Community Week is an ongoing commitment where students and staff from across the College take part in social action projects.
It is a wonderful opportunity for students to use the skills they have learnt, or are currently learning, by putting them into practice to help the local community.
Let’s take a look at some of the activities that the College completed last week:
College wide | Armistice Day Service
On Tuesday 11 November, hundreds of students from across the campus gathered together to commemorate Armistice Day. The reflective service was lead by Students’ Union president, Jack Burwash, who reminded fellow students about the importance of remembering, and showing respect the brave soldiers who fought for our country during WW1 and WW2.
The College stood still as our staff and students took part in a two minutes silence, before listening to Ayla-Jayne and Joe recite the poem ‘The Soldier’. These students proudly represented the 354 Dover Squadron Air Training Corps and came to College in full uniform for the service.
Education and Early Years student Ayla-Jayne shared her thoughts on the service: “It felt good to be part of the service and see how many other students stood here today to show their respects. It was nice to see everyone listening and I felt really proud to be part of this College.”
Students’ Union | Veteran’s lunch
After the service, the Students’ Union hosted a lunch for members of the Royal British Legion. On the specially crafted menu was a Beef or Vegetable stew, with a scone and jam to finish. The attendees were thrilled with their lunch and enjoyed chatting with our SU Officers about their experience in the armed forces.
During the lunch, we were able to chat with Ted, known as ‘Ted of Dover’, who is the Vice Chairman of the Royal British Legion. Every year, Ted lays a wreath on Remembrance Sunday, sadly this year he was in hospital and had to miss the service. With the resilience of a soldier, Ted joined his comrades at the Armistice service on Tuesday 11 November, where he was able to lay a remembrance wreath.
Ted shared: “It’s been a pleasure to be here today and speak with your students, they are the future of this country, and the Army Cadets may go on to serve for us. The lunch was splendid, and it was great to be surrounded by friends on this special day.”
We would like to thank our Students’ Union, and Summer, our Students Experience Officer, for running both the memorial service and the Veteran’s Lunch. The event was a moving tribute to those who served, and a promise that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
Plumbing | Maintenance jobs at Howletts Wild Animal Park
Throughout the week, our Plumbing students visited Howletts Wild Animal Park to support the onsite staff with their autumn clean-up. They were tasked with clearing leaves from around the park, helping to keep pathways safe and clear for visitors. Even when the rain was pouring, the students stayed committed and got stuck in, making a noticeable difference to the cleanliness, and overall safety of the park.
Roger, the garden supervisor at the park commented: “The students have been a fantastic help. Clearing leaves is a constant battle for us this time of the year especially as wet leaves can cause a slip hazard. The students have had positive attitudes throughout the week, their work has made a real difference to the park.”
Whilst at the park we spoke to Level 3 Plumbing student, Marley, he told us: “We are here for Community Week, clearing up leaves and lending a hand wherever we can. It’s great for us to gain some work experience, and it also just feels good to help out. Plus, seeing the animals while we work has been a highlight of the day.”
The animals were also very intrigued by the students’ efforts, with the lionesses and elephants wandering over to inspect their hard work. It was an interesting sight and a fitting end to a productive week on site.
Art and Design | Workshop with environmental fashion artist
Organised by Artswork, this inspiring community-focused project invited our Level 3 Art and Design students to collaborate with pioneering eco-artist Eirinn Hayhow to explore sustainable art-making using natural materials such as mycelium, plant-based dyes, and other bio-based media. Through a series of hands-on workshops, students developed artworks that celebrate and support the local environment, drawing creative inspiration from the unique landscapes and ecology of Dover and Kent.
Eirinn explained how to make ink out of Oak Galls. Oak Galls are formed when a wasp enters an acorn and lays their eggs, once hatched the transformed acorn drops to the floor. When submerged in water the Oak Gall emits a dye which can be used a sustainable version of ink. The students enjoyed experimenting with the Oak Gall ink creating impressive sketches which will be sewn together to create one big mural.
These student-led works will be showcased at two major public events: the official reopening of the Maison Dieu in Dover, where the artworks will contribute to a wider celebration of heritage, creativity, and ecological innovation, and Dover at Night, co-organised by Artswork, where the theme “Dover’s Time Machine: Past, Present and Ecological Future” will invite audiences to reflect on the town’s evolving relationship with nature and sustainability.
Students were excited about bringing their sustainable work to the local community. We spoke to Jaden, an Art and Design student passionate about reducing their environmental impact, she told us: “The workshop has been really interesting. I have enjoyed working with natural materials such as myceluim, and I am looking forward to sharing this with the wider community at the upcoming events.”
Students’ Union | Maintenance jobs
The Students’ Union team recently spent some time lending a hand to our busy Estates Team. Together, they rolled up their sleeves to rake leaves, clear overgrown foliage, and generally help keep the campus grounds looking clean and welcoming.
Their efforts not only improved the appearance of our spaces but also supported the ongoing work to ensure the safety of staff and students. It’s fantastic to see our Students’ Union Officers getting stuck in and actively contributing to the campus community.
Here are some images from the successful week:
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What is Community Week?
