City of Westminster College New Start students have participated in a range of exciting projects as part of their course, developing creative, team working and organisational skills.

Working with youth arts organisation Paddington Arts gave the students the opportunity to produce a digital story on the theme of social change, developing practical creative skills such as photography, storyboarding, sound engineering and editing. Assisted and mentored by specialists from the Media Trust, they created their stories over five sessions. As part of this project they had the opportunity to meet a producer from BBC Big Screen and find out more about work experience opportunities in the media industry.

The New Start groups also organised ‘Bare Options’, a one day event to raise funds for Children in Need and give everyone at the College the opportunity to ‘have a go’ at a range of activities, including football, basketball and cheerleading. London College of Beauty Therapy was on hand with a range of demonstrations and treatments, including nail art and hand/head massages, while organisations including YMCA, NHS, MyBnk, Food Cycle and Brook provided information to students on managing finance, sport, diet and nutrition, sexual health and drugs awareness.

New Start/Fresh Start are 12-week courses based at Paddington Green Campus that develop skills, knowledge and confidence, as well as opportunities to gain a Level 2 qualification and move on to other courses. The next start dates are 3rd January and 20th February. For more details call 07920 723504 or 07904 271707.