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Advice for: Students, Parents and Carers | College Applicants | Apprentices
On Wednesday 7th December 2022, Ashford College's Hair and Beauty departments held their annual Christmas Competition. It was a night full of creative looks and lots of fun and games, such as our Hamper raffles.
The charitable cause chosen this year was the Bartholomew Ward at the William Harvey Hospital, who specialise with heart conditions. The ward was chosen as some of our Hairdressing students have had links with the hospital via family members who have been looked after there. It was a cause that meant a lot to our students, and it was hoped the contest would raise some much needed funds to buy some equipment.
Parents and friends of the competing students were invited into college for the evening to look at the various designs and themes. There were some really creative looks throughout the night, which were created in our on-site Hair and Beauty Salons before being professionally judged.
Our judge for the evening was Revlon Professional Rio, who has come into college before to work with our Hairdressing department on new Revlon ranges. Themes that students were tasked with creating included "Musicals through the Ages" for our Level 3 students. The winner of this theme/Level 3 category was Kacey with her model Milly, who had been transformed into the "Queen of Hearts". Students got the chance to present their looks on the runway, in front of our various guests.
This was a great event, and really allowed our students to show off the hard work and skills that they have been developing all term, as well as give them a great social action project to raise funds for.
In total, the event raised £270.50, which allowed staff at the Bartholomew Ward to be able to buy a much needed item for patient care and wellbeing. Staff decided on purchasing a TV for the patient lounge as the one currently on the ward wasn't up to the job anymore. There were also some funds left over after this for the Hospital to be able to receive a much needed hairdryer, which is currently being chosen by our Deputy Head of Service Industries Zoe.
After the Christmas break, on Tuesday 10th January, Zoe, Sarah (Beauty Lecturer) and Hairdressing student Ellise went along to the William Harvey Hospital to deliver the TV in person. This was a chance for them to meet some of the patients and staff who the department have all raised money for, and to see first-hand what their donation means to so many people. For all their efforts, the Hair and Beauty departments at Ashford College received a lovely thank-you card from patients and staff on the ward. The card says "Thank you to all of your students who took part in raising money for our fabulous TV. This is going to make such a difference for so many patients."
We were even mentioned in the East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust News, which highlighted the impact that we had made and the difference our donation was making to the patients on the ward. As a college, we are so proud of the hard work our Hair and Beauty departments have done with this contest. There could even be more opportunities like this to come in the rest of the year.
