The Mayor of Trafford Visits Bridge College in Manchester

 

Bridge College, a specialist further education college in Openshaw in Manchester, welcomed the Mayor of Trafford, Councillor Rob Chilton, for a visit this week.

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 was also able to see 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 colleges brand new purpose built café, built with nearly £24,000 in donations from educational foundations and trusts. Students can not only use café, they can also work in it, allowing them to gain hands on real life work experience in the catering industry.  

Mayor Chilton said: “It was a genuine pleasure to meet the students and staff here at Bridge College and everyone has been so welcoming. I’ve been impressed to see how engaged the students are and it was really inspirational to see them not only developing valuable new skills, but also to see how happy they are to be leaning and just how much they value life here at the college.  

“I was also very impressed by the dedication of the staff. It’s clear that they have a great team here at Bridge College, who are thoroughly dedicated to supporting the students in meeting their goals and aspirations.”   

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.”

 

For further information please contact Alfred Searls at Together Trust on 0161 283 4885 or Alfred.Searls@togethertrust.org.uk