonstrations and activities
- Information stalls about mental health, dyslexia and autism run by staff and students with lived experience of these conditions
- The Sweet Market – an entrepreneurial enterprise run by students from the LLW department
- Pizza making by LLW students to demonstrate the adapted kitchen facilities
Helen Herries, Head of ALS added,
“This an important event because it has brought several departments together with mutual benefits for all. As well as our experienced staff demonstrating how to use specialist equipment in various settings, we also have stalls and information stands that students with disabilities and support needs have helped to create and deliver. By interacting and taking part, our Health and Social Care students will gain knowledge that will help them with their assignments.”
Gateway Sixth Form College offers a range of courses in Health and Health and Social Care including:
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