We recently celebrated the opening of the extension at Bridge College, our specialist college in Openshaw, Manchester, where Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Eamonn O’Neal cut the ribbon alongside student Dana!
Part of the Together Trust, Bridge College supports young people aged 16 to 25 with learning difficulties, disabilities, complex health needs and autism. The extension provides more specialist teaching space and is designed to allow the college to support more students.
It was an exciting event that kicked off with a presentation by our Principal John Cannon taking us through a timeline of the college and how it’s evolved throughout the year, including lots of progress photos from the works.
We also heard from the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Eamonn O’Neal about the importance of specialist educational settings.
The presentation finished with a heartfelt message from Dana – one of our amazing students who said “I’ve been at Bridge College for two years and it’s been an important part of my life. I’ve had the opportunity to learn new skills, grow in confidence and become more independent with the support from staff around me.
The new building will give me and other students even more opportunities to learn, develop and work towards our futures in a place that understands and supports our needs.
Bridge is more than just a college to me – it’s a place where I feel supported, encouraged and able to be myself.”
Trustees, partners, governors and colleagues from the Trust were then invited to tour the college and see the developments:
- 4 new classrooms
- a new entrance
- 3 pods for Hair and Beauty, AI and Enterprise and laundry
- a new roof
- a bigger car park including 11 EV spaces
- new wellbeing rooms
Our individual learning programmes build on students’ needs, interests and aspirations, with opportunities to develop communication and independence skills, take part in work experience and explore supported internships.
Our student-led baking club provided delicious cakes, pastries and bakes for the party, while the enterprise club created the beautiful decorations used to adorn the tables.
We were delighted to welcome so many of our governors, trustees, and local partners and collaborators to join us on the day in celebrating the opening of our new extension.
Watch this video, made by our student social media team about the extension: