In late April, AS Citizenship students raised awareness about the Amazing Grace Helpline which supports widows and their families living in poverty in Ghana, Africa. We students organised a collection of clothes, books, stationary, toys, bags and shoes to send to the charity to be sold or distributed to help those in need. We worked hard to make it a success and the result is that we successfully collected several bags and boxes of materials to send.

 

The Amazing Grace Helpline is a nominated charity of the college and is run by the mother of a college employee Ben Eshun. Ben works tirelessly to help raise awareness to his mothers work and the college is proud to support this. 

 

Student at the college Edvarda Salinite made the following statement.

“To be involved in project ‘Ghana collection’ was something amazing and an incredibly positive experience. I never before participated in such a big event during which we were able to do something that would help people who can’t help them themselves, people whose life chances are affected by the being born into poverty or being pushed into it through no fault of their own.

 

 It was amazing to see different people in the group with different beliefs working together for the same aim to help somebody you never met before. Even though I have always donated my clothes to different organisation before, it was amazing to be part of this project as everything was planned by us; ordinary students. It was also very nice to explain to my little sister why we were doing it when she asked. I told her that there are children like her in different parts of the world who will not to go school because they do not have the money for the uniform. Within 10 minutes she had brought her favourite skirt and told that she wanted to help those children. At that moment I realise that even if this collection will not solve poverty problem in the world it at least will help somebody somewhere and may change somebody’s life; if all people thought the same and became more active in helping each other there will be no such a thing as poverty. It was honour for me to be involved in this project and I would like to say thank you to Susan Else (teacher of citizenship) for such a life experience, she taught me a lesson that I will never forget.”

 

 

 

To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, the Woodland Trust is helping millions of people across the UK to come together to plant 6 million trees. The aim is to create hundreds of Jubilee Woods and 60 special Diamond Woods, transforming the nation’s landscape in a generation and providing a lasting and meaningful tribute for many years to come. This includes the Trust's exciting new flagship Diamond Wood in the heart of The National Forest in Leicestershire, a haven for wildlife and a wonderful monument to Her Majesty, open for all to enjoy.

 

A small group of students (Kayleigh Edney, Corey Denford, James Jagger, Callum Jackson and Nathan Anderson) on the Franklin College foundation programme have taken part in planting the saplings. Under supervision of Franklin College groundsman Alan Reeves, the group planted a small copse for rowan trees, about 6 in total. However, Alan still has a long way to go before all 121 saplings are safely placed in the ground. 

 

The limited edition Royal Oak will be given pride of place in the Franklin College central courtyard. 

 

 

Google was unbelievable and words cannot describe the culture and their inspirational  workplace with free food , bar, gym, Friday afternoon Google parties, inflatable meeting rooms and sleep pods!! Four key members of Google staff gave us 2 precious hours of their valuable time and answered loads of questions from our awe struck students about Google and their career paths. This trip has certainly raised the aspirations of our students. The feedback and buzz from the students was fantastic and highly motivational , if not for them but for staff as well.

 

The greatness and grandeur of the Lincolns Inn, the corporate nature of the Bank of England museum ,  the hustle and bustle of the London Metal Exchange trading floor and the a few celeb spots in Knightsbridge made for a truly memorable day.

 

Jo North

Business Tutor

The Team at Google HQ

Trying out a Google inflatable meeting room