Salford City College is a proud ambassador of equality and diversity, having won a Beacon Award in 2006. As part of its mission, the College place great focus on providing support to students from within Salford and Greater Manchester. The College runs a number of specifically tailored classes to ensure that the needs of Salford residents are met and enriched. As a result, its supported students perform better than against national averages.

Salford City College was established on 1 January 2009 following the merger of Eccles, Pendleton and Salford Colleges. Its mission is to ‘inspire people to create opportunities and enrich lives through learning’.

To ensure the College motivates and supports learners to the best of their abilities all staff receive specialised training on equality and diversity issues. Its Additional Learning Support team are proactive in working with students, specialising in supporting needs and delivering support to learners where they feel it’s most needed. Support at the College ranges from specific conditions and rare syndromes to learners who have mild learning difficulties – all are given tailored and assisted learning support to suit them and ensure their success.

STUDENT TESTIMONIAL

“When I started at Eccles College the staff took me around so I could see the lessons and meet the staff. I did a diagnostic test on the computer. Someone asked the technician to set the computer so I could see it clearly. That computer is mine to use whenever I need it. Another tutor contacted social services for me to help me get a new long cane because mine is too long.

“All the support staff attended a visual impairment training day when I first started. This helped them to understand how I see and how I feel. I always feel safe in the college because I am allowed to be independent with the support of staff. If I have a problem I can talk to any member of staff. We also have a class rep who tells the staff what we think of College.

“I had a PC review with some of the staff and they helped me prepare beforehand by typing everything up that I wanted to say. I brought pictures and I invited my social worker and my mum. I felt that the two support workers listened to me and asked me questions rather than asking my mum.

“Staff have helped me with independent travel and living independently. I have loved going to Blackpool because I was allowed to show the driver my bus pass myself and pay for things in shops myself. I was allowed to choose my own clothes and decide what time I could go to bed and get up. I chose my own breakfast, lunch and tea. It was great. College has helped me to do a course and a work placement at Henshaw’s College for the Blind, and in September I will start another course at Henshaw’s doing IT.”

MORE: For information on courses and job opportunities at Salford City College, call 0161 736 2302 or visit www.salfordcc.ac.uk.