Back in October WM College held its first Language Exchange of the year for ESOL and Modern Foreign Languages learners.

The informal event was a collaboration organised by ESOL and Language lecturers which aimed to help both modern language and ESOL learners practise their speaking skills and use the language they are studying in an authentic way.

During the event, modern language learners were matched with a fluent speaker of their chosen language of study. This encouraged both partners to break through language barriers and express themselves in a second language. Not only did learners build on their speaking skills, but also had the opportunity to learn more about cultures and practise in a fun and meaningful way. Some learners have continued to meet weekly for further practice and to build upon new connections.

Spanish Lecturer, Sandra Gallofre, said “My learners are always eager to speak and have conversation in class but don’t always have enough time. Everyone who went to the exchange had the space and time to practise speaking with native speakers which was great for their learning”.

Are you looking to learn a new language? Discover our courses in French , Greek, Italian, Spanish, Latin and ESOL.

Having not had the opportunity to go to school in Nigeria, Stella James was unable to read or write. She worked from a young age in her mother’s street food restaurant and developed a strong passion for food.

When Stella moved to the UK it was a dream of hers to be a chef, writing recipes and sharing her creations with the world, but she was unsure how to without the ability to write.

Stella enrolled at WM College to study ESOL and thrived in the class. She has since progressed onto study English Entry 2. With her new skills Stella has been able to progress her education and complete two programmes with TERN and graduate from the Up Collective and the Food Power Programme, as well as completing a training programme with Migrateful.

Armed with plenty of new skills Stella has been able to set up her own Nigerian catering company, Special Delicacies, which is going from strength to strength. She is now an official Migrateful Chef and caters large gatherings and corporate events with a recent gig for Sky and an appearance on BBC Breakfast.

Stella said:

‘ I LOVE food, I love cooking, the sharing with others and the way that it brings people together. To me, it’s more than just serving delicious tasting dishes. Food was part of my childhood and is forever linked to my mother.’

We’re so proud of everything Stella has achieved and can’t wait to see what the future holds. Follow Stella on her Instagram account here. If you would like to improve your English speaking, reading and writing, take a look at our ESOL courses here.

WM College wood carving learner, David Willis has used his new found craft to highlight important history of his hometown and the local coal mining community. His wooden sculpture ‘Coal Miner’ was created as a memorial to the coal miners of Brown Edge, a village in the Staffordshire Moorlands near the North Staffs coalfield and impressed local organisations so much it is now on permanent loan at The Chatterley Whitfield Heritage Centre.

As a child growing up near the Chatterley Whitfield Colliery, David witnessed some of the 3,000 men employed at the mine return daily from work with coal blackened hands and faces. Most the men in David’s hometown were miners, including his dad and both grandads and his uncles also worked at the pits. During his school years he also knew of three boys who went to work down the pits aged just fifteen. 

Growing up in such a strong coal mining community David was inspired to create a piece of artwork which marked this poignant part of local history. His sculpture ‘Coal Miner’ depicts a miner hunched over hard at work and is carved out of a solid cube of teak wood, using exceptionally sharp gouges, not too dissimilar to tools used by the miners in the pits.

In 2022, David offered his carving to his hometown Village Hall to be exhibited for the summer.  It became a talking point for the many groups who meet there and was later taken to Chatterley Whitfield Colliery for their Annual Heritage Weekend. Chatterley Whitfield Colliery is an industrial time capsule that is widely acknowledged to be the last- remaining, complete, deep coal mine site in Britain and has been designated by Historic England as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Having seen David’s ‘Coal Miner’ sculpture on display, the Friends of Chatterley Whitfield Group asked if it could be exhibited on permanent loan, and it is now housed in the Heritage Centre at the pit, alongside other artists such as Rob Pointon and John Ball. The Chatterly Whitfield Heritage Centre is free to visit and open Thursdays and Saturdays. Explore Chatterly Whitfield by Abandoned Engineering here and Hidden Britain by Drone here.

If you fancy your hand at wood carving why not try one of our wood carving courses?

The Evening Standard Art Prize , first launched back in 2017, provides an invaluable opportunity for artistic talent across the country to get their work in front of an impressive judging panel and catch the eye of important industry figures.

For this year’s competition, Evening Standard joined forces with Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle to offer a £5,000 cash prize and a bespoke fragrance to the winner, while the 12 shortlisted submissions were brought together in an exhibition at Cromwell Place in London.

We’re pleased to say a former WM College learner, Nicole Backlund, received a runner up prize with her artworks ‘Blue Water Series’ and ‘Breathe Series’. Nicole started at WM College studying Imagination in Art before going onto study our Art and Design Foundation Diploma and onto university.

If you’d like to start your creative journey, check out our wide variety of Creative Arts courses here.

Follow Nicole on her Instagram account here @nixbkb

October marks Black History Month, a momentous occasion to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of black people to British society. This year the campaign is focusing on celebrating the exceptional achievements of black women and #salutingoursisters.

