New magazine support launched for West Lancs College students

A new magazine designed to help College students in West Lancashire to choose their next career steps has been launched by Future U. 'The U' will be distributed to all Post 16 6th form and College students throughout the county to give young people the tools and confidence to decide what their next steps will be, whether that's applying for university or an apprenticeship. The magazine will also include activities for students to learn new skills that will help with applications or future careers. In addition, a set of 7 live workshop sessions will help both young people and parents to learn more about life after leaving College, including sessions on student finance, university life and CV writing. The sessions will run from 24 February 2021 to 25 March 2021, online, and are aimed any young people or parent considering their next steps after leaving College.

Oliver Norris, Future U Delivery Officer, said:- "With future uncertainty, periods of isolation and School or College closures, young people have been hit hard by the impact of the Pandemic over 2020. However, we wanted to show our young people that there are still opportunities, careers and a bright future ahead of them. We created The U as a resource available to all our young people, regardless of their situation or access to technology. By making the resource available online and offline, as a printed booklet, The U can be used as a handbook for anybody approaching big decisions about their future to work towards self development and empowerment. The U will hopefully provide a platform for young people to engage with their own future over the next year whilst Future U will continue to offer additional content, workshops and support to keep young people engaged with what's ahead of them."

The U can be downloaded from Future U's website:- LancashireFutureU.Org.UK, while the live sessions can also be booked on the same website. Future U is part of the National University Connect Programme, funded by the Office for Students, and continues to support School pupils across Lancashire to encourage more young people to think about higher education and future careers. The project involves institutions and organisations across the county including:- the University of Central Lancashire, Lancaster University, Edge Hill University and the University of Cumbria.

Lancashire's Future U works with a network of Schools, in addition to Colleges, higher education providers and local agencies to create tailored activities to meet the needs of students for now and the future. Its list of partners includes:- Blackburn College, Blackpool 6th Form College, Blackpool and the Fylde College, Burnley College, Edge Hill University, Inspira, Kendal College, Lancaster University, Myerscough College, Nelson and Colne College, Preston's College, STEMFirst, Runshaw College, The Lancashire Colleges, University of Central Lancashire, University of Cumbria, and West Lancashire College.
 

Chester Racecourse promises to be a unique and new experience for everyone attending its famous Boodles May Festival 2021

THE oldest operating racecourse in the world is planning to become the 1st in the UK to welcome back visitors. And it promises to be a unique and new experience for everyone attending its famous Boodles May Festival. Chester Race Company Ltd is utilising the latest technological advancements and currently working on a mass Covid19 testing programme, in anticipation of crowds returning to the Roodee once again. This would see everyone attending the 3 day festival, over 5 May to 7 May 2021, receiving a lateral flow test upon entry and enjoying fully socially distanced race day experiences throughout the event. Chester is hoping to become the 1st racecourse in the country to welcome back race goers for the May festival; and if Government guidelines allow; it is hoping up to 5,000 guests will be able to attend on each of the 3 days. With the safety and well being of all guests of paramount importance, Chester Race Company is currently drawing up a series of plans in preparation for the Government's road map announcement. The racecourse plans are revealed as the site becomes the 1st NHS large scale Covid19 mass vaccination centre in the borough, from Monday, 15 February 2021. The Centre is expected to deliver thousands of Covid19 vaccines every week to residents across the area in key priority groups as part of the national vaccination programme. It will operate 7 days a week by appointment.

Richard Thomas, Chief Executive of Chester Race Company, said his team would be supporting as volunteers to help to deliver the facility. He added:- "We were really keen to ensure that our local area could benefit from a mass vaccination centre and are very pleased to be able to support the NHS with their essential vaccination programme. Meanwhile, in anticipation of the Government's road map announcement, we have been working very hard with Local Authorities to build a clear operation procedure plan that hopefully could allow us to safely welcome back a limited number of spectators for the Boodles May Festival. The delivery of mass on site testing is at the core of our stringent health and safety measures. Chester Racecourse could provide on site testing facilities for 5,000 attendees per day with results expected in less than 20 minutes. Our overall aim is to deliver a safe, secure environment for an enjoyable three days of racing and we hope that testing will give an added confidence to our attendees, customers, and staff, whose health and safety is of paramount importance. We're proud of our innovative approach here at Chester and are keen to be 1 of the 1st venues to be able to bring crowds back safely to live sport. Chester is known for providing a unique race day experience for all attendees and we have developed a number of new socially distanced concepts which will deliver an exemplary level of safety and service; while ensuring the experience is the very best for all of our customers!"

If Government allows the festival to go ahead, all race goers would receive food and drink table service. There would be designated seating areas for everyone, with all weather cover, giant screens to ensure everyone is able to get close to the racing and even personal book making facilities. Contactless order and collection points for food and drink would also be implemented across the course, with staggered arrival and departure times for guests, multiple testing areas and a 1 way system in place. Richard added:- "It will certainly be a "different" racing experience this year; but it will be a very special one with absolute attention to detail to ensure our race goers have the best experience possible; something we pride ourselves on always delivering here at Chester Racecourse. We will of course be operating within all Government guidelines and hope the new experience which we are offering will be something which is welcomed by those attending whom we hope will feel safe and secure, but also able to enjoy the best possible time at the racing."

Chester is the oldest operating racecourse in the world. Racing started in Chester on Shrove Tuesday in 1539 and in nearly 500 years there have only been 3 major stoppages; the English Civil War, World War 1 and World War 2. When racing was reinstated in 1946, the pent up demand resulted in a record attendance of 103,993 race goers on Cup Day.

For more information, please visit:- Chester-Races.Com. Also, to find out more about the Covid19 vaccination programme, please visit:- CheshireCCG.NHS.UK.