The Mayor of Trafford Visits Bridge College in Manchester
Bridge College, the Together Trust's specialist further education college in Openshaw in Manchester, welcomed the Mayor of Trafford, Councillor Rob Chilton, for a visit recently.
The visit was hosted by the Principal Lisa Duncalf and the Mayor was given a tour of the college, which meets the needs of students up to the age of 25 years with learning difficulties and disabilities, complex health needs, communication disorders, and autism.
On the tour, the Mayor was able to see the full range of facilities available at the college and to learn more about the many learning pathways open to students including hospitality and catering, horticulture, art and media, sports, outdoor education, and music.
The Mayor also saw the colleges supported internship group in action, in which the college works with employers to support people aged 16 to 25 with a disability into paid employment, through a hands-on training programme of around 6 to 12 months.
He was also able to see the college's brand new purpose-built café, built with nearly £24,000 in donations from educational foundations and trusts. Students can not only use café, but they can also work in it, allowing them to gain hands-on real-life work experience in the catering industry.
Lisa Duncalf, who has been the Principal at the College for more than six years said:
“We’re delighted that the Mayor visited us today. We feel it’s important to take every opportunity to show elected representatives, from across the North of England, how our large multi-disciplinary team of nurses, therapists, psychologists, support staff and tutors combine their efforts to meet the needs of individual students.
“There’s a great need for specialist services such as Bridge College and by having someone like Mayor Chilton come and visit us we’re able to highlight all the hard work put in by our students and our members of staff, and to celebrate their achievements.
“And everyone really appreciated the fact that the Mayor took the time to talk to them and to find out more about them as people and to learn all about the great things we’re doing here at Bridge College.”