Seevic

SEEVIC College hosted a very successful week of health and safety events to raise awareness of issues such as mental health, Chlamydia, drug misuse, blood donation and healthy eating.

Various organisations set up stands around the College and a mobile police station was located outside the building with representative’s available to talk to students about many health and safety issues that may affect them. Alison Williams, from mental health charity ‘rethink’, said: “This has been a very successful week. The students were all keen to get information about stress and we gave out over 1000 information sheets. I also gained a volunteer and we gave 1:1 support to a young carer.”

The importance of eating healthily was also a key message throughout the week, something that the college prides itself on, having recently achieved a ‘Gold Status’ for healthy eating. Castle Point Borough Council awarded the ‘Gold Status’ to the College in association with the Foods Standards Agency. The award recognises businesses offering healthy eating choices as well as ensuring a good standard of food hygiene.

Senior Tutor, Amir Girnary, who helped organise the event said: “The students really enjoyed the various exciting events which took part during the week. There was a terrific keenness from students to interact with all the exhibitors throughout the week. The NHS non-smoking team was very popular, and provided useful advice on different ways to cut down on smoking.”

The event also raised the importance of how blood donation can help save lives and encouraged a number of students to sign up to give their first donation. Frankie Duckett, 17, from Basildon said: “I signed up to give blood today because my Granddad is ill, so this is very personal to me. I have never given blood before but I think it’s very important that young people help others in this way and give blood while they can.”

Stacey Fisher, Donor Relations Assistant for the National Blood Service said: “We came to the college last year and got a very positive response from the students with over 80 of them signing up. We hope to get more people signed up this year as blood donations have been falling.

“It’s very important to make young people aware of how easy it is to give blood as only 4% of the eligible population actually donate blood.”

Other exhibitors that attended the event were Essex Fire and Rescue, The Samaritans, Essex Young People's Drug & Alcohol Service (EYPDAS) and Zones fitness centre.