Learner Handbook 24

02 | Learner Handbook 2024

CONTENTS

Page

Welcome Campus Tours Code of Conduct Attendance Induction Dates

4 6 8 11

13 15 17 21

Student ID IT Support Digital - Google Wifi College App Be Safe Support for Learners with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Wellbeing Support Bilingualism Literacy and Numeracy Development Generative AI Digital Literacy Finance Student Transport Be Ambitious Library Support

22 26 28 32 35 37 39 40 43 46 49 52 54 56 58 59 60 61 62 64 65 68 70 72

Ambassador Opportunities Enrichment & Academies Active Wellbeing & Duke of Edinburgh Award Clubs & Societies Cariad Awards Campus Life Learner Voice - CONNECT Student Union NUS Cards Multifaith Prayer Rooms FAQ’s What do you need to do next?

04 Welcome I have had the most amazing time; meeting new people and experiencing different opportunities.

WELCOME

Welcome to Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion. Achieving excellence and inspiring learners is at the very heart of the college. These fundamental principles are driven by committed, knowledgeable and experienced staff who do their very best to ensure that all learners reach their full potential. To achieve this, they provide both challenge and support to ensure that your time spent at the college is both productive and enjoyable. We will fire your ambition and ensure that you have everything you need to enable you to be successful. The College is a fantastic place to study and progress your career. It has exceptional links with employers and is rooted in the community that it serves. It is a caring institution, helping to shape and support learners to strive for what they want to be and achieve in their lives. We have tailored courses to ensure that our learners receive maximum benefit from the top-class tuition, outstanding experiences and facilities the college has to offer. We also have courses that offer the opportunity to study through the medium of Welsh, or indeed bilingually. Many learners progress into higher levels of learning, including university, follow apprenticeship routes or start up their own business. We will prepare you well for the world of work. Many of our learners are now in professional careers spanning

across the UK and in some instances, the world. Be prepared to work hard and have fun. The opportunities the college provides will empower you to thrive, developing lifelong skills that will enable you to embrace the challenges that the future holds, whilst celebrating the success and the inevitable rewards that a flourishing career will bring. I wish you the very best on your journey with us. Dr Andrew Cornish CEO / Principal Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion

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06 Campus Tours

CAMPUS TOURS

Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion consists of seven campuses across South West and Mid Wales. Each campus has been carefully designed and equipped with well-resourced teaching facilities that support learning in a wide range of subject areas. Before you start your course, take some time to explore each campus by watching our campus videos. If you so wish, you can also view each campus in a 360° tour.

Cardigan

Ammanford

Aberystwyth

Graig

Jobs Well

Gelli Aur

360°

Pibwrlwyd

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08 Code of Conduct

CODE OF CONDUCT

Our Code of Conduct is based on three principles and has been written in conjunction with our Students’ Union. We believe that by following these basic sets of rules, our college is a much happier and safer environment for all.

BE READY • Attend all lessons. • Be on time for all lessons.

• Take part fully in your course including tutorials, careers guidance, visits, work experience and any additional support arranged for you. • Have the right equipment for every lesson. • Aim for excellence in all you do. • Complete all your work by the agreed deadlines. • Make progress against any targets agreed and set. • Work together with other students to achieve your goals. • Attend all examinations/assessments for which you have been entered. • Report any absence by contacting your campus office before 10am on each day of absence. • Only use the IT facilities as outlined in the IT Acceptable Use Policy. • Switch off all mobile phones in learning areas [i.e. classroom or learning resource centres] unless agreed by the tutor and only use your mobile in an appropriate way in student common areas. • Abide by the rules for behaviour on college transport, education visits and in public areas such as libraries and canteens.

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BE RESPECTFUL • Treat and talk to all staff, students and the local community with respect. • Respect the College’s commitment to equality and not discriminate against groups or individual. • Do not use offensive language.

• Smoke and vape only in designated smoking shelters. • Value the college environment by not dropping litter. • Do not damage college furniture or buildings. • Avoid wearing clothing with offensive slogans or logos.

BE SAFE • Do not participate in any act or threat of violence, bullying, intimidation or verbal abuse. • Do not put yourself or others at risk of harm. • Do not bring into college or work any items that could be considered to be a weapon - for example knives, firearms. • Never bring drugs or alcohol onto college premises or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • Use the internet and social media safely. • Have your Student ID Card with you at all times when at college.

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11 Attendance

ATTENDANCE

Attending college is crucial for your success. If you do not attend, please inform us. We will contact you on the first day of your absence and if your attendance falls below 80% for the week. Please also watch the attendance video for an overview on what to do.

