Warwickshire Virtual School

Enrichment

The Virtual School Enrichment Programme offers programmes in academic, social, cultural, sporting and leisure activities to promote achievement for our children and young people growing up in care.

We believe that engaging vulnerable young people in positive activities and offering safe and trusted adults for the young people to talk to, encourages a belief in their ability to succeed. The wide range of activities offered gives our children in care a chance to experience enjoyment and success.

Enrichment Termly Newsletter

Academic activities

Attention all Year 10 - 13 Learners! - UniVerse 2024, Thursday, 24 October 2024, Birmingham

Explore the pathways and support available for you at universities across the West Midlands and beyond.

Universal Family career development workshop

Find out about careers in the NHS, routes into the NHS, job search and application techniques and meet healthcare professionals.

The event is open to care-experienced people aged 16+ in the West Midlands.

When? 19 November 2024, 12pm - 2pm
Where? Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH

For more information contact Nav Sharma on navsharma@nhs.net or Femi Kuforiji on o.kuforiji1@nhs.net.

Cultural activities and arts and crafts

WMVS Children in Care Foundation

WMVS Children in Care Foundation is supported by all 14 West Midlands Virtual Schools, and aims to ensure that all care experienced children and young people in the region have the opportunity to get involved in arts and culture and develop as learners, as people and as artists.

Our offer includes:

Events run by clusters of Virtual Schools, such as Give It A Go days (trying new artforms and activities out) and professional artists supporting other Virtual School events such as award ceremonies.
Regional activities, such as Look Inside days (e.g. BBC, music studio) and massed performing groups, such as choirs, for showcase events.

Details on the next WMVS Children in Care Foundation events will be available here soon.

Upcoming arts events

Trash to Treasure Workshop, Tuesday 18 February 2025

A creative workshop focusing on recycling old and unused items with Birmingham-based illustrator and street artist Roots.

All materials will be provided, but you can also bring along your own items such as old trainers, t-shirts and wooden boxes.

11am-1pm. Open to ages 10-16. Venue TBC.

Book your Trash to Treasure place via Eventbrite.

Previous art events

Last term young people enjoyed getting to take part in multiple art events including a DJ workshop lead by a professional DJ who showed the young people new music skills like how to use the mixing desk to switch between combining two songs together. The young people got to take turns showing off what they had learnt and had a great time exploring in a fun filled workshop.

Before Christmas young people took part in an exciting experience at The Albany Theatre. This included an interactive drama workshop with team bonding games, followed by watching the Oliver Twist show and then getting to go behind the scenes. The young people enjoyed exploring the set, meeting the cast and having a Q&A session! The young people got to see first hand how a production works. They looked through the prop tables, cues written down on the walls for actors and lighting marks on the set floor. It was a great experience enjoyed by all.

For more information please email jasminegillett-ohagan@warwickshire.gov.uk

Arts Award

Arts Award - Artslink is able to offer an opportunity for VS children and young people to participate in an online Arts Award, Discover. By using Artslink's Connect and Create site, young people will be able to complete a certified Arts Award. Discover is a basic, easily accessible, entry level award. We will be offering other Arts Award levels in due course. If you are interested and would like to sign up then please get in touch.

Funded music lessons for Years 4, 5 and 6

All children in care in Warwickshire schools in Years 4, 5 and 6 are eligible for fully funded music lessons regardless of which authority they are looked after to. Please contact the Virtual School for further information.

Warwickshire Music Hub is the principal provider of high quality music education services and opportunities in schools and music centres across Warwickshire. The Music Hub provides a wide range of services including instrument and vocal lessons to individuals, groups and whole classrooms. Resources are available for all ages.

Saturday Club at Coventry University

The Saturday Club at Coventry University offers Club a unique opportunity to build new skills and develop creative confidence in a range of art-forms and with artists from a wide variety of backgrounds.

The Art & Design Saturday Club is the perfect space for young people to explore their creativity and learn an array of practical skills:

Take part in an inspiring range of activities and workshops, such as animation, architecture, photography, illustration, graphics and Fine art
Experiment freely and think imaginatively whilst broadening your understanding of career opportunities in the creative industries and beyond
Opportunity to experience and use state-of-the-art facilities and receive expert tuition from Coventry University’s tutors and students
It’s FREE and open to 13-16 year olds of all abilities.

If you have any questions, please contact the team via email: hello@saturday-club.org

Sport activities

Allstars Climbing event at the Sport and Wellness Hub in Coventry, Saturday 18 January 2025

Check out your spiderman skills and scale the heights!

Ages 7-11: 3pm - 4.15pm.

Ages 12-16: 4.15pm-5.30pm.

Allstars Tag Active Taster Session at Stratford Leisure Centre, Saturday 25 January 2025

Allstars Tag Active is a cross between Ninja Warrior and an obstacle course.

1.45pm - 3pm. For ages 6-16.

Players must be a minimum height of 1.2 metres and a maximum weight of 20.5st (130kg) to participate.

More sports events coming soon in partnership with Think Active.

Everyone Active is working in partnership with Warwick District Council, to get more children and young people participating in sport and physical activity by offering a free membership that will give children and young people access to a range of facilities depending on their age, including gym, swim, soft play and group exercise.

Details of all events are circulated by the Virtual School via the Fostering Newsletter OR sent directly to carers when targeting specific young people.

Post 16 activities

Post 16 programmes at Warwick University

Now open for Year 12 Students. The programmes currently open for applications are for students specifically interested in law, banking, business, finance and engineering. There is also some information on webinars and personal statements.

If staff or students have any questions, email post16@warwick.ac.uk.

Unity

Unity has been developed in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Virtual Schools. It provides Children Looked After and care leavers with the opportunity to experience higher education with Coventry University and CU Group.

Delivers impartial information relevant to individual's own circumstances and ambitions for their future (Gatsby Benchmark 3)
Provide the opportunity to be part of a series of subject specific, masterclasses delivered by academics and student ambassadors (Gatsby Benchmark 7)
Offers interactive and informative workshops with our student services, such as Students' Union, Talent Team and Health and Wellbeing (Gatsby Benchmark 4).

This bespoke series of events running throughout the academic year is offered to young people in Year's 10-13+ in Coventry and Warwickshire area. This project also offers the chance of an overnight residential at one of our CU Group campuses. (All activities will be subject to current government guidelines).

Table top display with Coventry University banner and art work behind on display.

Draw Your Future display. These canvases were created by the UNIty group (Years 10 - 13) all from Warwickshire and Coventry Virtual School and are now on display at Coventry University.

UNIty+

UNIty+ is a programme for care leavers (Year 12+) who are considering university as a possible destination. The focus is very much on exploring the wide range of subject areas and courses available to them at university. This is done through subject masterclasses, student ambassador support and information sessions delivered by our Student Support Services such as the Welfare team and Student Success Coaches.

All sessions are free to attend, and a hot dinner will be provided. Sessions will take place at Coventry University on the following dates:

Session 1 - 29/11/2023 - Year 12+ UCAS Application Support including personal statement check from our Admissions team
Session 2 - 24/01/2024 - Year 12+ Propel Rights and Entitlements for Carers leavers apply to university
Session 3 - 15/05/2024 - Year 12+ Student Finance and Budgeting including a tour of student accommodation.

To sign up or for more information, please contact sabinamarsh@warwickshire.gov.uk

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