Saturday Art & Design Club* Meet our student ambassadors: Holly and Ellie

Saturday Art & Design Club isn’t only rewarding for the young people (aged 13 -16 years old) who attend the weekly workshops but it’s also beneficial for the student assistants that support the Club.  In this post, some of our student assistants tell us why they have enjoyed the experience this year.

Holly working with a group of club members.

Holly Barrett, Graduated from Costume Design in July 2016

The main thing that drew me to working with the Saturday Art club was the opportunity to work alongside something that inspires and helps engage young people with the arts, something that can be easily over looked by many.

The club tries many different techniques from photography to making paper costumes.  It really gives the young people the chance to try things they may not necessarily get to try at school, enabling them to find talents they may not have realised they had and discover things they really enjoy doing. 

I really enjoyed seeing the wide range and high standard of work the students produced and seeing the groups commitment to give up their Saturday mornings, to attend the club made it a pleasure to also give up my Saturday morning lie- ins to help the club.

Through the different sessions I helped with I also felt like I learned a lot of techniques and was even able to use parts of the university I wouldn't normally come across, like the photography studio.

I also learnt a lot during the masterclass with artist Zack Mclaughlin, this was particularly interesting as he explained about the route he had taken since graduating university, to get to where he is now.  This was inspiring as I have just graduated and am about to head out into the exciting, yet scary, world of working in the creative industry. 

Working with the club has been really enjoyable and I wish everyone all the best with wherever their futures take them. If I ever get the opportunity to and working with young people and the arts in the future, it will definitely be something I would get involved in.

Holly helping a member of Saturday Art & Design Club to create a model bird.

Find out more about Holly’s work on her website:

http://hollybarrettt.wix.com/hollybarrett or follow her on Twitter @hollybarrettcostume

Ellie Barlow, graduated from Costume Design in July 2016

I was initially interested in this role as I thought it would be a good experience while I was studying at NTU. The most rewarding thing I found was seeing how creative these young students are and their eagerness towards their work and helping each other, especially on a Saturday morning! I have learnt many skills, such as keeping up with the energy of the students! I feel like this has been a great opportunity while studying at NTU because it has made me feel useful by encouraging the next generation of creatives, while studying myself.

Ellie showing a Saturday Art & Design Club member work on her laptop.

Take a look at Ellie’s work on her website:                                                                      http://ebarlow254.wix.com/eleanorbarlow

*Saturday Art & Design Club runs free weekly workshops at Nottingham Trent University from October to July.  The workshops are open to pupils aged 13 -16 years old.  If you would like to find out more, please contact Sarah Barkley at: sarah.barkley@ntu.ac.uk.

Art & Design Club: Urvi’s Experience

Through the eyes of a budding architect:
My name is Urvi and over the past year I have been involved in the Saturday Art & Design Club at Nottingham Trent University.  Here’s a little bit about my experience.

Finding out about the Club!

We were told about Saturday Art Club in a school assembly and I instantly liked the idea of creating art on the weekends with no restrictions.  It also appealed to me especially because of the stressful environment we are used to at school.

First thoughts:

Initially I thought the Art & Design Club would be like every other place where we are treated like children and monitored each step of the way; however we were treated like young adults with the freedom to approach our work however we wanted, making the experience more enjoyable. 

Saturday Art & Design Club in the photography studio. 

New friends, skills and experiences:

From the Art Club we learnt a massive range of new exciting skills such as screen-printing, calligraphy and photography. Of course we learnt a lot about different artistic techniques but during the trips to London and the galleries we also learnt a lot more about the world of art and the growing creative industries.

We learnt how to review and interpret pieces of art and design which then helped us understand how to develop our work and approach it in more creative and abstract ways.

I think the whole experience as a whole was great. From the trips to London to the weird and wacky photos we took of each other in the studio, all of it has been exhilarating because we were surrounded by people who shared the same interests as us making it easy to have fun.  

Saturday Art & Design Club in London.

What I enjoyed the most:

At Saturday Art Club I would say the freedom to experiment with different materials and stuff was probably the best part. Normally at school we are often restricted even when we are told to be creative so at Saturday Art Club it was so easy to think big and follow through (even though my grand ideas didn't always work out). 

Arts Award:

Saturday Art & Design Club also offered us the opportunity to take the Arts Award (optional).  All we had to do was jot down our thoughts about what we had accomplished or where we could have improved at the end of each session. Whether we did the award or not it was a good way to reflect back on our work and experience.

Portrait of Urvi

I hadn’t taken Art as a GCSE. Consequently I wasn't able to get onto my A level course however I was later told that I could also use the Arts Award as evidence to prove I was capable to sit the course and now I am signed up for the Art A Level classes at my sixth form. 

