The new student council at Telford College has spelled out its hopes and aims, as the college prepares to open its new sixth form base in the town centre.

President Chloe Parkins and vice president Angel Anish Abraham say they want to be a bridge between students and college management, promoting an exciting and inclusive range of events which help students to socialise and widen their horizons.

The newly-elected council includes Ellen Mensah and Ben Mack as healthy lifestyles and wellbeing officers, Connor Oswin and Kaushi Uppal as enrichment officers, Serenity Thomson and Kiera Evans as student council officers, and William Ellis and Cat Stothard as LGBTQ+ officers.

Vinnie Faulkner is fundraising officer, Mia Mansell is communication and marketing officer, Lewis Shirley is environment and health & safety officer, and Pokuah Djan is equality, diversity and inclusion officer.

Chloe (pictured) said she wanted to make sure that students at all college campuses had access to the full range of Telford College experiences.

“I would like to create more opportunities for students to come together – especially now Telford College has multiple campuses. College should be about more than education; it should involve meeting new people and learning new things.

“With the college now spread across several buildings, I think it is more vital than ever to have events where people from different courses can socialise and widen their horizons. This will also be beneficial for enrichment opportunities.”

She added: “We have events where students can go and ask about jobs and talk to employers, but I want to create something deeper for students to fully understand industry.

“College is the time when students are getting ready and learning how to go into work; they will most likely go into a job related to the course they are doing.

“Statistics show 64% of people in the UK don’t like their jobs because when they were training for them, they didn’t understand the day-to-day work. I want to get employers to come in and explain to us about what a normal day looks like… the tone, the environment, the hours, and the opportunities.”

Angel said she felt it was incredibly important for students to be able to put forward ideas and resolutions to the student council in free and easy conversations. 

“I would like to popularise inclusivity and education through exciting and cultural events, and set up an unbreakable foundation for students when they leave college, so that they can know exactly where and what they are going to do next.

“I would like contribute and initiate closer student to university conversations about the journey and transition.”