Launch of Weekend College

(27th October 2004)

Saturday, 16th October 2004 saw the inaugural opening of ‘Weekend College’ – an initiative to provide more flexible learning times for courses at the Stevenage Centre and the Centre for the Arts in Hitchin – both centres of North Hertfordshire College.

The morning was officially opened at 10:00 with a speech and cutting of the ribbon by the Mayor of Stevenage, David Royall, also a teacher at the College. He commented: “The launch of Weekend College will reach out to many more people who can come along and enjoy the benefits of self-development, education and a chance to reach their potential, and have some fun doing it.” Children accompanying their parents at the Stevenage Centre were kept entertained with a host of activities: a bouncy castle, balloons, face painting and a magic show – all present to help while parents sought information on courses available. The Restbyte internet café also opened in the Atrium, along with the Learning Shops and Learning Resource Centre.

Visitors to Weekend College could opt for free taster sessions in Mehndi Henna tattooing,.Cookery and Indian Head Massage, or enrol on courses within areas of Art and Design, Leisure and Tourism, Health, Management, Accounting Revision Days (AAT), Learn Direct, Sociology, Child Care, Business Administration, Essential Skills (in English and Maths) and Computing at the Learning Shops.

The variety of courses available meant learners attending the weekend courses could widen their skills in a number of areas; some of the more unusual courses on offer include ‘Your Cruisewear Wardrobe’ (Leisure and Tourism), ‘Know your Medicine Cabinet – A Guide to Prescription Drugs’ (Health) and ‘Divorce: A Sociological Perspective’. Weekend College also hosted more traditional courses, where participants could learn Spanish, French and Internet and E-mail.

Courses such as Flower Arranging and Tarot Card Reading were also available at The Centre for the Arts, in Willian Road, Hitchin.

Weekend College, organised by Nicky Waller, NHC’s Evening and Weekend Co-ordinator, who works in the Community Partnerships team commented: “This is the first Weekend College we have hosted at NHC, and it has been a great success. Everybody who came on the day enjoyed themselves. Hopefully in the years to come we can build up Weekend College to put on more courses to suit more people.”

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