Archived News
Summer Fair 2007
The Summer Fair on Sunday 8 July was a great success, and even the weather was kind!
Woodwind band, stalls, white elephant, crafts, tombola, strawberries and ice cream, teas and home baking, raffle with fantastic prizes, children’s games and much, much more...
Many thanks to everyone who helped.
Ross Taylor's visit to the RDA's Golf Team Championships at the Woburn Golf Club
Ross, who works in the stables in the mornings as well as having riding lessons, has helped RDA to pilot a new education scheme. It's called Transition Challenge. For this exciting new initiative, the RDA has joined in partnership with the awarding body, ASDAN. Ross has completed the first of five modules of the award and hopes to finish it over the next 18 months.
He was one of only six students nationwide who had his certificate presented by HRH Princess Anne at the Golf Championships in May. When the Princess asked him whether he had enjoyed working on his Transition Challenge, he said that he liked working in the stables doing the mucking out. She told him that she hoped he would go on to complete the other four modules. Ross enjoyed his trip to Woburn which included an overnight stay in a hotel and breakfast at the golf club with his parents and the regional RDA Education Co-ordinator.
Foal
In the early hours of May morning, Amber, one of the RDA horses, gave birth to a foal.
She was initially called May. But the Wakefield Express ran a competition to name her. It was won by 7-year-old Emily Cain, from Ossett, who chose the name Maisie.
Guitar Concert
On Wednesday 8 February Mark Mawby, a local musician, gave a concert of traditional acoustic guitar music and songs. The tunes were largely from the British Isles and were tastefully and skilfully arranged; jaunty Irish reels sat alongside Hebridean airs and English country music. The concert was very much enjoyed by students, co-workers and guests alike.
Computer Network
Pennine ran a pilot scheme in 2003 to connect to JANET — Joint Academic Network. Our network now includes each of the houses and main buildings that gives connection to the internet and college servers. Students have access to programs and e-mails from any terminal on site. We hope to create much more open access to computers in students’ leisure time to complement their ICT lessons. A college intranet site uses a webcam and has pages on students’ work.
Pennine's Prudential Portacabins
Pennine took delivery of two portacabins in January 2003. Funds had been raised by the Prudential Financial Services to supply and equip a TfSR workshop, RDA office and a base for our NVQ Horticulture training. The team from Prudential had taken on Pennine as a project while taking part in a programme from Ferrar Group Training (Management Development) Organisation. This project has grown from strength to strength and is now looking to develop new facilities in the Rural Craft Centre.
Lady Taverners Minibus Gift
On Monday 26th November a group from the Lady Taverners presented a brand new purpose built minibus to students and co-workers at Pennine. The new minibus, which has been eagerly awaited, will allow the community to continue its extensive programme of outdoor and cultural activities. Pictured are Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, President of the Lady Taverners and staff and students at the Pennine.
The Lady Taverners is a national charity associated with The Lord’s Taverners, and has as one of its main aims the supply of Minibuses to groups working with young people especially those with special needs. Also present at the presentation were Mrs Judy Hagga, Chairman, The Lady Taverners and Mrs Anne Stewart-Blacker and her son representing The George & Effie Charitable Foundation, one of the main donors for this bus. The Lady Taverners have given 559 buses in the thirteen years since they started. This was bus number 19 this year.
Sculpture Project
Raphael Taylor completed a second sculpture project with a group of students from Pennine.
Pennine Exhibiting
We attend several careers events in the area each year. We recently attended the Institute of Careers Services Conference in York. Our craft and art work is always admired. Students and carers are able to make a much more informed choice by visiting different colleges. Maintaining good contact with careers services enables a clear picture of the specialist provision Pennine is able to offer. Funding at a specialist college needs the clear support of careers services and students initial individual programmes need to be developed with careers services before submitting to the LSC.