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Student Support
Student Services
Welsh Language/Cymraeg
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Chaplaincy
Funding & Financial Support
Careers & Employment
Safeguarding & Prevent
Equality & Diversity
Coleg Cambria is committed to supporting all of our students wherever we can. Coming to college is a big change, whether you’re joining us straight from school or returning to education after a break. Our Student Services Teams are based on all our college sites and will support you through every part of your journey at College, including providing support on personal and financial issues, and information, advice and guidance on course and future career opportunities.
There are main challenges that our students face including being a carer, young carer or a looked after child. We understand that it may impact your college experience, which is why we’re committed to helping you in any way we can. If you need any information or support, please don’t hesitate to phone Student Services on 0300 303 0007 or email studentservices@cambria.ac.uk
Progress Coaches support all full-time (16-18) students to achieve and develop personal skills beyond their qualification. Progress Coaches deliver our MADE coaching programme Maximising Achievement and Developing Everyone.Â
Our progress coaches will be by your side helping you throughout your college journey, providing support to;Â
- Ensure you feel confident, cared for, and motivated to achieve
- Build independence whilst promoting good mental and physical health
- Develop your skills beyond your qualification, by providing high-quality personal development sessions and 1:1 meetings to review progress, set targets, and action plan your next steps
- Prepare for the next stage of your career
- Complete UCAS, apprenticeship, and other vocational applications
Being bilingual at Coleg Cambria
At Coleg Cambria, we are committed to helping you develop your bilingual skills that will lead to career and life success.
Bilingualism opens doors for you in the world of work and increases your employability. It can also enrich your social life and improve your mind and creativity.
Studying through the medium of Welsh or bilingually
If you have studied through the medium of Welsh or bilingually at school you can continue to do so at Coleg Cambria.
Many of our courses are delivered bilingually and can give you the opportunity to continue to develop your skills in both Welsh and English.
You can also do the following in Welsh:
- Submit written work and receive bilingual notes
- Follow specific courses or modules
- Complete work experience in a range of Welsh speaking environments
- Assessments, entry interviews, tutorials, mentoring and meetings.
Developing your Welsh language skills
If you have no Welsh language skills or would like to develop existing skills, there are a great deal of opportunities for you to improve and gain confidence in using Welsh within your chosen subject area.
You can do the following:
- Complete bilingual units relevant to your subject
- Complete online taster courses
- Attend Welsh classes building on your skills
- Attend Welsh beginner classes if you have no knowledge.
If you want to study in Welsh or develop your skills, our Welsh team can support you by offering 1-1 mentoring and guidance. They can also help you to improve your Welsh language written skills and provide translation for terminology and technical terms.
Having fun in Welsh
We have a range of bilingual social events and activities available for you to enjoy from Welsh festivals to overnight trips.
Our Welsh Branch Officer runs social gatherings on each site and keeps in touch through our social media accounts.
For further details contact us
Our Support
Here at Coleg Cambria we strive to support and educate learners regarding their mental health and wellbeing. By introducing healthy support and wellbeing techniques into our routines, the more resilient we can feel.Â
We know that mental health & wellbeing can have a significant impact on your college experience. Our Mental Health & Wellbeing Team are passionate about providing the best support and resources that promote your wellbeing and good mental health, which include;
- Support from dedicated trauma informed wellbeing staff across all college sites
- Bespoke transitions into and out of college
- Wellbeing Hubs and pop up hubs across our sites providing safe, quiet locations for you to relax and take part in mindful activities
- Support from our Resilience Coaches and Wellbeing assistants to help identify and overcome barriers to learning
- Face to face counselling Â
- Mental health and wellbeing activities throughout the yearÂ
- 1:1 mental health and wellbeing sessions and support, tailored specially to meet your needs and helping you to succeed
- Support with overcoming anxiety related to socialising, accessing college or travel to college
- Multi agency working including referrals and social signposting.
We are a trailblazer college for embedding trauma informed approaches in Wales.