Coleg Sir Gâr

Coleg Ceredigion

You will have received a letter on enrolling that lets you know when your first day in college is.

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13 Induction Dates

INDUCTION DATES

Monday 2 nd September to Tuesday 3 rd September: New learners (Entry, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, AS)

Wednesday 4 th September: Returning 2 nd year learners (Level 3 Year 2, A2)

Thursday 5 th September to Friday 6 th September: Continuation of Induction/beginning of timetabled teaching for all FE learners

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14 Student ID Cards

STUDENT ID CARDS

PLEASE WEAR YOUR ID CARD AT ALL TIMES

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My journey so far has been nothing short of amazing.

17 IT Support

IT SUPPORT

Guidance, troubleshooting hints and tips

Activating your college account and setting a password Before you start college, it is important that you activate your college account and set a password, to do so, please follow this process: • Go to this URL : https://password.colegsirgar.ac.uk/activate or click • Enter your username • Tell us how you want to receive your verification code - by email or text message? • Type the verification code in the box and click ‘ Check Code’ • Set up a password for your College account (and please remember it!) Forgot your password, you can reset your password by following this process You must know your username which you will have received in an email, if you don’t know it then please ask your lecturer. • Go to this URL : https://password.colegsirgar.ac.uk/sspr/public/forgottenpassword or click • Enter your username • Click Search • You will need to choose the method you want for communication, either personal e-mail or SMS • Enter the code you receive in the box provided • Set a new password Activate Forgotten Password

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Need to change your personal email address or personal mobile number held on the College system The account activation and forgotten password system relies on the correct information being stored in EBS, therefore it is essential that this information is correct. If you believe the information we have stored is incorrect please contact the nearest campus office to have this updated. If you enter your password incorrectly 5 times in 10 minutes it will lock your account Accounts should automatically unlock themselves after 5 minutes. However, if this does not happen, please email: helpdesk@colegsirgar.ac.uk with your username stating the account needs unlocking. It could be that you have forgotten your password and will then need to reset using the forgotten password link process (as above). Logging into Google If you have issues logging into your College Google account, please follow this process: • Go to https://mail.google.com/mail or click • Click Sign in in the top right-hand corner (if you are already signed in with your personal account, you will need to sign out of that account first). • Enter the Email address for Google login: username@colegsirgar.ac.uk or username@ceredigion.ac.uk • Then, you will be redirected to Single sign on page Google Mail

• Enter Username: • Enter Password: You are now logged into Google

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Setting up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA or MFA) As a part of our commitment to the cyber essentials accreditation, you are required to set up Two-Factor-Authentication (2FA) to access your Google account. This extra step in security has become commonplace in accessing all kinds of web-based accounts - minimising the risk of cyber-attacks and keeping your data secure. How to set up 2FA • Setting up 2FA for Google: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185839 or click

2FA

• Setting up Google authenticator: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1066447 or click

Google Authenticator

What this means for you: It is important to know that 2FA will only apply to your Google account and does not apply to: • Logging onto a college computer • Any other college system that doesn’t not require a Google authentication When logging into Google, you will go through the usual 2FA procedure - ‘text a code’ or by using an authenticator app. Our advice would be for you to use the Google authenticator app. In any case, support is always available either in person at the IT helpdesk (Graig Campus) or via email * helpdesk@colegsirgar.ac.uk or by phone ) 01554 748089

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DIGITAL - GOOGLE/WIFI

What can we offer to help with your learning journey? At Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion we use Google cloud-based technologies to assist with all of our teaching and learning. Many of you may be familiar with these technologies, which is great, but if not there will be plenty of time and practice to get used to these new tools. So, what type of Google tools will you be using? Predominantly you will be using Google Classroom, which is a one-stop shop for all your classroom information. It’s where all your assignments and work will be posted along with teaching resources from your lecturers.

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How will I produce my own work? The Google tools you will mainly be using for creating your written work will be Google Docs, Google Slides and Google Sheets. As they are cloud-based, this means that you can access them anywhere at any time so long as you have access to a device. It’s even possible to work on these documents offline and then they can update when your device hits the internet. Making sure you can access your work when you want and when you need to is an important philosophy of the college. These tools are great for collaboration with others and allow your lecturers to leave feedback on your work within the documents themselves. Other tools that will be available for you to use as a student As a student, you will have a Gmail account as well, this will host any notifications or formal communications. Then there is Google Chat that is used across the college, which is a communication tool that has a more of a social media feel about it. Other cloud based tools from Google include having your own student account access to Jamboard, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Keep, Google Forms and Google Meet to mention just a few.

