Kidderminster College learners have teamed up with the Blue Cross pet charity to raise funds to care for homeless, unwanted, sick and injured pets.
Our learners have been helping out at the charity’s warehouse in Hartlebury, sorting out donated goods to distribute to the 53 Blue Cross charity shops across the UK. Learners select clothing, books and household goods and bag them up ready for delivery, and have also organised fundraising events including a car wash.
The pilot scheme was inspired following talks by Blue Cross Education Officer Jason Cortis, who has visited the college several times to deliver sessions about responsible pet ownership and how to stay safe around dogs. In return, and to support the charity’s work, college tutor Sharon Strange incorporated the new activities into their Vocational Studies course.
Sharon said, “It is great to see how the learners have developed over the year through this pilot project. Experience of being in a genuine working environment has been so valuable to them and has really helped them to gain confidence. I’m really proud of their enthusiasm and dedication to helping raise funds and support the charity’s work.”
A network of Blue Cross education officers and volunteers deliver a national programme of free talks in schools to children aged 3 to 12 years of age and education talks are also available for colleges and parents. In 2017 Blue Cross reached over 95,000 young people through 2,553 talks. Topics include responsible pet ownership, staying safe around pets, the needs of pets and the history of Blue Cross during World Wars I and II.
Jason Cortis said, “The students have really engaged with our talks and are all animal lovers who wanted to give something back to help pets themselves. It has been a pleasure meeting them and we wish them the very best with their studies and future careers.”
For further information about the course offered by Kidderminster College, please see the website…https://kidderminster.ac.uk/delivery/access-to-further-education-1-year/