Access and Inclusion
AYRSHIRE COLLEGE PRAISED FOR OPEN UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP
Scotland ’ s Minister for Further Education , Higher Education and Science paid a special visit to our Kilmarnock Campus in January 2017 .
STUDENT SAFETY WEEK
Ayrshire College Student Safety Week took place between 12 December and 16 December .
The safety event was aimed at providing students and staff with up to date and relevant information on a wide range of subjects in order to keep them safe . A number of workshops were held across the week .
VICTIM IMPACT BOXES
WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE FIRST COLLEGE IN SCOTLAND TO USE ACTION AGAINST STALKING ’ S ‘ VICTIM IMPACT BOX ’ TO AID AND SUPPORT VICTIMS OF STALKING .
Ann Moulds , founder and chief executive of Action Against Stalking , launched the resource at a College Development Network event on 25 November 2016 with support from our Equality and Inclusion Team .
Ann explained what the Victim Impact Box is on our blog
We would like to thank East Ayrshire Women ’ s Aid , NHS Scotland , Police Scotland , Scottish Fire and Rescue Service , Victim Support and the three local authorities ’ Health and Social Care Partnership and Road Safety Departments for making this event such a success .
“ The Victim Impact Box was developed to aid the investigation and prosecution of stalking cases , provide the necessary information to victims about stalking , what stalking is and how to recognise its behaviours . “ It provides a step by step approach to reporting to the police , logging incidents , gathering evidence , and keeping safe through the development of a safety action plan . This will provide crucial information to the impact and disruption on the victim ’ s life . This information will be useful during the precognition stage of the court process and also when the case goes to court .
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP learned about our participation in an innovative partnership with The Open University .
The collaboration allows students who have achieved a Higher National Diploma ( HND ) at the College to go on to complete a degree in Social Sciences with The Open University at our Kilmarnock Campus .
She met students and representatives from The Open University and the College to understand how this creative approach works , and left impressed with what she heard .
The Minister said : “ It is fair to say that the Open University has revolutionised the higher education sector in terms of accessibility and flexibility for the modern day student . It continues to lead the way with partnerships like this one with Ayrshire College , making Higher Education accessible at the heart of the community , in a college setting . This Government is firmly committed to widening access and learning opportunities for all , and it is partnerships like this , that are making it a reality .”
“ The Victim Impact Box , provides further guidance on the importance of building the right type of support network and has been designed in such a way it forms the template for the drafting of a victim impact statement .” Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP with Principal , Heather Dunk
The magazine of Ayrshire College 21