Fourteen fantastic learners from Pembrokeshire College’s Life Skills Academy were entered into inclusive/foundation competitions – six of whom made it to the national finals!
To make it to the finals our ‘Fab 14’ had to compete in qualifying stages against 408 competitors from colleges and training providers around the UK.
This currently ranks Pembrokeshire College 5th for the number of inclusive finalists of the 52 colleges and training providers in the UK that entered.
This year we have been fortunate to have had our proposed Independent Living Skills competition be included in the 2023 Skills for Wales competitions. This is the first skills competition designed specifically for learners with additional needs and disabilities who aim to live independently. The competition has been created to allow learners the opportunity to showcase their skills in a number of areas relating to living independently in a way that is inclusive and supportive. This widens access for more learners to take part in skills competitions who may not have felt there was a competition that was relevant to their area of likely progression.
Pembrokeshire College are leading on the delivery of this competition in January 2023 and will be hosting a number of heats across Wales with partner colleges.
Pembrokeshire College are also proud to be hosting 2023’s Inclusive Horticulture and Woodworking competitions allowing learners with additional needs and disabilities the chance to display their amazing skills in these areas.
Competing in Skills Competitions is a proven accelerator towards employment and skill development – it affords competitors the ability to demonstrate their skills in realistic, relevant and practical settings whilst raising aspirations and creating a growth mindset.
The Life Skills Academy have had great recent success at both Welsh and national level with many benefits to all learners who have taken part!
“My experiences competing the WorldSkills UK competitions has given me a lot more confidence to do things that I didn’t think were possible before now. My sessions with my coach Dave, have helped me a great deal and I think by doing this, it really pushed me to go that extra mile and really give it my all. I also think that this has helped me to get onto a new course in September. If I looked back now and saw past Declan, pre–WorldSkills competition, I probably would have looked at him in disbelief and laughed and would have said ‘no way’.
“WorldSkills UK has changed my life for the better and I think it has so many opportunities out there to help other young people too.” Declan Morrisey – National Gold Medallist – Foundation: Media 2021 and National Finalist in Foundation: IT Solutions 2022.
For further information on the courses available at the College contact Admissions on 0800 9 776 778 or go to pembrokeshire.ac.uk/courses