At WM College we celebrate the culture, history and vibrant diversity of the local communities within Camden and the surrounding areas. We believe the diversity of our staff and learners is one of our strengths. We are an open and inclusive place to work and study, where regardless of faith, age, gender expression, race, ability, disability, sexual orientation, and economic status, all are welcomed. WM College is an environment where people feel valued, experience a sense of belonging and are empowered to move forward positively in their lives. 

To celebrate Black History Season we are once again welcoming guest speaker Natty Mark Samuels from African School to host a series of FREE afternoon workshops, using chant, short prose and brain teasers, to celebrate the spiritual significance of the flora of Africa and the Caribbean, part of Rootical Folklore. Details of Natty Mark Samuel’s talks below.

Thursday 5 October Sisalana Dance: Plants of Caribbean Carnival 

Thursday 12 October The Coffee Bean Chant: Plants of the Female Deities 

Thursday 19 October Evening with Kuya: Plants of the Surinamese Maroons 

Thursday 2 November The Guavaberry Workshop: Plants of African and Caribbean Christmas

Book your place on any of the talks here  

We believe learning shouldn’t be limited to the classroom. As part of WM College Plus, co-funded by the GLA and generous benefactors, we are investing in improvements to our College that enables the development of a joined up learning offer. Creating links between taught classes, learning resources and study spaces such as the Library, the Learning Centre and the Maurice Hall.

Our Historic Library

The library is the historic heart of the College and has some incredible resources which tell the story of WM College from its inception in 1854. It’s essential to develop the balance between celebrating our history whilst also creating an improved space that provides learners with the resources for successful study. That’s why in 2023/24 the library is undergoing a complete refurbishment!

The tasteful and subtle developments by Atomik Architects will provide additional study spaces for working in small groups, improved desk areas for independent study and a new area for specialist talks and events. The aim is for the library to become a central space for the College bringing our heritage to life through more active use.

The renovation will be subtle and respectful of the original historic features, but aims to make a big impact on learners experience.

What to expect:

• Restoration of the bookcases and parquet flooring to reinstate their original splendour
• Study desks restored and fitted with brass lighting to illuminate work areas while providing ambient lighting
• New power and data sockets
• Alcoves for 1-1 tutorials, private work and small meetings
• Reduced shelving to make the whole library more open and accessible
• A warm colour scheme bringing through hues of green to complement the natural wood
• New comfortable meeting area including soft furnishings – sofas, rugs and ambient lighting
• A new purpose-built reception desk
• a small suite of PCs and a printing area.
• A comfortable, furnished reading area

Work has already begun on the refurbishment with the new an improved space due to open in November 2023. In the meantime there is a temporary Library for learners to borrow books and pay for photocopying/printing in room 304, opening hours can be found here. Access to computers and MACs will only be available in the Learning Centre. Due to limited space in the College, we are unable to provide an alternative quiet study space while the Library is closed.

Working Men’s College is among the earliest adult education institutions established in the United Kingdom, and Europe’s oldest centre for adult education.

Founded in 1854, the College was established by Christian Socialists to provide Victorian skilled artisans a liberal education. The College’s founders were Frederick Denison Maurice, (the first principal), Thomas Hughes, John Malcolm Forbes Ludlow, Frederick James Furnivall, Lowes Cato Dickinson, John Westlake, Richard Buckley Litchfield and John Llewelyn Davies, with notable early supporters such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John Ruskin of the Pre-Raphaelites brotherhood . Dante Gabriel Rossetti later went on to become a tutor at Working Men’s College alongside John Ruskin.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelites brotherhood and married Elizabeth Siddal, an influential model, muse and artist in her own right. Siddal most famously posed for John Everett Millais‘s Ophelia, in which she floated in a bathtub full of water to portray the drowning Ophelia. She became an icon of the Pre-Raphaelite movement and was perhaps the most significant of the female models who posed for them. Their ideas of female beauty were fundamentally influenced and personified by her.

The connection between Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Elizabeth Siddal and WM College is noted in Tate Britian’s recent exhibition ‘The Rossettis’ in which the romance and radicalism of the Rossetti generation is explored. During the exhibition there is a room dedicated to Rossetti and Siddal’s relationship and her untimely death, aged just 32. On the night of Siddal’s death, Rossetti and Siddal had gone for dinner before Rossetti went on to teach at Working Men’s College. On his return, Rossetti found Siddal unconscious with an empty bottle of laudanum beside her. A doctor treated Elizabeth, but she died the following morning. The Rossetti’s exhibition runs until Sunday 24th September 2023.

We’re very proud of our long and rich history at WM College and strive to protect it. That’s why we have invested in a complete refurbishment of our history library for 2023/24 academic year. The library is the historic heart of WM College and has some incredible resources which tell the story of the College from its inception in 1854. The tasteful developments by Atomik Architects will provide additional study spaces for working in small groups, improved desk areas for independent study and a new area for specialist talks and events. The aim is for the library to become a central space for the College bringing our heritage to life through more active use.