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22 College App

COLLEGE APP

Download the official ColegSirGâr/Coleg Ceredigion app and get so much more from your college life.

Keep up-to-date with: • College events

• Important announcements • Additional Learner Support

• Student discounts and benefits • Health and well-being information • Careers advice and guidance • And much more!

App features: • View your timetable • Report an absence • Receive notifications

• Get college-wide and course specific news and updates • Create and join groups linked to study, hobbies or interests • Find out about upcoming events • Discover activities you can get involved in • Gain quick access to student benefit codes and links • Directly message other students • Enjoy a safe private network

Click below to download the app

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Connect your device to the College Wifi network - eduroam • Download the App • Open the App • Choose your institution: Coleg Sir Gar • Enter your network username in the format of: username@ colegsirgar.ac.uk or username@ceredigion.ac.uk

• Enter your network password • Click on: Connect to Network

Printing @ College As a leaner you will be allocated £25 printing credit over the academic year as follows:

Term 1 - £10 Term 2 - £10 Term 3 - £5

Printing costs per page are as follows:

Type

A4

A3

Mono 3p

6p

Colour

15p

30p

Additional credit can be purchased on campus via the library or campus office.

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26 Be Safe

BE SAFE

We want ALL our students to be safe and to let us know if they feel they are at risk of being harmed. We have very clear policies on Child Protection and Protecting Vulnerable adults. This means that if you feel you have been harmed or are at risk of being harmed we want you to tell a member of staff. In this case harm can mean physical abuse (being hit), verbal abuse (being bullied or threatened), financial abuse (someone taking your money) or sexual abuse. If you feel that you, or someone you know are at risk of being harmed, TELL A MEMBER OF STAFF. Staff will treat anything you say confidentially, this does not mean that they can keep it secret as they may need to report to a named member of staff with responsibility for safeguarding, but the information will not be made known more widely. In some cases we have a legal duty to report issues to the police or social services. Please remember, you can speak to any member of staff about your concerns, or if you would like to directly contact a member of the Safeguarding Team you will find their contact details below, on the college website, and accessible via QR codes on posters right across the college. Remember you can speak to ANY member of staff if you have concerns and you can always email the following accounts and one of the safeguarding team will get back to you:

* besafe@colegsirgar.ac.uk * besafe@ceredigion.ac.uk

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28 Support for Learners with Additional Learning Needs

SUPPORT FOR LEARNERS WITH ADDITIONAL LEARNING NEEDS (ALN) • Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion have a dedicated team to support learners with additional learning needs, disabilities and medical needs with staff available on every campus. • Our team works closely with curriculum staff to ensure that teaching and learning is accessible for all learners. You may feel that you do not need to access additional support as you manage well with universal provision (support that is available for all learners). • If you need additional provision, you may be able to access specialist teaching sessions with our team to support you in your studies. We can teach you strategies and techniques to support your learning including how to use assistive technology (such as reading software). • All support is person-centred and designed to build your independence in college and beyond. • Our ‘Support for Learners’ brochure contains more information:

Coleg Sir Gâr

Coleg Ceredigion

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Information for all learners: Our teams look forward to meeting you in class during the induction process. We will explain our service and support you to complete a Learning Support Questionnaire all about your learning profile. All learners must complete the questionnaire to help us provide an inclusive environment for you at college. We will also show you how to book an appointment on your campus and you can ask us questions about support. What do I need to do? If you have an ALN and require additional support, it is your responsibility to: 1. Contact the Learning Support Coordinator for your campus to discuss your support needs. You can do this now or after the Learning Support Questionnaire when you will be sent a confirmation email and our contact details. Graig: * andrea.sykes@colegsirgar.ac.uk Ammanford: * laura.main@colegsirgar.ac.uk Pibwrlwyd / Gelli Aur: * andrea.graydon@colegsirgar.ac.uk Jobs Well: * julia.green@colegsirgar.ac.uk Aberystwyth: * brian.nabney@ceredigion.ac.uk Cardigan: * darren.sykes-wilks@ceredigion.ac.uk

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2. If you need exam adjustments in college (such as 25% extra time, reader, etc): • You must attend regular Learning Support teaching so our staff get to know you and your normal way of working a college. • Where possible, please bring in the Form 8 from school (or previous college) along with a copy of the assessor’s certificate. You should be able to get these from the school (or previous college) Additional Learning Needs Coordinator. This information is usually not automatically transferred from school. • We need to process your application at least 3 months before the date of the first exam.

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The experience in first year has helped me build on my confidence as going into a new environment can be daunting.

32 Wellbeing Support

WELLBEING SUPPORT

Sometimes referrals are made to offer support for learners by their tutors, by external agencies, or sometimes by learners themselves. We have a wide range of support available for your mental health and wellbeing. We will carry out an initial assessment with you and we will make sure that the right level of support is put in place, and with the right person. We will also work with you as we move through the year to monitor your progress and general wellbeing.

The service currently includes: MENTORING

Wellbeing Mentors are available for you across all campuses for group work or more relaxed and confidential 1:1 support. We also have excellent online resources which you might find very helpful. A Wellbeing Mentor is available to help and advise you on a wide range of things and will support you as much as they can to overcome barriers that affect your studies. All learners are able to access the support and as long as the mentors know what the problem may be, they will do their best to help. They are available to speak up for you to tutors if you are not confident to yet, and then work with you to develop the confidence and resilience to move forward within a safe and friendly environment. We also run social events, transition activities and workshops on various topics to help build confidence and resilience. This support can have a positive effect on your college experience, so why not pop in and say hello and find out what the Wellbeing Mentors can do for you. COUNSELLING The counselling service is part of the Wellbeing Team and provides counselling for all learners enrolled at any of the campuses across the College.

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What is counselling? Counselling is sometimes referred to as ‘talking therapy’. Counsellors use their skills to help you better understand the issues that are causing you concern. These might include talking about life events in the present or the past, feelings, relationships, and ways of thinking or patterns of behavior. Counselling can help you find better ways of coping with any difficulties you may be facing. Accessing your counselling service may enhance your learner experience providing you with an opportunity for you to explore your issues in a safe and private setting. The team of counsellors are highly qualified and experienced professionals who will work alongside you to create positive change. What can counselling help with? Our counsellors are experienced in working with lots of different issues. Counselling is for anyone having difficulties of any kind, if it is concerning you then it matters. TOGETHERALL Everyone at Coleg Ceredigion and Coleg Sir Gâr can access free online mental health support with Togetherall, any time, any day. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you to explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. What is Togetherall? • An online community where members are anonymous to each other, they can share how they are feeling and support each other • Provides access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year • Clinically managed with trained professionals available 24/7 to keep the community safe • Self-assessments and recommended resources • Creative tools to help express how you’re feeling • Wide range of self-guided courses to do at your own pace You can find more information and the services offered by The Wellbeing Team by visiting their Google sites.

Coleg Sir Gar Learner Experience Coleg Ceredigion Learner Experience

35 Bilingualism

BILINGUALISM

Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion are a bilingual College and therefore we believe that Welsh and English should be treated equally. You have the right to live your College life through the medium of Welsh as much as English and we encourage you to be proud of the Welsh language do so at every opportunity such as: • Throughout the college - along the corridors and in the social areas • At work, and in presenting written work • When receiving support from a counsellor, at meetings and with your personal tutor • In correspondence and when submitting application forms • everywhere else! To find out more about what we as a team can do to support you, click the Cymraeg speech bubble to access our welcome video (if off campus you will need to log in with your college username and password).

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37 Literacy and Numeracy Skills Development

LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Literacy and numeracy skills are essential to succeed in your studies, secure employment in the future, and for personal growth. As a college, we are committed to helping you develop these vital skills alongside your main qualification. All learners will follow a “Skills Pathway”, based on your individual needs and informed by your previous grades, where possible. Regardless of your starting point, we will support you with your literacy and numeracy development, to ensure that you are well prepared for progression to the next level of study and/or employment. Once you have enrolled, you need to complete the WEST Initial Assessment, which identifies your current literacy and numeracy levels and informs the college about any areas that need development. It is really important that you make every effort to complete the WEST assessment, to ensure that it is an accurate reflection of your literacy and numeracy skills. Your tutor will support you through the Initial Assessment when you start college. The WEST tool is also used to continuously develop your literacy and numeracy skills throughout the academic year. You can access the WEST tool to practice your skills that need further development. This will also improve your achievement on your main qualification, as literacy and numeracy skills are transferable across your studies. Remember, “literacy + numeracy = success!”

