North Hertfordshire College’s Supported Studies learners have started their own Breakfast Club to support their fellow students! The club, which initially ran on Wednesday mornings and attracted between five and ten students each morning, will now be expanded in the new academic year following the enthusiastic response.
The project is a collaboration between NHC’s Business Administration and Work Progressions 3 groups. Course Team Leaders Millie Buck and James Sutton first raised the idea with the heads of the department before pitching it to learners during Student Voice sessions. Our learners were keen to develop the project after learning about the role food plays in helping people to learn, especially when they learnt that some students don’t have the opportunity to eat anything before coming to college in the morning. With a budget agreed and a positive bunch of students on board, plus a kind donation of bread from Allied Bakeries, the Breakfast Club was underway!
Staff support is available during the Club, but our learners are encouraged to be as independent as possible during the sessions. Students not only have the opportunity to meet learners from other programmes, but they’re also able to prepare the food that they want to eat – with the responsibilities of tidying up afterwards, of course!
Millie Buck, Course Team Leader for NHC’s Business Administration course, told us: “The social opportunities provided by the club offers students from different courses the opportunity to meet and chat in an informal environment. This is great for confidence building.”
Our learners certainly agree with Millie! Kiera Bellchambers, one of NHC’s Supported Studies learners, commented: “Since having some problems earlier this year, college has been like a family for me, and I have been able to use Breakfast Club to have a good start to the day.”
As well as being a great way for our students to fuel up ahead of the day’s lessons, the Club also fits in with our students’ learning about social development. A key part of our Supported Studies programmes is preparing our learners for adulthood, building their knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their needs to become independent young people. Our learners socialise, prepare healthy snacks, and make healthy lifestyle choices as part of Breakfast Club, setting them up both for a successful day of learning and a successful future.
James Sutton, Course Team Leader for Work Progressions 3, commented: “Students cannot focus on learning if they have not had breakfast. The club offers students an opportunity to prepare themselves for learning, socialise, and practice their independent living skills.”
Well done to all our students and Supported Studies team on the creation of the Breakfast Club project and thank you again to Allied Bakeries for their support!
For more information about our range of Supported Studies programmes, please visit North Hertfordshire College’s Supported Studies showcase page.