Architecture – my career goal:

My future career aspirations are to become an architect.  I would love to work on designing buildings in creative yet abstract ways to bring a bit of art and fun into simple things in our lives that we see every day.

I would strongly recommend Saturday Art & Design Club to anyone who has an interest in Art or anyone looking for something new and fun to do as in the end you leave with more experience and great memories. 

*The Saturday Art Club runs free weekly workshops at Nottingham Trent University from October to July.  The workshops are open to pupils in Year 9 – 11.  This is a targeted event based on widening participation criteria.  If you would like to find out more, please contact Esther Triffitt at NTUSaturdayArtClub@ntu.ac.uk

Moving: University Checklist

So the time for you to move away is soon approaching (a few weeks to be precise) and you are trying to decide what you need but you can't remember it all.. 

Fear not! Below we have put together a very long yet important list of all the university essentials you will need. If you forget anything you can always buy it in the city you move to. However, it is way cheaper to grab it all from home whilst you can.

Some places (university halls mainly) will be equipped with some of these items such as knives, spoons etc. However, if you are going to be sharing, it might be worth taking your own just to make sure you have some to use.

We haven't included things such as clothes, shoes etc as that is pretty much common sense and hopefully you won't forget to bring them!

Note: Not everything item will apply to everyone so use this as a guide. 

Kitchen 

• Some sauce pans (2-3 should be enough)

• Cutlery including knives, forks, spoons, masher

• Cutlery holder

• Kettle

• Toaster (if you need one)

• Tin opener (you will be eating alot of tin food)

• Chopping board - I bet you that you will cook at least once.

• Chopping knives - Tesco and Asda do a cheap set for about £5

• Frying Pan

• Oven gloves - no one wants any accidents to happen

• Scales, baking tray and measuring jug - if you like to bake

• Plastic tubs for storage and leftovers - these are essential!

• Mugs and cups - 2-3 should be enough

• Cling film and foil

• Dinner plates and bowls

Bathroom

• Towels - bath and hand

• Toothbrush and toothpaste

• Soap or hand-gel

• Shower gel and shampoo

• Dry shampoo 

• Sponge or shower puff

• Body lotion and moisturiser

• Deodorant/Body spray

• Perfume/after shave

• Hairbrush and comb

• Toilet roll and tissues

Food Basics

• Salt and pepper

• Herbs

• Tin food such as beans

• Rice

• Noodles

• Pasta

• Pasta sauce

• Olive oil

• Hot drinks e.g. tea and coffee

• Ketchup

• Sugar

• Cereal

Academic Study Related

• Stationary - pens, ruler, calculator, highlighters (basically your usual pencil case)

• Hole punch, stapler and staples

• Sellotape, pen pot, scissors

• Note Books - you need to make notes in lectures right?

• Reading List (don’t worry if you haven’t received one yet, you will do soon) - I don't recommend buying every book in advance and you might not use them all and it will be a waste of money. You can ask your lecturer which ones you will need in lectures. The rest you can borrow from the library for 3 weeks free of cost.

• Diary - you need to get organised

• Wall Planner - You can pick one up from the Freshers Fair

• Old text books and notes that are relevant to your university course. I still have my notes and books from GCSE Business (I study Business) as I can still use parts for my university modules

• Dictionary and thesaurus - you will need to these for your reports/essays

• Noticeboard and pins - some accommodations have this so you can check in advance. It is super handy to put post it notes (buy these too) on the board for reminders.

• Files or folders - it's up to you how many you get. I recommend buying a few to start with and then get more as and when you need them. These are super handy for storing your module notes as you will need them in your second year and third year.

Washing and Cleaning

• Laundry basket or bag (bag will be easier to store)

• Coat hangers

• Washing capsules - most accommodations won't let you use powder

• Fabric softener - if you like to add this - check with your accommodation if this is allowed first

• Washing-up liquid, sponge, scourer

• Cloth and rubber gloves - you will need to clean eventually

• Anti-bacterial spray and wipes

• Kitchen roll

• Black bin bags or white bin liners

• Bedding- including sheets, duvet, pillows. It's a good idea to get a few bed sheet sets so you can have one ready whilst the other one is in the wash.

• Blanket or throw - it will get chilly in the winter

• Full length mirror (May be a good idea)

• Desk lamp/bedside lamp - always handy to have. Your accommodation might provide one so check with them first

• Any extra storage - I recommend getting one that has wheels so it is easy to move around. Wilkinson's have some cheap ones

• Small dustbin for your room

• Cushions - you need to be comfortable

Documents

• Passport

• Driving Licence (if you have one) and insurance documents

• Passport photos for ID cards - you might need a photo for when you arrive at your accommodation to prove you are who you say you are

• National Insurance card

• Your acceptance letter from the university

• Student Finance letters

• Your accommodation details and contract

• CV - you need a copy of this (online copy is fine)

• Exam certificates - you may need these when registering

• Discount cards e.g. 16-25 railcard, NUS card - you can buy a NUS card during welcome week. If you are planning to travel a fair amount then I really recommend getting the railcard. You can get discount off the price with an NUS card too! You make the money back pretty quickly too. However note that there are restrictions in what times you can use the railcard. I still think it is worth it though.