We have contributed to and follow the National Trauma-Informed Practice Framework with collaboration from the ACE Hub Wales, wider support services and other educational settings.
We are currently training all of our staff across the College to be trauma informed and are beginning the process of reviewing processes and policies whilst ensuring our culture and language is trauma informed to support all of our full time and part time learners and staff.
We reflect on our own strategic direction and college values and how we align these to being inclusive and trauma informed.  Â
We follow the 5 principles of a trauma informed setting:Â
- Universal approach which does no harmÂ
- Person centred
- Relationship focusedÂ
- Resilience and strength focusedÂ
- InclusiveÂ
And we recognise we can do this by:Â
- Embedding safety
- Empowering (voice and choice)
- Trust (and transparency)
- Tackling historical, gender, cultural and wider issues
- Peer support
- Collaboration and mutualityÂ
Further information on the framework for a Trauma Informed Wales can be found here: https://acehubwales.com/Â
For more information please email us
Chaplaincy may be a word that not everyone may be familiar with, but it’s very simple, chaplaincy exists to help all staff and students feel connected and valued within our College community. Chaplaincy works alongside our support teams to help make Coleg Cambria a supportive and inclusive place to learn and work. We always looking for your ideas and suggestions about things that we could be doing better, or areas that you would like the Chaplaincy to explore.
We offer a lot of different projects and support including;
- Spiritual Wellbeing – Workshops and events looking at spirituality and identity
- Bushcraft – Exploring spirituality through forest skills and nature encounters
- Multi Faith Awareness – Interactive workshops and resources on all major world religions, including events to mark religious festivals and significant world days from Pride to Holocaust Memorial Day
- Faith Support – Including expert advice, prayer rooms and prayer support, crisis of faith support and more
- Mentoring Support – Different types of support are available, from a cuppa and a listening ear to group activities in sport, hospitality or forest skills.
For more information call into Student Services or email us
Full-Time Students
If you’re going to be joining us as a full-time student and you’re aged 16-18, there’s a whole host of support available to you. The range of financial support will depend on your circumstances and where you’re studying.
What you need to know
- If you’re living in Wales, you could be eligible for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
- If you’re 19 or over you might be eligible for a Welsh Government Learning Grant (WGLG).
- You might also be eligible for the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF).
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Wales is for you if you’re a full-time student aged 16 to 18 years who lives in Wales. If you’re eligible, you’ll get an allowance of £30 a week.
Before you apply for EMA there are few things you will need to check to make sure you qualify, such as:
- date of birth – you must be 16-18 years old on the first day of your course
- course – you must be studying at a participating school or college on an ‘eligible’ course
- household income – this must be below a certain level to receive EMA
- nationality and residency – If you’re a UK citizen living in Wales you should be eligible for EMA
Apply by picking up an application pack from Student Services or by downloading an application form from the Student Finance Wales website.
The Welsh Government Learning Grant is for you if you’re a student aged 19 and over on a full-time or part-time course over 275 hours per year and you live in Wales. It’s an income-assessed grant of up to £1,500 that aims to encourage you to continue with their education, where otherwise this may not be possible.
Apply by picking up an application pack from Student Services or by downloading an application form from the Student Finance Wales website.
- be 16 or over on the first day of your course
- hold UK/EU/EEA nationality with at least 3 years continued residency in UK/EU/EEA/Switzerland
- hold Refugee, EU Temporary Protection or Humanitarian protection Status
- have a family income of less than £20,817 per annum
Apply by picking up an Application Form from Student Services.
If you live outside Wales you can find funding information here
Higher education students
As a Higher Education student, you can get access to a variety of financial support. The Student Loans Company offers loans and grants for anyone studying higher education courses at Coleg Cambria. Eligibility depends on the course type and where you live.
In summary:
- Foundation degrees and degrees have fees which can be funded by Tuition Fee loans
- Higher apprenticeships are usually funded by the Welsh Government
- Professional courses may be funded by your employer, by you or by European projects
What you need to know
Cambria HE Bursary
For those undertaking a degree at Cambria University Centre you may be eligible for a non-repayable financial support through our Cambria HE Bursary.