39 Generative AI

GENERATIVE AI

41 Digital Literacy

DIGITAL LITERACY

43 Finance

FINANCE

How you will support yourself financially throughout your time at college is something that we encourage you to do as early as possible. There are a number of grants, loans and funds available for students depending on what course they are studying. You will not be eligible for them all; unfortunately some learners may not be entitled to any. Generally you can start applying for your student finance in April before you start, but you can still apply almost right up to the end of the academic year. We have a friendly team of Wellbeing Officers available to make sure that you receive all of the funding that is available to you. For financial support or advice, please visit the Wellbeing Team on your campus or email: Within further education, there are three main types of funding available. Two are via Student Finance Wales (SFW), the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for 16-18 year olds and the Welsh Government Learning Grant (WGLG) for students who are 19+. We have plenty of applications for these in our Wellbeing Team offices and at campus offices. The other finance available is via the college Financial Contingency Fund (FCF). This fund is specifically for students who are entitled to one of the SFW schemes listed above and this can help with the cost of essential equipment, childcare costs, DBS, studio fees, travel (if you are not able to access the college transport service) and general living costs. You can apply for this via a dedicated Google classroom by clicking on the FCF links below or use the codes which are available on the Wellbeing Team Google site . You will also find a QR code on your campus which you can scan to access the form you need to complete. Remember, if you (or your parents/guardians if applicable) need any advice and guidance, help with form-filling or form-checking before you submit, the Wellbeing Officers are ready to help. We want to make sure that you are accessing all of the financial support that is available to you. * financialsupport@colegsirgar.ac.uk * financialsupport@ceredigion.ac.uk

Funding for Further Education | Student Finance Wales

Please contact relevant campus Wellbeing Officer for any support: GRAIG & JOBS WELL Debbie Williams Coleg Sir Gâr, Graig Campus, Sandy Road, Llanelli SA15 4DN ) 01554 748036 / 07443 352745 * debbie.williams@colegsirgar.ac.uk PIBWRLWYD / AMMANFORD / GELLI AUR Eleri Evans Coleg Sir Gâr, Pibwrlwyd Campus, Carmarthen SA31 2NH

) 01554 748613 / 07785 448958 * eleri.evans@colegsirgar.ac.uk ABERYSTWYTH / CARDIGAN Ffion Evans ) 01970 639700 / 07443 352674 Coleg Ceredigion, Aberystwyth Campus, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, SY23 3BP * ffion.evans@ceredigion.ac.uk

Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) Classroom Links

Aberystwyth FCF Classroom

Use code: ozr3uxw

Ammanford FCF Classroom

Use code: 3xg6lut

Cardigan FCF Classroom

Use code: lgzeion

Gelli Aur FCF Classroom

Use code: 7yyrddu

Graig FCF Classroom

Use code: srao5bh

Jobs Well FCF Classroom

Use code: w62iwg6

Pibwrlwyd FCF Classroom

Use code: oobhm5o

46 Student Transport

STUDENT TRANSPORT

COLEG SIR GÂR

Application for College Travel Pass on the College Bus Network 2024-25 New and returning students must apply for student transport every year. There is no carry forward. You can apply for a college travel pass during enrolment, there is no separate application form. If you are a full-time further education learner and already have your college username, you can apply for student transport by going to this website https://apply.colegsirgar.ac.uk/ If you haven’t yet enrolled on your course email * admissions@colegsirgar.ac.uk to check on the status of your course application. If you have a Carmarthenshire County Council school pass for 2024-25 you will need return it to the council or we will not be able to issue a college travel pass. We will not be able to issue a college travel pass if you are listed as having a valid school pass for 2024-25. We will email you to keep you updated on the progress of your student transport application. If you are not eligible for free student transport, you will need to make your own arrangements to travel to and from your campus, we cannot refund your costs. Application for Additional Needs Transport 2024-25 New and returning students must apply for student transport every year. There is no carry forward. Please email us for more information. More information To see up to date information on student transport and bus timetables, go to the Coleg Sir Gâr website: Student Transport Contact Us Coleg Sir Gâr Transport Unit * transportunit@colegsirgar.ac.uk

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COLEG CEREDIGION

Applying for transport From September 2024 only learners aged 16 to 18 will be eligible for student transport. If you are not eligible, please email admissions@colegceredigion.ac.uk or further information New and returning learners must apply for transport every year, there is no carry forward. Bus passes must be applied for through your Prospect college account at https://apply.ceredigion.ac.uk/ as part of the online enrolment process. If you haven’t yet enrolled on your course, please email admissions@colegceredigion.ac.uk derbyniadau@colegceredigion. ac.uk to check on the status of your course application. Additional Needs Transport: learners aged 16 to 18 Learners with additional needs may be eligible for a taxi or bus provision, subject to relevant supporting evidence. Applications are considered on an individual basis. Please email: * admissions@colegceredigion.ac.uk for further information. Further information To see up to date information on transport and bus timetables, please go to the Coleg Ceredigion website: Student Transport

