Looking Past Limits - The CU Conference 2014

A few weeks ago we had a fantastic time attending the international CU Trust conference in Cheshire and 'Looking Past Limits' with our colleagues from local CU's across the country, and now across the world!

The CU Trust and local CU's pose for the annual CU family photo! Can you spot the Sheffield CU team?

We received updates from the central CU team including a first look at the redesigned CU website, and ideas on engagement of specific groups. We also listened to some very inspirational speakers including Kian Savile who despite serious health issues is an active member of his loca CU and Caroline Casey, social entrepreneur and founder of Kanchi who urged us to 'stop with the labels, as we are all extraordinary different and wonderful people'. 

Our colleagues from Austraila CU provide an update on on their development and challenges

Kian Collins, who in spite of serious health issues is an active member of his local CU, talks about the impact CU has had on him and his family.

The fantastic Lynn Upton provides an update from the CU Trust, and outlines the aims of the conference

Caroline Casey, social entrepreneur and founder of Kanchi, the Ability Awards programme gives an inspirational speech encouraging us to celebrate our differences

Professor Mick Waters talks about the child as a learner in the 21st century

It was lovely to catch up with our CU colleagues, make new friends and we look forward to forging stronger links with our international partners in Australia, China and Malaysia. 

A fantastic evening with our colleagues from the CU Trust, Kent CU, York CU, Essex CU and Lambeth CU

Huge thanks to the CU Trust team - Andrea, Penny and Michelle, and Debbie Bird and Lynne Upton for all their hard work. Here's to the next year - we feel there are exciting times ahead!

We were tasked with the best job - thanking the CU Trust for their support, guidance and professionalism throughout the year. We are very glad to have them on our side!

Celebrate! - Our 33rd Gold Award Ceremony

Our third and final Gold Award ceremony of the Autumn term took place on Thursday 20th November with nearly 200 children, parents and carers and school staff invited to the Town Hall to celebrate their achievements.

Children from Oughtibridge Primary School receive their Gold Awards

Children from 12 schools attended along with their parents and carers and were presented with their awards by Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities, Dee Desgranges. There was also a marketplace where some of our fantastic Learning Destinations displayed information about their activities and involved parents/carers, children in their demonstrations.

Pupil take centre stage to receive their Award

A special performance by Constance Grant Dance School was very well received by our audience!

During the ceremony, there was a fantastic performance from Constance Grant Dance Centre. There was also a brilliant performance from Sheffield Sea Cadets band who closed the ceremony with a bang!

A very excited pupil looks forward to receiving their award

Children from Watercliffe Meadow receive their Gold Awards

HUGE congratulations to our fantastic award winners, their parents/carers and school staff. We are so very very proud of all of you!

Visit our Facebook page to view all the photos from the event! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.811474018909575.1073741846.239129216144061&type=1&l=61c791f161

The Sheffield Sea Cadet band give a special performance after only 8 weeks practice!

Celebrate!

It was time to roll out the red carpet again as our 31st Gold Awards Ceremony took place on Wednesday 19th November with nearly 200 children, parents and carers and school staff invited to the Town Hall to celebrate in style.

Children try on University style caps and gowns

Families can purchase a number of CU souvenirs at the ceremony. All funds raised go straight back into providing activities

Very proud parent/carers celebrate their award winners

Children from 13 schools attended along with their parents and carers and were presented with their awards by Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director of Children and Young People and Families, and the Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities, Sam Martin. There was also a marketplace where some of our fantastic Learning Destinations displayed information about their activities and involved parents/carers, children in their demonstrations.

During the ceremony, there were some fantastic performances from Razzamataz Theatre School Sheffield. There was also a brilliant performance from Sheffield Sea Cadets band who closed the ceremony with a bang!

Children from Hucklow Primary School receive their awards

Children from Malin Bridge Primary School receive their awards

Sheffield Sea Cadets round off the ceremony will a special performance

HUGE congratulations to our fantastic award winners, their parents/carers and school staff. We are so very very proud of all of you!

Visit our Facebook page to view all the photos from the event! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.809763685747275.1073741845.239129216144061&type=1&l=76e495727d

The big 3-0 - Our 30th Gold Award ceremony!

Our 30th Gold Awards Ceremony took place on Tuesday 11th November with nearly 200 children, parents and carers and school staff invited to the Town Hall to celebrate in style.

Children from Abbey Lane Primary receive their awards from the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Peter Rippon, the Lady Mayoress and Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning Sam Martin

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress congratulate the award winners

Children from 9 schools attended along with their parents and carers and were presented with their awards by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Peter Rippon, the Lady Mayoress and Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities, Sam Martin. There was also a marketplace where some of our fantastic Learning Destinations displayed information about their activities and involved parents/carers, children in their demonstrations.

