Page 16 - link magazine

16 The Link Magazine • September 2006 your fr _{ cis_ - —ifieds
College enters a new era
Swindon College has moved out of its Regent Circus site in the centre of town and all its activities are now focussed on its new purpose built
campus at North Star.
The site has seen substantial de- try and joinery centre alongside department. "But now, if you look with its Brunel associations, to the
velopment alongside the college's areas for training in plumbing and around the campus, you can see development of Swindon as well
existing buildings over the last two brickwork, real evidence of the excellent fa- as recognising the potential its sees
years. Central to this is a four sto- The move has also allowed the cilities that we now provide." in all its students.
reymainblockwhichprovidesstu- college to improve provision for The move marks a significant New principal Jonquil Brooks
dents with a new refectory, a learn- curriculum areas already based in historical change for the college commented, "the North Star cam-
ing resource centre and library and the old North Star buildings. For which has associations, via its art pus is a really important develop-
specialist facilities for computing. example, hairdressing courses are and design school to the town cen- ment for the future of Swindon
There will also be enhanced facili- moving to a new salon on the cam- tre and Victoria Road, going back and its people. We now provide
ties for music, art and design with pus. to the nineteenth century. exactly what should be expected
a suite of studios, including one "It sometimes seems that we've The new location has been the in the 21st century."
for the new HND/HNC in pho- been talking about this move for spur to a new branding initiative, www.swindon-college.ac.uk
tography so long that it's hard to believe that with a star-shaped logo recognis- - The college site at Regent Circus
There are new workshops for it's all happened," said Jenny ing the significance of North Star, has been sold for development.
construction trades with a carpen- Brygan of the college's marketing
Ned' and old Swindon College buildings at North Star

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Learning for Life lives on
In April it looked as though Learning for Life would close when
Swindon Council refused to consider a grant application. But, with
new funding from other sources, they have risen from the ashes.
The charity provides train-
ing, education and personal
development opportunities
for disabled adults and
carers. It was managed by
Scope until March when
members voted to become in-
dependent.
For a few weeks earlier in
the year, it was touch and go
whether the centre could sur-
vive but the Garfield and
Weston Foundation came to
the rescue with financial sup-
port and this was boosted by
a grant from insurance giant
Zurich. Funding also comes Learning for Life user Simon Wright
from Swindon Learning Part- gets a makeover from Dee Desa and
nership, the Learning Curve fellow user Annette Ti,tworth
Network and Wiltshire &
Swindon Community Foundation. ownership of the project and have
Centre manager Nalni Sorr is put forward their own fundraising
preparing to apply for lottery fund- strategies."
ing for longer term security. She is Courses this Autumn at the
upbeat about the move to inde- Shaftesbury Centre include IT
pendence. "It means that we're able skills, Tai Chi and remedial mas-
to have more control over what we sage, self improvement courses,
offer," she said. "We're able to take arts and crafts, relaxation and stress
more immediate decisions and re- management. Counselling and work
spond to the learners' needs in a placements are also arranged.
more efficient manner. For course details call Nalni on
"The learners have taken greater 514055 ext 4808.