A flying start for students on Diploma in Society, Health and Development

Students from local schools were today given the chance to meet health professionals and learn about the many exciting career opportunities in the sector. The Diploma in Society, Health and Development, run in partnership with City College Norwich, is being championed by the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service – for whom the students will undertake fundraising activities during their course.

To mark the launch of the new Diploma course, over 90 students from the Wensum Partnership (City College Norwich, Hellesdon High School, Costessey High School and Taverham High School), together with students from City Academy Norwich and The Hewett School, participated in a “Meet the Health Professionals” event at the UEA. As well as meeting the East Anglian Air Ambulance crew, who flew in especially, students also participated in workshops run by the East Anglian Ambulance Trust, First Responders and the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind.

The day provided a fitting launch for the Diploma in Society, Health and Development, which will teach students about the skills needed and the opportunities open to them in health, adult social care, the children’s workforce and community justice. This exciting Diploma, which is on offer at Foundation, Advanced and Higher levels to 14-16 and post-16 students, brings learning to life through its focus on these sectors and real life issues within them. The course combines practical projects and activities with a mix of class work, guest speakers, and hands on experience, whilst providing a solid grounding in English, maths and ICT. 

While the Diploma students will benefit greatly from the link with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, they will also be giving something back by undertaking fundraising for the service. A number of students and staff are planning to participate in the sponsored 5Km Runway Run on September 26th at Tibenham Airfield near Diss – and many more exciting fund raising activities are in the pipe line.

Richard Evans, Wensum Partnership Line Lead and City College Norwich Course Leader, said: “The opportunity these Diploma students have had today to meet with health professionals has provided the perfect start to the course, which will become an important pathway for those interested in careers in health and other caring professions. The support of the East Anglian Air Ambulance is fantastic and I am delighted that they have agreed to be our Diploma champions. Watch this space as we intend to raise as much money for the charity as we can through sponsored events which students themselves will organise.

“We want to show young people that there are many exciting, highly skilled and worthwhile career opportunities available to them, and a Diploma can help them progress on to those jobs. We will be running similar events and workshops to give students a greater insight into what it means to work in community justice, with children and young people and in adult social care. We would be very interested to hear from any organisations who would like to contribute to Diplomas across our partnership. Tel: 01603 773379”.

Simon Gray, Executive Director of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, said: “We are delighted to have the Diploma students acting as young ambassadors for the East Anglian Air Ambulance – in a few years’ time these students could be the air ambulance crews of tomorrow. Their fundraising efforts will help to keep the service, which is entirely dependent on fundraising and contributions, in the air”.

Samantha Matthews, 14, from Costessey High School, said: "I want to work in health care when I’m older because I really want to help people, but I’m not sure whether to be a paramedic or work within the hospital. I’ve really enjoyed seeing the sorts of things the ambulance paramedics have to do and learning about their job".

Skye Strachan, 14, from Taverham High School, said: "When I grow up I want to work in the health part of things and maybe with medicine. I’ve really enjoyed sitting in the Ambulance and trying on the air ambulance pilot’s helmet".