Who is eligible*?
- Those on a full-time Higher Education course
- Those paying their own fees of £7,500 or above
- Students who have the required level of attendance
- Students whose assignments are completed and submitted on time
- Student conduct is in accordance with the Coleg Cambria Code of Conduct
How is it paid?
- Money (fixed reward) into your bank account
- Cambria Campus Credit (fixed and award in kind via vouchers)
*Full T&C’s apply and payment will be withheld if the student fails to meet the required conditions
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Other bursaries
Coleg Cambria can offer a £1000 bursary payment to you if you’re progressing from Coleg Cambria (i.e. level 3 and Access to HE) to one of the following courses:
- FdA Childhood Studies
- FdA Education (Learner Support)
- FdA Education (Special Educational Needs)
The bursary is paid in two £500 instalments:
- year 1, at the end of Semester 2
- year 2, at the end of Semester 2
In order for the bursary to be given to you, the following conditions must be stuck to:
- confirmation has been received from the University that the course fees have been paid to date
- you have an attendance percentage of over 90%
- all of your work is up to date (confirmed by the Programme Leader)
For further information
Part-time students
Part-time students studying in Wales can apply for a range of financial support including:
- Adult dependants grant (ADG)
- Childcare grant (CCG)
- Parents’ learning allowance (PLA)
- Disabled students’ allowance (DSA)
Fees shown next to part-time courses cover up to the first year of your study only. For two or three year courses, the same fee will be payable again at the start of your second and third year of study. You will need to bring proof at enrolment if your company is paying your course fee.
We offer payment via direct debit if your course cost is over £200. You will be eligible to pay half upfront and then spread out the remaining cost over 3 months.
Are you aged under 16?
Due to the way our courses are supported by government funding, we may have to charge an additional fee on courses to students under 16 years old on 1st Sept 2020. For safeguarding purposes, a parent or guardian will need to accompany under 16’s to classes and will need to pay the standard course fee.
Some Adult and Community Learning courses may be eligible for concessions.
Student Finance Explained
How to Apply for Student Finance
Childcare
We have a welcoming and homely childcare centre at Cambria, Toybox at Deeside. We can offer you financial assistance if you need it. Read about the nursery and what they can offer you and your child below.
Toybox
Here at Toybox Nursery, we want to make sure that both you and your child are coming to an environment that’s warm and friendly, which is why we’re proud to say we offer the best childcare in the most beautiful setting.
We provide ‘educare’ for children aged 3 months to five years, with a healthy mixture of learning and play. Our curriculum is built around areas to support and encourage your child’s personal, social, emotional, physical and intellectual wellbeing and development.
Useful Information
Each area within the nursery has a curriculum to follow, which includes personal and social development, language and literacy, mathematics, physical and creative development.
We have five rooms for five different age groups. The caterpillar room is for children 0-12 months. It’s full of conventional toys and holistic activities such as treasure baskets, bubbles, music and water play to encourage the babies to explore and enjoy their surroundings indoors and outdoors.
Our ladybird room is for children aged 12-18 months. There they’re encouraged to become more mobile through soft play, push along toys and more.
The children in the butterfly room (aged 18 months – 2½ years) are encouraged to communicate, play together and to find their voice together with shared activities such as baking and sand play.
In the bumblebee room, children aged 2½ – 3 years are given a wide range of learning opportunities through sand, malleable play, books, block play, exploratory play, role play and movement.
The children in the grasshopper room (3-5 years) follow Foundation learning, which allows your children to be creative, imaginative and to have fun whilst learning. This gives children skills to build on and develop ready for school.
Our opening hours are:
Monday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Tuesday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Wednesday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Thursday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Friday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Toybox Nursery is open throughout the year except for Bank Holidays and one week at Christmas. Please note that if the nursery is open on Christmas Eve, the closing time will be 1.00pm.
