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Preston College announces AFC Fylde link
The partnership will see an AFC Fylde Development Squad made up of Preston College students and based at its Fulwood Campus. The squad will then feed in to the AFC Fylde first team.
As well as footballing benefits for both parties, the link-up will also lead to opportunities for players at the club to develop their skills with tailored courses to suit their lifestyle and playing commitments.
Up to 20 players aged 16-19 will be recruited for the Academy in summer 2012 with trials starting soon, they will then represent the College Academy team and AFC Fylde Development side in the 2012-2013 season.
Mick Noblett, head of sport at Preston College said: "We're excited to announce a link-up with AFC Fylde that will ensure some great opportunities for our footballers.
"We have already provided players who have gone on to play for Fylde but this partnership will help us to nurture and promote talent while ensuring they have the necessary support and relevant qualifications."
Preston College Principal and Chief Executive, Lis Smith added: "This partnership will provide an excellent opportunity for all our students, not only those studying sport and involved in the development squad. The partnership has the potential to open up a range of opportunities from work placements to further business ventures for the College."
David Haythornthwaite Chairman of AFC Fylde is excited by the potential of this latest community development: "I think it's a fantastic opportunity for AFC Fylde and reinforces our plans to expand our involvement in the Preston area. We feel Preston College will bring a great benefit to the club's infrastructure.
The College has identified us as an up and coming ambitious club and not only will it provide development of exciting young players, it will also open up new opportunities to expand our community activities in and around Preston. The partnership brings a number of other mutually beneficial opportunities including raising the profiles of both organisations, work experience opportunities for students, and providing our 1st team with excellent facilities such as the Sports Science lab."
David Challinor, AFC Fylde 1st Team Manager is delighted with the link. "It's a really exciting partnership and it's really a win-win situation for both parties. It will provide us with an avenue to develop some of the best young talent from the area and it will go a long way to helping the club achieve our long term aims.
Moving forward I'm keen to be involved and work with these young players in conjunction with our newly appointed Development Squad manager Andy Pilkington who also runs the College side. We are both looking forward to working together. With the academy training every day, they have a great opportunity to develop and show the potential they have for competing at 1st team level. "
Trials for the Development Squad will be held on the 3G Pitch at Preston College on:
Monday 12th March 4:30-6:00pm
Monday 19th March 4:30-6:00pm
A further trial will take place at Kellamergh Park, home of AFC Fylde in June.
For more information about trials, please contact Andy Pilkington, development squad manager at apilkington@preston.ac.uk or call 01772 225486
Surfing the web strikes gold!
Preston City Council's CitizenZone mobile vehicle, a partnership with Preston College, has won a Public Sector Digital award for the 'best use of IT to build a fairer society' by offering the communities of Preston free IT training sessions.
The council's community engagement team is involved in getting people started in how to use a computer, send an e-mail and browse the internet. The scheme is delivered by the CitizenZone team in conjunction with IT tutors from Preston College.
The service is so popular throughout the local community that residents can no longer just turn up but have to book their place beforehand.
Councillor Matthew Brown, Cabinet member for community engagement and inclusion, said: "This is a fantastic achievement and reflects the hard work and dedication that the team has put in.
"This kind of innovative service is helping all of Preston's communities in becoming digitally inclusive."
Head of BBC North opens £5m VPA Academy
To mark the occasion Mr Salmon, a Bafta-winning producer and executive who is originally from Lancashire, switched on a spectacular 3D light projection display covering the entire front facade of the building which stands at the entrance to the College's Fulwood campus. The virtual unveiling was watched by an audience including hundreds of students along with representatives from the county's business, education, political and creative sectors.
New premises for Young People's Advice Centre
Preston College's Young People's advice centre in Preston city centre, aimed at providing advice and guidance to young people who are not in employment, education or training, is moving.
The centre, currently situated on Theatre Street will move to Preston College's City Business Centre on Winckley Street from Monday 28th November.
The move allows the College's trained advisors to access a fuller range of specialist resources to offer a true 'one stop shop' for any 16-18 year old who would have previously used Theatre Street.
For information on courses for 16 to 18 year olds, visit the Young People's Advice Centre at the City Business Centre on Winckley Street, or call 01772 22 55 22 to speak to an advisor.
Preston College wins prestigious Beacon Award
The college was given the award for its Innovation and Excellence Unit which was set up to develop emerging technologies and support an engaging and innovative approach to learning. Central to the success of the project is the college's commitment to staff development which uses student consultants and peer expertise to support the successful use of new technologies.
The college has introduced and embraced a range of innovative technologies like iTunes U, which provides downloads of educational content from top universities across the world, and 3D technology. All of this has had a significant impact on the quality of teaching and learning with overall success rates predicted to rise above 90%.
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