Community Colleges New Zealand


Southland News


soridingboysgirl

College student helping out a young rider

  

Students volunteer for Riding for the Disabled

  

Helping with the Riding for the Disabled programme is one way that staff
and students at Southland Community College volunteer their time to help
the community.

The Hairdressing, Springboard, Supported Learning and Adult Literacy
classes are on a roster to assist with the riding programme for three hours
every Tuesday morning.

Adult Literacy and Numeracy tutor Alan Steele says that his class has just started
their six week block of volunteering at the programme.

“Our first day went really well. The students were a bit tentative at first but they
really got into it and thoroughly enjoyed the session. The feedback from the other
tutors has been really positive.”

For two years the Adult Literacy students have also taken turns to deliver Meals on Wheels one morning each fortnight.  “We pick up the meals
and a list of their recipients from the hospital and then make the deliveries,” says Alan. “It is a great way to get the students out and interacting
with the community. Their social and personal presentation skills develop which helps to prepare them for employment.”

Other classes at the College also take community responsibility seriously.  The Chef training students have helped on collection days for
Plunket and the Cancer Society and they’ve given blood to the blood bank.

The Supported Learning and Cookery students have made sweets to sell as a fundraiser for the SPCA, and college-wide the students have collected for the local Foodbank.