Students, families and community members celebrate their journey of learning at ceremonies

University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Widening Access team invited groups that have been involved in their school, college and community outreach work this academic year, to a ceremony of celebration in Swansea and Carmarthen.

In front of the Old College on Carmarthen Campus, Widening Access participants in blue gowns and mortarboards hold up their certificates.

On 18th and 19th July, 250 individuals that have participated in UWTSD Widening Access team’s Journey and Reaching Wider projects came to the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea and Halliwell Theatre, Carmarthen to be handed certificates in recognition of their success and hard work.

Throughout the past academic year, the Widening Access team has worked with over 5000 individuals through 550 different events across south west Wales, encouraging and providing the opportunity for all to engage with learning. The team works in areas and communities that are underrepresented in Higher Education with the aim of spreading the message that learning is for anyone and everyone.

In the event that showcased just some of their work, a number of groups took to the stage in caps and gowns and were applauded by guests and staff for their achievement in completing their very own journey of learning through the various projects.

Among the groups that were celebrated for their accomplishments were volunteers from Blaenymaes Community Drop-in Centre who said:

“It was a special moment to have everyone clapping for us. This has meant a lot – to be recognised for the work that we’ve been doing and also helps to spread the word of it. At the drop-in centre, we really are like one big family. It was nice for us to be welcomed and included in this celebration, and thanked for the work we do for the community.”

Three women in blue robes raise their mortarboards in front of a green wall of plants.

An adult learner and parent of a pupil at Awel Y Môr Primary School commented:

“What an amazing opportunity for children to receive recognition for their hard work. How inspiring for them to see their parents returning to learning and receiving their certificates. I felt really proud of my achievements by coming to this event and it’s inspired me to continue to learn.”

Participants that completed UWTSD’s residential programmes, adult learning courses, including parents from Neath Port Talbot Flying Start and number of primary and secondary school pupils such as Ysgol Dihewyd and Milford Haven School Nurture Group were also celebrated at the ceremony.

After recieving their certificates, they were invited to participate in making memorabilia of the day through arts and crafts, and to capture their special moments in a photo booth. The day was a suitably formal yet a fitting celebration of belonging and fun with a lively audience of babies and children, and adults through to grandparents.

Ffion Spooner, Widening Access Officer and organiser of the event said:

“It’s been a pleasure brining so many groups from the areas and communities that we work with together in one place to celebrate their accomplishments as well as celebrate the work of the Widening Access team. From small children all the way up to adults, it has really demonstrated the variety of people we work with and it’s been especially nice to have them together the university’s campuses.”

A row of nine children in shiny blue robes raise their hands above their heads and smile, prompted by two adults.
Young people in blue robes and mortarboards stand under a balloon arch.
Three young women, two holding babies, smile while wearing blue robes and mortarboards.
Women of all ages wearing blue robes and mortarboards sit at tables in front of a UWTSD banner.
Children wearing blue robes and hats; a boy at the front of the group gives a thumbs-up to the camera.

Note to Editor

Journey is a project run by University of Wales Trinity Saint Davies’s Widening Access team that sees a number of engagements with certain groups over a period of time to ensure a relationship is build between participants and the University. The aim is to help groups gain a variety of skills and experiences.

Reaching Wider is a Welsh Government strategy to widen access to higher education, funded by Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW). University of Wales Trinity Saint Davis is a part of the South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership.

Further Information

Mared Anthony

Communications and PR Officer: Alumni Relations   
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email: mared.anthony@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: +447482256996

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