WM College has teamed up with the Good Things Foundation to address the digital and data disparities among economically disadvantaged learners who don’t have access to PCs or laptops at home. As part of this initiative, Lenovo Yoga 370 laptops were donated, and in July, twenty laptops were generously provided to select low-income learners.

These laptops come equipped with SIM card slots and have been furnished with a Vodafone SIM card, preloaded with 30GB of monthly data for six months.

This is a significant step towards providing a more equitable learning environment for our learners since access to adequate technological resources has been identified as a major obstacle to their educational progress.

What our learners said:

“This is very helpful for me as my laptop has been broken and unable to use for a long time, I have not been able to join classes online from home and have had to commute a long way often to join classes. I am so happy and grateful.” – Tensu Sebhatu Bayru

“I have never won anything before or had my own laptop to use, I have also used other peoples or borrowed them. It feels surreal that I will have my own laptop that I can keep myself and use for my work.” – Moses Dada

“I am very grateful to have received the laptop and will be using it in the following year to carry on with my classes. This will be very beneficial for me as I do not have a laptop at home to complete my work correctly.” – Natalia

Dear WM College Community, 

I am thrilled to extend my warmest greetings and introduce myself as the new Principal of WM College. It is with immense excitement and a sense of profound responsibility that I start on this journey as a leader of our college’s rich legacy and its bright future. 

Firstly, I would like to express my deep gratitude for the warm welcome and overwhelming support I have received from the Governors and colleagues. Right from the start I have been struck by the spirit of community and excellence that defines our college.  

Allow me to share a bit about myself. I come to WM College with nearly 30 years of experience in adult education, holding various leadership roles throughout my career. My educational philosophy is firmly rooted in the belief that education is a transformative force, which is a commitment to nurturing not only the minds but also the well-being of our learners. I want us to be a college where every individual can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. Together, we will work towards creating an environment that fosters inclusivity, diversity, and equity, allowing each student to reach their full potential. Over the coming months, I am eager to engage with each one of you – staff, learners, partners, and our wider community. Meaningful collaboration is the cornerstone of progress, and I look forward to listening to your ideas, aspirations, and concerns.  

While the challenges facing further education today are significant, I am confident that, with your dedication and resilience, we can navigate them successfully. We will explore new ways to enhance our academic programs, embrace innovative teaching methodologies, and provide learners with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

My vision for WM College is to build upon the solid foundation and lead our institution to new heights of achievement. Together, we will focus on the following key areas: 

• Academic Excellence: We will continue to foster an environment where learning is not just a means to an end but a lifelong journey.  
• Inclusivity and Diversity: We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everybody feels they belong. 
• Community Engagement: We are not just an institution; we are a part of a larger community. We will actively engage with our local community and contribute positively to its growth and development. 
• Learner Success: Our goal is to empower our learners to succeed academically and personally. We will provide them with the necessary resources and support to reach their full potential. 

I believe that achieving these goals requires a collaborative effort. I am eager to work closely with our Governors, staff, learners, partners, and the broader community to make WM College a beacon of excellence in education. 

I am excited about the journey ahead and the opportunity to serve as your principal. Together, we will continue to inspire, innovate, and excel. 

Thank you once again for your warm welcome, and I look forward to meeting each of you in person soon. 

Warm regards, 

Dipa Ganguli OBE 
 

WM College Fashion and Textiles department are thrilled to have partnered with Joana Monteiro of University of the Arts London to create a huge quilt artwork showcasing portraits made out of fabric by Camden’s residents.

The partnership between Joana Monteiro and WM College will offer a free “Make Your Portrait with Fabric” workshop on Saturday 2^nd September at the Camden Inspire Festival, Buck Street. The session will be held between 1pm and 4pm for anyone to join, regardless of age and ability to create their portrait. More workshops will follow around Camden. These portraits will then be sewn together to create a beautiful piece of art that represents Camden, the diversity of its residents and their amazing skills. 

In support of the project WM College is providing advice from our fashion and textiles experts on materials and how to make the most of them, advice on quilt making processes, a member of our team to support at the workshops, as well as the use of our fashion and textiles studios to sew the portraits together. Fashion and textiles learners have also been invited to get involved to offer their skills and gain experience creating a community art piece.

On this partnership, Joana Monteiro said:

“It’s great to be partnering with the Working Men’s College. I’m so excited about the project, and I am so glad that we are doing it together.  We’re hopeful that this will attract lots of people who want to make their portrait and that we will have a beautiful piece of art at the end that represents Camden and the diversity of its residents. I love the idea that this could become a longer lasting piece of art.”

For more information about Camden Inspire Festival visit their website here or check out the project’s Instagram page here @portrait.s_of_camden.

If you’re looking to explore your skills within fashion and textiles, take a look at our many different courses. Enrol before Saturday 9^th September and you’ll receive a 10% Early Enrolment Discount.