COLLEGE YOUTH WORKER CREATES TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY

Image caption: A Teddy Bears’ picnic

A youth worker from North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College has brought to life scenes from a teddy bears’ picnic in her front garden in a bid to cheer up neighbourhood children as they go out for their exercise break.

Dorothy Chamberlain, known as Dinks, made a video of her creation to share with students at the college’s Hinckley Campus to encourage them to get creative using only what they have at home. Her teddies have attracted the attention of people passing her house and some children are even stopping to get their photos taken with them.

Dinks said, “I saw so many children walking past looking glum because they are limited by the lockdown and decided to give them something more interesting to look at as they walk past. I made a video for my students so I could reach out and say hello and remind them that there is so much they can do at home with the materials available to them. It would be great if other neighbours joined in and we could really brighten up the street. I am planning to create a fairy glen next using some large stones. I don’t have any paint, but I can always put my nail varnish to good use. I am also hoping to create some bunting for VE Day on 8 May.”

Dinks, who has worked at the college for 16 years, is usually busy supporting students at the college’s Hinckley Campus helping them to organise the Students’ Union, run trips and visits, clubs and other enrichment activities and she also helps with fundraising.

She added, “I absolutely love my job and I am missing the students so much. I am busy planning for the next academic year and working on my data, but nothing can replace interacting with the students every day and seeing them blossom and progress.”

NWSLC’s Hinckley Campus is currently closed but its Nuneaton Campus remains partially open to support the children of keyworkers, those with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), students in local authority care, and other students that are known to be vulnerable.

Other students are being supported to continue their learning online, and the college continues to take applications for courses starting in September 2020.

Carrie-Anne Abdulai, Director for HE and Access to HE Provision at NWSLC, said, “I am delighted to hear that Dinks is using her creative skills to make a positive impact on the local community during this difficult time.”