Twenty students from Coleg Cambria experienced the trip of a lifetime to Cambodia. They taught English skills to children at a Supplementary Education Centre.
The students’ trip dedicated the adventure to their friend and classmate “Super” Harry Vaughan, a Wrexham AFC fan who sadly passed away earlier this year.
The group also delivered five hours of workshops on ICT and media skills to 75 secondary school students at a partner institution with the Khmer New Generation Organization. The visit was in partnership with Challenges Abroad, which delivers and leads ethical adventures for young people worldwide, and Future Sense Cambodia.
Cambria’s Curriculum Director of Technical Studies Julie Guzzo praised the students for their commitment and passion to helping others. They also helped clean up plastic and litter from the sides of roads and learnt Cambodian words and phrases.
“During their time, they were able to work on their final major projects, produce short films and vlogs, develop photography skills, and immerse themselves in a diverse culture and environment,” she said. “They also kept in touch with everyone back home with daily updates on social media and produced an inspiring promotional video, Colours of Cambodia, with footage from the trip.
“It was an unbelievable experience for all of us and another example of the value of our growing partnership with Challenges Abroad, which makes a big difference all over the world.”
Learners described the visit as “very emotional” and said they were “the most beautiful, kind children you could ever work with”, a “truly humbling experience” which was “completely out of our comfort zone”.
The college has also organised educational expeditions to Spain, Vietnam, and Italy in the past few months.
Iâl Restaurant
Naomi Spaven, lead baker and patisserie chef at Coleg Cambria’s Iâl Restaurant, and baker and pastry chef Ella Muddiman, who also works at the Hafod venue, have been nominated for the Rising Star accolade at this year’s Baking Industry Awards ceremony.
The news comes after Naomi, from Mold – whose popular LittleWelshFoodie social media account encourages young people to take up baking – won the Fruit Cake category in Britain’s Best Cake competition. Judge Daryl Stephenson, a Cambria work-based learning assessor, joined her.
Congratulating the skilled duo – they are two of only three finalists in the category – he said: “I’m incredibly proud of Ella and Naomi for reaching the finals of the Baking Industry Awards and feel truly privileged to have been part of their exciting career journey so far.”
Maria Stevens, Head of Commercial Operations at Coleg Cambria Yale, added: “After opening our Iâl Restaurant with Ella just three years ago, we never thought we would have had the success we have had so far. None of this would have been possible without our dedicated, hard-working team who have developed the brand and gone from strength to strength.
“Having recently introduced Iâl Bakery and welcomed onboard our very own Little Welsh Foodie, we couldn’t be prouder than to have two of our Welsh star bakers in the running for the Rising Star Awards. On behalf of myself and everyone at Coleg Cambria, a massive congratulations and good luck to you both.”
Rising Star Finalist
A Rising Star finalist in 2023, Naomi gained experience over the last 12 months with a week at the School of Artisan Food and another at the Richemont Centre of Excellence in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Judges said her “passion shines so brightly” and lauded her technical and problem-solving ability.
Meanwhile, Ella – the college’s Food Manufacturing Work-based Learner of the Year for 2024 – has gone from strength to strength after starting out as a hobby baker and is determined to help others as a “beacon for positive mental health”.
She has turned her passion into a career with Cambria and recently completed a Level 2 Diploma in Proficiency in Baking Industry Skills. She is due to start Level 3 in September.
British Baker, a leading publication for the baking industry, runs the Awards.
Amy North, Editor of British Baker, said: “The Baking Industry Awards celebrate the people, products, and businesses that make the sector such an incredible one. From artisanal sourdough loaves and the bakers who handcraft them to the manufacturers helping to keep the nation happy and fed, and everyone in between.
“The Rising Star Award is an incredibly competitive category, and our three finalists exemplify excellence, proving themselves to be talented and passionate individuals. They set a great example for their peers and the wider industry.”
For more on the Baking Industry Awards, visit bakeryawards.co.uk and bakeryinfo.co.uk/events.
Zoe Bayley-Jones
Zoe Bayley-Jones is on the road to a caring career after overcoming adversity to secure top A Level results.
The Coleg Cambria learner – Yale Sixth Form’s Student of the Year – plans to become a Children’s Nurse in the future, and having studied Psychology, English and the Welsh Baccalaureate, she will now move on to a degree in Children’s Nursing at the University of York.
Zoe, 19, from Wrexham, reflected on the “challenges’ of learning post-pandemic and thanked staff at Cambria for their support, notably progress coach Natalie Kaye.
“My time at college has been so up and down, but I’m thankful to have had people to help me get me through my downs and the difficulties I faced to grow into the person I am now,” said the former Ysgol Bryn Alyn pupil.
A Mountain of Obstacles
“The wellbeing team supported my journey, alongside my amazing English teachers Liz and Helen and my progress coach Natalie, who helped me through things in college that I thought I could never overcome – I’m so grateful to have had her by my side.”
She added: “I realised through my college journey that completing A Levels wasn’t simple or easy and was instead a mountain of obstacles. But I went from believing I couldn’t make it through this time of my life to coming back, trying again and getting university offers.”
Zoe’s dedication and determination also earned her the Student of the Year title, which came as a surprise: “I am so proud of myself to have been named Student of the Year. It’s something I never thought would have happened!” she said.
“I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me in and out of college these past few years, and I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”
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