Contact us: * admissions@colegceredigion.ac.uk

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49 Be Ambitious

BE AMBITIOUS

You’ve started college, what’s next! Let’s Be Ambitious

The Be Ambitious Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum award is a great way to gain recognition for your skills and experience. Through the award you can also develop and demonstrate new skills to impress employers, universities or to help you plan, set up and run your own business. All learners at Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion have the opportunity to complete our Be Ambitious Employability Award during their time with us. Our aim for the Be Ambitious Award is to increase your awareness, knowledge and skills to succeed in the world of work. Completing the the Be Ambitious Award is a simple three step process: Explore Explore who you are and find your purpose. Prepare Prepare and innovate your approaches to work and self employment. Connect Connect and network with opportunities. This programme is completed during the tutorial programme and class workshops. Upon completion of each award, learners will receive a badge and certificate to reflect your extra-curricular achievements. Who’s here to help? It’s never too early to start thinking about your career. We’ll start supporting you from your first day in college until your last. We’re here to help you make the most of your time at Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion. Become involved in our community, join our classroom and contact our Employability coaches to start your future today!

Be Ambitious google site

Join our Google Classroom

Book a 1:1 with a member of the Be Ambitious Team

Library reading list

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Meet the team

Becky Pask Entrepreneurship and Employability Coordinator ) 8044 * becky.pask@colegsirgar.ac.uk

Ffion Kennett Employability Coach ) 8044 * ffion.kennett@colegsirgar.ac.uk

A great way to gain practical, rewarding experiences is to get some part time or voluntary work to fit around your studies. Registering with our online Student Jobs classroom to explore flexible work options. Enabling you to gain new skills to add to your CV whilst earning some money. Our Employability coach can also help you find a permanent position when you finish your studies. Skills competition Wales We are very proud of our success at Wales, UK and World skills competitions. In recent years, our students have won medals in a wide range of sectors, which has placed them in pole position for the jobs market. Skills Competition Wales consists of a series of local skills competitions, aligned to WorldSkills competitions and the needs of the Welsh economy. Skills competitions offer students, trainees and apprentices a chance to raise their profile by competing across a range of sectors. Competitions are free to enter and typically run between January and March each year.

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52 Library Support I have thoroughly enjoyed my time studying here and look forward to my future journey.

LIBRARY SUPPORT

“Fantastic service, great range of books, and everything is easy to use” recent student feedback Not used a library before? Now is the time... Fact - the library is THE place for... • Studying • A welcome! • Asking ‘How do I ?” • Finding a brilliant collection of books on your core subject - and more • An awesome collection of e-books (books without the baggage!) • A new collection of e-books where all text can be made dyslexia friendly and can be changed to Welsh and other languages • A quiet vibe • Aiming higher - challenge yourself and more... • A fiction book to chill with • Staff that know stuff, care and can help you • Using a PC • Printing and photocopying • Displays on useful and interesting topics • “Dyfodol / Future” - resources to help you be all that you can be • “Lles / Wellbeing” - books that can help with all aspects of mental health • Brain games, puzzles and more in “Fy Man i / My Zone” • Improving your grades - using library resources has a big impact to access our Library Google Site (if off campus you’ll need to log in with your college username and password). For further information contact us on 01554 748082 or * library@colegsirgar.ac.uk Discover what’s happening via our Facebook and X accounts - follow us on: @colegsirgarlibrary @CSGLibrary • Getting support with research • Resources you can totally trust • Competitions with prizes To find out more, click here

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54 Ambassador Opportunities

AMBASSADOR OPPORTUNITIES

You may wish to apply to be part of the college’s Ambassador Scholarship Programme. If you are a confident communicator and have experience of supporting others, or if you have previously contributed to community life in school, this may be an excellent opportunity to further develop your leadership and communication skills. Holding a student ambassador position will also prove advantageous when submitting university and employment applications. As a student ambassador, we will pay you to support events such as open evenings, virtual open weeks and school visits, as well as welcoming dignitaries to the college. Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion offer 60 scholarships annually. There is an application and interview process as well as a training day at the start of the programme. Student ambassador, Jenna Loweth says: “Helping others is something I have always felt passionate about. I want to ensure that the transition into the college community is the easiest as it can be, to make sure that all potential wishes and needs are covered in ways to make people feel the most comfortable.” For more information about Ambassador Scholarships for 2024-2025 please click below to view the further details and to apply.

Ambassador Scholarships

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Being a part of the academy alongside the course also helped grow my confidence and was a great way to make friends outside of my classes.

