College Preparation Group gets students ready for new chapter

A new cohort of students are ready to start their college adventure following their participation in Bridges Project’s College Preparation Group this summer.

The group, which ran over four weeks, was aimed at making prospective college students as prepared for life as possible before they embarked on their studies this August. The topics discussed included expectations and responsibilities as a student, study skills and digital skills needed for college. 

Among the group’s participants was 18-year-old Steven Brown from Dalkeith. He has just started an Introduction to College course at Edinburgh College and found the College Preparation Group to be a helpful way of easing him in to his next chapter in life.

“I have never been to college before and I am also the first in my family to go to college so it has been great to be able to share ideas with people in this group. It has been great to get to know people in the group and the energy of the group has been fantastic,” he said.

There was a huge variety in the different courses the participants of the College Preparation Group have gone on to study. In addition to Steven’s Introduction to College course, other courses represented were Skills for College and Further Skills for Independence. The rest of the young people have started courses in Computing and Digital Media, Access to Cyber Security, Software Development & Web and Music Performance & Production. 

With all these courses represented, it was fitting that the College Preparation Group’s last session included a visit from Steven Craig, Curriculum Manager at Edinburgh College. He was able to answer any questions the group participants had on college life.

“The group was a great success and really helped the young people to reduce any worries they had about starting college through providing them with relevant information and support,” said Bridges Project’s Education & Employability Coordinator Lynne Anderson.

“Giving young people the opportunity to meet and connect with others who were starting college in a relaxed and supportive environment was really helpful to them.”

On top of all the knowledge the new college students gained through the group, Bridges Project’s local Tesco branch in Musselburgh also ensured that they were well equipped for their new courses. The store had kindly donated a wide range of stationary, which always come in handy during a busy academic year. The group’s participants all left the last session with a tote bag each full of pens, notebooks and other useful tools. As such, they could not be more prepared for embarking on their new adventure!

The College Preparation Group was co-delivered by Bridges Project’s Spark Your Future service, the Personal Development Service and Way2Work East Lothian. Spark Your Future is funded by East Lothian Council’s No One Left Behind Employability Grants Programme as part of the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The other two services are funded by BBC Children in Need and East Lothian Council’s One Council Partnership Fund respectively.