We’re based at Coleg Cambria’s Deeside site. If you need to contact us please call 0300 30 30 007 or email us at toybox@cambria.ac.uk
Funding
We don’t want financial difficulties to get in the way of your education. If you’re studying full time at Coleg Cambria (or want to), have preschool children and you are on a low income, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance towards the costs of childcare.
Please contact Student Services on 0300 30 30 007 or email studentservices@cambria.ac.uk for details of the Financial Contingency Fund; you can apply for assistance as soon as you enrol on a full-time course at Coleg Cambria. You and your child will both be in good hands with us.
Our Careers Advisers provide help to prospective students on choosing the right course as well as offering advice and guidance on developing your career and planning your next move after college – whether that is getting a job or apprenticeship or going to university. We are your gateway to finding out about different careers and opportunities in the world of work.
We can help you with:
- Choosing the right courses for you at Coleg Cambria
- Applying to university – we can assist you with thinking about what you want to do- and where, and we’ll help with writing personal statements and getting UCAS applications in.Â
Our Job Shop Employability Coaches support our students with:
- Finding out about apprenticeships and work-based training if you wish to gain paid employment and gain a qualification at the same time.Â
- Applying for jobs, writing a CV and preparing for job interviews
Find out more about the Coleg Cambria Job Shop
Keeping you safe
The college is committed to your safety and well- being whilst both in and out of college whilst you are a student with us. If you feel that you are at risk or have any concerns you can speak to any member of staff, who will support you including seeking the support of our Safeguarding Team.
As a College we have a duty to safeguard all children, young people and adults at risk from the threat of extremist views, the influence of terrorist groups and the dangers of radicalisation. Our Prevent Strategy lays out our approach and our responsibilities. It’s focused on education, respect and providing a safe place for students to discuss issues, ask questions and share their views and aims to help people how to protect themselves.
If you have any concerns please contact the Safeguarding Team on 0300 30 30 009, email Safeguarding@cambria.ac.uk or pop into Student Services.
If you need support, you can contact us
Contact us
0300 30 30 009
At Coleg Cambria we understand the importance of actively working towards making our college the most inclusive, equal and supportive place for everyone. We work closely with our diverse community of learners, staff and stakeholders to ensure that Coleg Cambria is inclusive for all of us. Our Equality and Diversity Coordinator is available to support both staff and learners in anything they need to ensure they have what they need to thrive here.
Regardless of who you are and what your characteristics are, you deserve to be treated with respect, have fair and tailored opportunities and be celebrated for you. No matter your race, religion, gender identity, age, sexuality, disability, class, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, you are an equal, valued member of our community.Â
We are committed to constantly improving our services to be inclusive to everyone. We expect that every member of the Coleg Cambria community to both be treated with respect, and to treat others with respect. See below some of the ways in which staff and students of Coleg Cambria promote equality and diversity.
Reflect the diverse communities we serve
Respect & celebrate all backgrounds & cultures
Zero tolerance for bullying & harassment
Treat everyone equally and fairly
Ensure learning is accessible to all
Challenge prejudice
What We Are Working On
It is vital that we are continually working towards making Coleg Cambria the most inclusive and equal place for all. The below documents lay out what our plans are for doing that, and the progress we have made so far.
Contact
If you would like any support, to get involved, or to learn more about equality and diversity at Coleg Cambria please get in touch at equalityanddiversity@cambria.ac.uk
Coleg Cambria Promoting British Values
The best in British values underpin all education and activities at Coleg Cambria. We have a legal duty to ensure that all learners understand the British values set out in the Government’s Prevent Strategy.
Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
mutual respect
tolerance of faiths & Beliefs
Our values include to ‘encourage and celebrate diversity’ and to ‘respect others and our environment’. The college is an ‘investor in diversity’ and we actively promote tolerance of different faiths and beliefs via our chaplaincy services, the pastoral system, college activities and a very active equality and diversity committee.