The men first met when they began their apprenticeships with the Ford Motor Company between 1970-74.  As part of their apprenticeships, they studied at the Rush Green campus of Barking & Dagenham College (@BarkingCollege). Since then they have remained firm friends but some have not seen each other for many years – over 47 years for some!  They decided it would be nice if they could all meet up again and that it would be even better if they were able to visit their old college and take a trip down memory lane!

Digital apprentices at Barking & Dagenham College (@BarkingCollege) are helping to develop a new app.  It's designed to increase the expertise of care workers to recognise the early signs of deterioration, with the overall aim of initiating early treatment to help reduce hospital admissions.  

Students from Barking & Dagenham College (@BarkingCollege) got to find out what it’s like working behind the scenes at one of the country’s best-known festivals, Wireless.  The students were over the moon to be given the opportunity to visit the festival.  They were first given a guided tour by Steve Cheney, who has been a festival stage manager for over 50 years.  As well as the tour, Steve gave the students access into the backstage area to see what goes into the organisation of a live festival event.    

Students from Barking & Dagenham College (@BarkingCollege) were guests of honour at a special event to thank them for their help at Park Lane Rec, Havering.  The students are all studying carpentry and trowel trades at the college. In January this year, they were approached by Lisa Gunther, chair of Park Lane Park, to help create a new path and garden within the Park Lane Rec. It was an opportunity for the students to get some fantastic work experience. They spent a day a week at the site, working as they would on any commercial building site. The students were able to put their skills into action, planning their work, project managing it as well as building the pathway and new community garden. 

Yvonne Kelly, Principal and CEO of Barking & Dagenham College (@BarkingCollege) has been invited to join a new UK Forum, which is bringing together experts from across education, employment and politics, to look at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on widening the inequalities gap.