The Independent Living Skills (ILS) and Gower College Swansea (GCS) Training departments celebrate the fruits of their new joint first initiative which has enabled two students with additional learning needs to transition from a one-year work internship programme into supported, paid apprenticeships with local employers this April. 

A group of Independent Living Skills (ILS) students had a Q&A session with the Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Peter Black, on Wednesday 5 February.

The Lord Mayor discussed his role with the enthusiastic learners, including his day to day tasks and his personal highlights, such as awarding Alun Wyn Jones with the Freedom of the City and welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Mumbles the previous day.

A team of ILS students from Gower College Swansea have taken a Bronze medal at the Inclusive Skills (Media) competition which was recently held at Coleg y Cymoedd, Nantgarw.

Connor Maddick, Megan Bevan and Courtney Collins filmed, produced and edited a two minute film based on the romantic theme of Santes Dwynwen.

The film-making process not only put their creative, technical and vocational talents to the test but also gave them an excellent opportunity to represent Gower College Swansea in a national competition.

Independent Living Skills students from Gower College Swansea have participated in the Inclusive Skills competition at Newtown College.

Callum East, who is studying on the Introduction to Further Education (Life Skills) course, won the Gold medal in the Restaurant Services - Table Laying competition.

Siobhan Ashour, who is studying on the Work Preparation course, secured a Bronze medal for her work in the Food Preparation competition.

Gower College Swansea’s ILS football team have been crowned the AoC Ability Counts Welsh Champions for the fourth year in a row.

Unbeaten in qualifying, they defeated Coleg Sir Gar 3-0 in the semi-final and then Cardiff and Vale College 1-0 in a nail-biting final.

It took a great effort to win this year and the team will look forward to representing Wales at the AOC National Championships in Nottingham University in 2018.

ILS student Rhys Harvey has taken a Silver medal at the Inclusive Skills cookery competition, held in Newtown earlier this week.

For the competition, Rhys was required to make a delicious afternoon tea for two within a time frame of just 1.5 hours.

"Well done Rhys, myself and the entire ILS department are all very proud of your achievement," says Learning Area Manager Mark Clement.

The Independent Living Skills department at Gower College Swansea is working with the City & County of Swansea to provide placements for students and help ensure our local ‘Green Flag’ parks are well maintained and cared for.

Over the past two years, students from the SSTEP (Students Transition Towards Employment Progression) and AOW (Academy of Work) courses at the Tycoch campus have gained invaluable practical experience thanks to this ongoing partnership.

Independent Living students from Gower College Swansea have taken third prize at this year's National Eisteddfod

The students - Nyle Bowen, Laura Evans, Kerri Green, Stephanie Harris, Joshua Jones, Amy Lewis, Abigail Maguire, Elle Wilkins and Jessica Williams - devised their piece of work around the theme of 'belonging'.

In January, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery - as part of its Offsite Secondary School programme - began a 10 week project with a group of students from the Independent Living Skills (ILS) department at Gower College Swansea.

Based at Gower College Swansea’s Tycoch Campus, the ILS department offers a range of courses that are tailored to students with specialist learning needs.

Two Gower College Swansea students brought home medals from the recent Find a Future Skills Show at the Birmingham NEC.

ILS student Kayleigh Lewis was awarded Gold in the ‘Inclusive Cooking Skills’ competition, where she was required to prepare and present filled wrap-style sandwiches and flat breads while demonstrating the correct preparation, hygiene and safety skills throughout.

“Kayleigh didn’t seem fazed at all leading up to the competition and took it all in her stride,” says Learning Area Manager, Mark Clement.