Independent Living Skills students at Gower College Swansea have celebrated the end of the academic year by enjoying a delicious buffet at the Vanilla Pod.

"The event was a roaring success and it was a great opportunity to say 'thank you' to the employers and volunteer groups who support the ILS department throughout the year," says Work Placement Coordinator Karen McDonald. "The buffet, which was prepared by catering and hospitality students, was delicious."

ILS students at Gower College Swansea have enjoyed an exclusive opportunity to get involved at a new community based project in Ilston on the Gower.

Cae Tan is a community supported agriculture (CSA) initiative which aims to reinvigorate local sustainable food networks by rebuilding the relationships between consumer, farmer and land.

Students on the STTEP programme are taking part in green woodwork sessions and experiencing skills such as splitting oak, small animal care, fire lighting and beekeeping.

In January 2015, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, as part of its 4Site Secondary School programme, began a ten-week project with a group of students from the Independent Living Skills (ILS) department at Gower College Swansea.

Based at Gower College Swansea’s Tycoch campus, the ILS department offers a range of courses that are tailored to students with specialist learning needs.

Part time Independent Living Skills students were recently invited on a tour of the Tesco superstore at Fforestfach as part of their Work Awareness course.

During their visit, the students enjoyed a 'behind the scenes' look at how the supermarket runs and were able to try their hands at using the tills.

"In keeping with the recent Fairtrade Fortnight the students selected and scanned Fairtrade items and experienced what it was like to be a cashier in a busy supermarket," says lecturer Leah Millinship.

When the summer term comes to an end in July, Gower College Swansea student Matthew Allen will be packing his bags and heading to Los Angeles.

Matthew, an Independent Living Skills student at the Tycoch campus, is set to take part in the Special Olympics World Games, where he has been selected to represent Team GB in swimming.

The only male Welsh swimmer to be selected for this event, Matthew, who has autism, already has a strong track record in the Special Olympics with two Gold medals, one Silver medal and two Bronze medals under his belt.

A group of Independent Living Skills students at Gower College Swansea have pledged to stay silent in the hopes of raising money for a local charity.

The students are responding to a recent appeal for funds from the Community Horse and Pony Scheme - or CHAPS - which provides rehabilitation through the therapeutic use of horses in the Swansea area.

The workplace achievements of Gower College Swansea’s Independent Living Skills (ILS) students were acknowledged at a recent presentation event at the Tycoch campus.

The guest speaker was Radio Tircoed Station Director and DJ Mike Lewis, who visited students currently enrolled on the Work Preparation Course. Joining him was student Jack Draper, who is carrying out work experience at the radio station and who has benefited greatly from the placement.

The achievements of Gower College Swansea’s Independent Living Skills (ILS) students have been recognised at a special celebratory buffet.

Throughout the year, ILS students are placed on work experience with local employers and within college departments such as caretaking and finance. Representatives at the buffet included employers from the Dragon Hotel, Evening Post, Grape & Olive, Radio Tircoed, Remploy, Rose Garden Day Nursery, Sainsbury’s and Swansea University.

Two students from the Independent Living Skills (ILS) department at Gower College Swansea amazed judges with their cookery skills at Bridgend College when six finalists battled for victory at the World Skills All-Wales Final. They were required to prepare, cook and present two plates of Mediterranean salad to judges as part of the Independent Cooking Competition.

Gareth Williams (pictured on the right) was awarded Gold for his butterfly inspired salad, while Adam Humphreys gained Bronze for his platter, which resembled a flower.

A group of students from the Tycoch campus of Gower College Swansea are involved in a project at the Swansea Community Farm at Cadle. Those taking part are all students with additional needs, aged between 16 and 18, who are on the first year of the Work Preparation course. They will be visiting the farm once a week for 10 weeks in order to learn more about where the food on the supermarket shelves comes from and how it is produced. It will also help them with numeracy and literacy skills.