56 Enrichment and Academies

ENRICHMENT AND ACADEMIES

At college you will have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of programmes that aim to enrich academic study, and support progression onto higher education or employment. Programmes include the Sports Academy, Performance Academy and the new and exciting Esports Academy. The college’s highly acclaimed Sports Academy boasts an elite alumni that includes Wales and British Lions internationals Gareth Davies, Josh Adams and Adam Jones. If you have opted to study A-levels, grades dependent, you may have the opportunity to participate in the Sir Gâr 6 More Able and Talented programme, designed to support learners applying for the most prestigious universities and courses in the UK. This bespoke programme aims to further develop your academic and cultural experiences to provide you with a competitive edge when applying for higher education. Depending on your programme of study, you will have an opportunity to learn abroad and gain vital international experience. Study abroad offers unique, career-building opportunities and will help you develop a host of new skills, and a better understanding of other cultures. In 2023 learners from across the college visited Canada, Vietnam, South Africa, Italy, Spain and Sweden. For further information on any of the college’s enrichment programmes, click on the link below or speak to your personal tutor.

Enrichment and Academies

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ACTIVE WELLBEING & THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD

Active Wellbeing is a very important part of college life, and we try to encourage all students at all campuses and courses to take full advantage of the various offers to enrich their college experience. Active Wellbeing is a programme that is specifically designed for students (and often by students) to continue on that active journey within college. There are multiple ways to participate in active wellbeing; team sports, lunchtime classes, drop in sessions, timetabled lessons, grab and go, competitions, events, volunteering, and more. We are constantly introducing new equipment and activities and will be looking to expand our paddleboarding, laser tag and Blazepod challenges in 2024/25. The Active Wellbeing programme was established at Coleg Sir Gâr in 2009. The team sits within the Wellbeing Team, and is led by our coordinator Kayeligh Brading. Kayleigh is also the Duke of Edinburgh manager for the college, and she is supported by a team of staff who help to facilitate activities over all seven campuses of Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion. Opportunities also exist to achieve the DoFE bronze and gold awards whilst you are in college. You will find more information about this at the Freshers Fayres and induction talks during the first few weeks of term, or, you can always speak to a member of the Active Wellbeing team or email * Kayleigh kayleigh.brading@colegsirgar.ac.uk

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CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

New clubs, groups and societies are encouraged across all of our campuses. Recent clubs have included a Film Club, Dungeons and Dragons, Chess, Uno, Blazepod Challenge group, Virtual Reality Club, and many more. Quite simply, we want you to tell us what groups or clubs you would like to create and the Wellbeing Team will do its best to help set it up and facilitate it. Quite often, these clubs require funding of sorts to purchase equipment for example, and the college Students’ Union is keen to help where it can with its funds. As well as the sports and social clubs, we also have other groups including LGBTQ+, Disabled, Environmental, Young Carers, Christian Union, Neurodiverse and a whole range of others you could join if you had an interest. Some groups are campus specific, but being online enables these groups to meet up, regardless of where they are situated. This strengthens the community and allows the groups to grow larger, and in turn, stronger. If you would like to set up your own group, please contact the Students’ Union Vice President, Be Active Coordinator or Wellbeing Officer on your campus. There will also be a calendar shared each month with all extracurricular activities on.

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CARIAD AWARDS

The college Cariad awards were introduced on the 14 th February, 2020. The concept was introduced to recognise the excellent work that our learners do which quite often goes unnoticed. To be the recipient of an award, a nomination is submitted, considered, and presented to the worthy winner. The awards are carved out of wood by our carpentry learners at our Ammanford Campus, and then painted by the painting and decorating learners. Winners also receive a Cariad badge, and their details are added to the Cariad Google site. With permission, we also release the news via our college social media channels. We have multiple award winners to date, from learners who helped in their communities over the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown periods, to staff who have raised money for charity, and for those who have made a difference to people’s lives by displaying a ‘random act of kindness’. As part of Cariad, as a college, we choose a national charity, and a charity for each of our seven campuses which are local or relevant. To date, our national charities have included Wales Air Ambulance and the Breast Care Unit at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli. Our campus based charities have included the Jac Lewis Foundation in Ammanford, the DPJ Foundation in Gelli Aur, Hospice at Home Volunteering (HAHAV) at Aberystwyth, West Wales Domestic Abuse Service in Cardigan, Arts Care in Jobs Well, MIND Cymru in Pibwrlwyd and the RNLI at the Graig. We also support traditional charity events such as Children in Need, Comic Relief, Sport Relief, Movember and so on. Could you be a Cariad in 2024/25?

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CAMPUS LIFE

Click on the following images and discover what’s going on in your campus. You will find a range of information about your campus including clubs and groups, Student Union representatives, financial Support, EMA payment dates, Active Wellbeing and your Wellbeing Team. Some of the clubs on offer will be a Creative club, Christian Union, Knitting, Chess, LGBTQ+, Neuro D, Judo Sir Gar, Dungeons and Dragons and many more. This is an opportunity for you to make new friends or try something new. Please contact your wellbeing team If you would like to set up a new group on your campus and we will do our best to make it happen!

Cardigan

Ammanford

Aberystwyth

Graig

Jobs Well

Gelli Aur

Pibwrlwyd

Sir Gar 6 (A-levels)

62 Learner Voice: Connect

LEARNER VOICE: CONNECT

Your voice is important to us and you will have many different opportunities to share your views on what the college can do differently to help you succeed, this may be from making facilities more accessible to making sure that your timetable is suitable.

64 Students’ Union

STUDENTS’ UNION

As a student at Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion, you are automatically members of our Students’ Union. This means that you can take full advantage of everything we have to offer, including college events, student representation and information on student life. Our job is to make sure you have a great experience during your time at college and that students are fully represented and their views are heard. In order to represent you properly as learners it’s important that we are guided by your ideas and experiences. A team of officers are elected every year via electronic elections where all students have the opportunity to vote for their President and Vice Presidents in May followed by liberation officers such as LGBTQ+, Womens’ Officer and so on, in October. Elected officers represent students across all campuses and are members of various committees where their voices are heard. The student voice is integral to the college’s success and this is an excellent platform for students to help shape the college to inspire learners, fulfill potential and achieve excellence. Let us know what you think by getting in touch with one of your elected student officers, course representatives or the Students’ Union President by emailing the Students’ Union at * studentu@colegsirgar.ac.uk

Hanna Freckleton

President:

Molly Reed Adan Jones Katja Olsen William Evans Sioned Davies Nesta Jones

Vice President Aberystwyth: Vice President Ammanford: Vice President Cardigan: Vice President Gelli Aur:

Vice President Graig:

Vice President Jobs Well: Vice President Pibwrlwyd:

Andzelika Dzetaveckaite

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NUS EXTRA/TOTUM CARDS

All students are entitled to apply for a free Totum digital membership card for a year with limited savings or you can purchase a card, which will cost £14.99 a year (or currently £24.99 for 3 years) which can give you savings on travel, clothes, entertainment and much more. You can also download the Totum app for free. For more information you should contact the Wellbeing Officer at your campus, or visit: https://www.totum.com

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68 Multi-faith Prayer Rooms

MULTI-FAITH PRAYER ROOMS

As a learner or a member of staff at Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion you have access to a multi faith prayer room. The rooms are located on each site in the following locations: Aberystwyth Wellbeing Office Ammanford 121a Cardigan B1 F24a Gelli Aur A20 Graig A15 Jobswell B204 Pibwrlwyd A110

To access the facility please ask at the campus office and they will provide you with a key.

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The advice and tuition given by our lecturers are truly fantastic.

70 FAQ’s

FAQ’S

1. How do I contact someone about my absences from college? If you are absent for any reason please log this absence on the PROSPECT APP If we notice you are not in for one day and you have not informed us we will email you and your parents ( if under 18 or if you have given us consent over 18’s). 2. I’d like to become a college ambassador, how do I do that? All first year learners, regardless of level of study, are eligible to apply for an ambassador scholarship. If you would like to become a college ambassador please complete an application form and submit to your base campus office for the attention of Christy Anson-Harries. 3. Who can support me if I’m struggling with my course? If you are struggling the first thing you need to do is speak with your course tutor who will be able to advise you on your next steps. 4. What time does college open and close? All of the campuses open from 8.30am with most further education courses finishing by 5pm. However, there are some courses which vary in time due to the vocational nature, for example when you may need to work with clients. The campus closure times vary from 5pm to 9pm. 5. Do you have to stay in college all day if you don’t have lessons? You don’t have to stay, however, you shouldn’t need to leave as you can take advantage of the facilities on site. We have a range of coffee shops, canteen facilities, libraries, recreational activities and many more amenities on all sites. If you do go offsite, please return on time for your next lesson and stay safe. Coleg Sir Gâr Coleg Ceredigion

6. Is there registration in the morning? No - However every lecturer will mark a register.

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72 What do you need to do next?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO NEXT?

• Access your college account by setting up a username and password • Familiarise yourself with the Google platform

• Download the college app • Join Campus Life classroom • Follow us on social media

Coleg Sir Gâr

Coleg Ceredigion

Coleg Sir Gar colegsirgar

Coleg Ceredigion colegceredigion

colegsirgar_ceredigion

colegsirgar_ceredigion

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