Other

• TV - you will need to check with your chosen accommodation if they already provide you with one - you will need a TV licence too

• Alarm Clock - you need to get up for lectures on time

• Hair Dryer/Straighteners/Curling Tongs (If you use them) 

• Extension lead - will come in handy all year round

• Laptop and a laptop bag

Please note that it can take up to 5 working days for your student finance to appear in your bank account so you will need some money to cover your costs in your first week.

Have we missed anything? If so leave a comment below so we can add them! Have any questions about moving away? Then tweet us or email us

International Volunteering: Education for the Children

 Jocotenango nr Antigua, Guatemala.

This July a group of 13 students and 2 members of staff travelled all the way to Guatemala for a 3 week volunteering placement with the charity, Education for the Children.

Most students didn’t know anyone else on the trip before they signed up, but by the end of a 26 hour journey everyone was getting on like a house on fire. The first few days were spent exploring and inducting us into our new surroundings. The charity’s Volunteer Coordinator, Ana, took us on an orientation walk of our home for the 3 weeks, Antigua, a beautifully rustic colonial town shadowed by volcanoes, before showing us around the school and introducing us to the other volunteers.

View of Antigua after a hike to Cerro de la Cruz.

Volunteers Zac, Fatima, Jaii and Sipihwe with two school students.  

Of course, we came for one big reason, to help EFTC in their mission of trying to make a difference to the lives of local children, empowering them through education. Our tasks volunteering at the school were diverse, from giving the scholarship room a new lease of life with a few coats of paint to assisting with classroom sessions. The school had pupils from reception aged, about 5 years old, to High School aged children, but also provides learning spaces for their University level students to complete their assignments. Many volunteers quickly developed a bond with their class, despite not knowing a lot of Spanish. We enjoyed teaching them British playground games and sharing a bit about where we come from. One volunteer prepared a short presentation telling the kids in his class about everything British from what we eat to the Queen, which went down a storm! The kids couldn’t believe we don’t have volcanoes in the UK.

NTU volunteers Richard and Jaii digging holes for a new roof.

Whilst we were there the money we raised had helped towards giving 3 families brand new roofs for their houses, which are much needed as many of the children at the school live in poverty. Many of us found the experience quite emotional, seeing just how little these people had was truly humbling and definitely makes you evaluate how much we really need all the ‘stuff’ we surround ourselves with in western society. We expected the housing to be poor, but we found them to be little more than four walls of corrugated iron with a leaky roof on top, dotted with a few possessions and a floor of mud that’s washed downhill during one of the frequent torrential rainstorms. Before we could help replace the roof all the equipment had to be carried up the steep hill leading to houses, then holes for supporting beams were dug before finally removing and replacing the old rusted roof. The whole process took about 4 days to complete.

The transformation begins.

We volunteer at the school on weekdays, from 8am-2pm and have free time late afternoons and weekends, so there’s plenty of time to explore this beautiful and largely overlooked country. On Mondays and Thursdays we had 1-2-1 Spanish lessons, which helped us in our role in the classroom. Everyone found the lessons really useful, even those who didn’t have much confidence really enjoyed the lessons and got stuck in with the help of our friendly, encouraging tutors. As a bit of a tourist hot-spot there’s loads to do in Antigua, from going back in time exploring the old ruined churches, to honing our haggling skills when shopping the markets. At weekend we had the chance to visit further afield, taking trips to Monterrico beach, where we had fun battling the biggest waves we’ve ever seen, before taking a relaxing boat ride through the mangroves to spot some wildlife.

The view of Volcan Pacaya.

Toasting marshmallows at Pacaya.

Some of our group opted for a bit more adventure by daring to climb some of Guatemala’s active volcanoes, a day up Volcan Pacaya, and an epic 2 day trek up twin peaked Volcan Acatenango. We saw a few minor eruptions, and used the heat of a solidified lava flow at Pacaya to toast marshmallows! There was also a visit to beautiful Lake Atitlan and the surrounding villages and a chocolate making workshop, as Guatemala’s Mayan people were the first to appreciate the uses of the Cacao bean.

Zac and Elissa hiking up Volcan Acatenango.

Who knew three weeks could go so fast! Some volunteers chose to keep supporting the work of the charity once they left by sponsoring a child at the School. You can choose from food, education or full sponsorship, depending on how much you can afford. We all feel that we’ve learnt so much from the opportunity, and what we’ve experienced will stay with us from many years to come. Many of the group are already thinking about a return trip…