University and college unite to celebrate Townhill
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Gower College Swansea joined forces to support the Phoenix Fun Day on Sunday 22 May.
This annual family-friendly event, which regularly attracts over 1,000 people, is managed by Creative Bubble at UWTSD and funded by the Widening Access Forum.
UWTSD organised marquees offering music, entertainment and free craft workshops. Students from the college’s Bridge Programme collaborated with UWTSD students on stewarding duties and also helped out with some workshops.
UWTSD has a long history of working with the Phoenix Centre and the Communities First team based there.
Lucy Beddall of UWTSD says, “We were delighted with the outcome of the Phoenix Fun Day. It was a great opportunity for the students to gain valuable experience helping out with the event, running workshops and meeting the community. It really enhances their learning experience and allows them to share some of their skills. We are a very accessible university – many of our students are local – so it’s great to be there to help celebrate the wonderful community of Townhill.”
Curtis Cana, a former student at Gower College Swansea who lives in Townhill, successfully managed the entertainment tent on the day and added, “I have been involved in many UWTSD projects in Townhill. The university has really made the effort to connect with the community and has maintained a good relationship over the years. I was really pleased that the college students got involved this year and I hope the collaboration with UWTSD continues.”
“This event showed our Bridge Project students how to transform what they have learned in theory into something practical and rewarding for the whole community, in the process building strong links with the university and improving their employability skills,” says lecturer Lucy Turtle.
The Bridge Programme is aimed at young people aged 16-19 who are undecided about their future career path. It gives them an opportunity to sample a range of different subject areas, enabling them to make informed decisions about their next step and equipping them with skills and qualities that are required by employers and which make them better prepared for the world of work.
The Phoenix Centre is integral to the community of Townhill – it is run as a social enterprise and houses a library, nursery, café and meeting rooms, as well as hosting short courses and events.