During the ceremony, there were some fantastic performances from Mia and Lucy from Razzamataz Theatre School Sheffield. There was also a brilliant performance from Sheffield Sea Cadets band who closed the ceremony with a bang!

Children from Carterknowle Junior School receive their awards

Lucy from Razzamataz Theatre School Sheffield gives a fantastic performance

Children from Birley Primary School receive their awards

The Sheffield Sea Cadets band give a fantastic performance to round off the ceremony

The Sheffield Sea Cadets wow the audience with their performance

Members of the team were on hand to encourage the award winners to try one one of our special Sheffield CU caps and gowns, and our CU Souvenirs superstars Sakina and Leah were very busy making sure awards badges were securely fastened to newly purchased CU lanyards!

HUGE congratulations to our fantastic award winners, their parents/carers and school staff. We are so very very proud of all of you! A special thanks too to our spectacular events team - Sakina, Leah and Chris. We couldn't do it without you!

Visit our Facebook page to view all the photos from the event! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.805393619517615.1073741844.239129216144061&type=1&l=c5f0335f3c

CU LIVE! - Fun in the Winter Garden

We had a fantastic October half term in the Winter Garden, where a number of free CU LIVE! activities took place. For those who don't already know, our CU LIVE! programme aims to provide free fun learning experiences for the family across the city.

Our friends from Imagination Gaming, Sheffield Volunteering and Museums Sheffield provided a number of fantastic activities for all the family to take part in during the week. On Monday, Weston Park Museum were encouraging children and families to think about and draw what they would like to see in Sheffield as part of the 'It’s Our World’ big draw art activity project.

On Tuesday a number of student societies including the Baking society, Science Brainwaves, Singapore Society, Law Society and Unicef showcased some of their activities. Children and young people took the DNA of strawberries, built their own pathogens (e coli, bread mould) out of plasticine and pipe cleaners, decorated biscuits, made chinese lanterns, cut out chinese characters and learnt to use chopsticks.

Wednesday saw Imagination Gaming hosting a gaming session, with children and their families playing a number of board, card and strategy game, including some brand new releases.

Finally on Thursday, Museum Sheffield were back making bats and pumpkin and monster face masks just in time for Halloween!

Children and young people who took part in these activities and brought along with Passport to Learning collected CU credits. There will be more CU LIVE! activities taking place soon - watch this space!

Celebrate!

Last week we worked in partnership with the Outreach at team at the University of Sheffield to host our 29th Gold Award Ceremony at Firth Hall. Over 100 young people from 4 secondary schools, and 77 primary and secondary students who have been collecting credits with their Passport to Learning at Learning Destinations across the city were be invited to receive Gold awards for choosing to take part in over 100 hours of out of school activity.

All ready for the ceremony to begin in Firth Hall.

A proud award winner tries on a Sheffield CU cap and gown

Proud award winners have their photo taken by Tempest Photography

Sheffield CU also works in partnership with Languages Sheffield to ensure students who give up their time to learn their home language are celebrated and rewarded through the HoLA (Home Language Accreditation) project. Representatives from each of the language schools involved also attended the ceremony to receive Gold awards on behalf of students for giving up their time to learn their home language.

There were fantastic speeches from Professor Zoe Ollerenshaw Senior Lecturer and Director of Widening Participation from the University of Sheffield, Sam Martin Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities, and Student Union Activities Officer Clio Symington. We also had some spectacular performances from Razzamataz Theatre School, and the Sheffield Sea Cadets

Professor Zoe Ollerenshaw talks to the audience about her uniform of learning

Students from Razzamataz Theatre School perform at the ceremony

Students from Parkwood Academy receive their awards

Children and young people who have been collecting credits in their Passport to Learning receive their awards

Student Union Activities Officer Clio Symington talks about learning beyond the lecture theatre through the Universities socieites

Sheffield Sea Cadets give a fantastic performance at the ceremony

HUGE congratulations to our fantastic award winners, their parents/carers and school staff. We are so very very proud of all of you! A special thanks too to our spectacular events team - Sakina, Leah and Chris. We couldn't do it without you!

Visit our Facebook page to view all the photos from the ceremony: http://goo.gl/5sQobY

Planning your October half term fun?

There are some spooky happenings all across Sheffield this October half term - have you planned your holiday fun yet?

The October Children's University Passport to Learning newsletter which includes details of activities across Sheffield happening during the October half term is now available! Click HERE or the link on the side of these page to start planning now!

Children and young people who take along a Passport to Learning will be able to earn additional CU credits at these activities. There's also a list and contact details of our validated Learning Destinations.

During the October 2014, children and young people can also use their Passport to Learning to access FREE exciting and interactive learning activities for families called CU LIVE! 

These are taking place in the Winter Gardens Monday to Thursday between 10am and 4pm. Activities will be provided by The University of Sheffield societies, Imagination Gaming and Museums Sheffield.