Read to Succeed programme achievements celebrated during Mental Health Awareness Week

A certificate presentation with a mindfulness theme was hosted by Walsall College as a way of marking Mental Health Awareness Week and the achievements of all students who had completed a Read to Succeed challenge.

Read to Succeed tasks people with reading and reviewing six titles as a way for them to improve their vocabulary and wider literacy skills.  It also encourages people to discover the joys of reading in a bid to inspire them to read more regularly and/or more widely.

Certificates were available for all Read to Succeed participants at an event held in the Wisemore Campus Learning Resource Centre (LRC).  An accompanying prize draw resulted in five students receiving goodies including book bundles, Amazon vouchers and an Acer chromebook.

A special recognition award was presented to English student, Zarida Kayani who participated in the challenge, has co-hosted craft activities with the LRC team throughout the year and helped organise the certificate presentation ceremony.

“I’m passionate about reading and being an example to my daughter,” said Zarida on receiving her award.  “She has been completing a reading challenge through her local library and I’m excited to bring home my own certificate and show that I’m learning and achieving too.  I hope we can carry on inspiring each other.”

With Mental Health Awareness Week also taking place at the time, students at the celebratory event took part in mindfulness-based colouring activities, origami and bookmark making.

Debbie Williams, Learning Facilitator at the college said: “Our Read to Succeed event was a wonderful way for our learners to reflect on how their reading habits and skills have developed and contributed to their academic and personal development.”

Debbie continued: “Hosting some craft-based activities reminded everyone that our Learning Resource Centres are much more than a study space.  We are also a thriving ‘hub’ for creative and digitally-led activities that support learners’ enrichment, outside interests and wellbeing.

“The Learning Resource Centre team and I congratulate everyone involved in our Read to Succeed challenge 2022/23.  We look forward to seeing students embark on our initiatives next year that will continue to champion literacy, digital skills and all-round positive mental health.”