Coleg Cambria has unveiled a new dedicated Student Union hub at its Yale site in Wrexham, providing learners with a welcoming and supportive space to meet, relax and access key services alongside their studies. Since opening its doors, the facility has already proved popular with students and is being welcomed as a valuable addition to campus life.
Sustainability and Community Engagement Supported by Medr
Supported by Medr, the new hub brings together a wide range of services under one roof, reflecting the college’s ongoing commitment to wellbeing, diversity, equality and inclusion. Designed to enhance the overall learner experience, it offers students a central place to connect socially, take part in extra-curricular activities and explore student-led opportunities.
The hub is home to the Student Voice and Enterprise teams and serves as a focal point for clubs and societies, financial guidance, entrepreneurship initiatives, the chaplaincy and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme. It also acts as a key link to the campus restaurant and canteens, helping create a lively and sociable environment that complements day-to-day college life.
Sustainability and community engagement are also central to the space. A clothes ‘swap shop’ encourages reuse and reduces waste, while future plans to collaborate with local sports teams on merchandise sales aim to strengthen links between the college and the wider community.
Mark-Ryan Hughes
Student Voice Engagement Coordinator Mark-Ryan Hughes said the concept had been in development for some time and that staff were delighted with the response from learners. He said: “This is a place where learners can engage with the Student Voice team, access guidance, and take part in extra-curricular activities that support their growth both academically and personally.
“The facility also acts as a link to the campus’s restaurant and canteens, helping to create a lively and sociable environment that complements day-to-day college life”. He added that the Yale hub will act as a model for similar facilities across Coleg Cambria’s other sites in Deeside, Northop and Llysfasi, ensuring a consistent student-focused approach across the college.
“The long-term goal is to provide all learners with a sense of belonging and independence, encouraging them to make new friends, access the support they need, and enjoy a positive, balanced college experience,” he said.
Yana Williams
Coleg Cambria Chief Executive Yana Williams said the opening of the Student Union hub represents another step forward in the college’s work to ensure learners feel supported, valued and included. She said: “The creation of this space reinforces our commitment to providing an inclusive and engaging learning environment that goes beyond the classroom.
“We’re proud to invest in projects that help students flourish academically, personally, and socially, strengthening the sense of community across all our campuses.”
National Praise
The initiative has also received national praise. NUS Cymru President Deio Owen welcomed the development and highlighted the importance of dedicated student spaces across Wales.
He said: “It’s fantastic to see Coleg Cambria develop this space. Facilities like these are vital for learners to access activities outside the classroom and to serve as a central point of support. I’m looking forward to seeing the college work with their Students Union to develop similar spaces elsewhere and ensure that we also listen to learners’ voices”.
As part of Coleg Cambria’s broader focus on learner wellbeing and engagement, the Student Union hub is looking to play an increasingly important role in shaping student life at the Yale site and beyond.
For more information about student life at Coleg Cambria, visit cambria.ac.uk/college-life/student-clubs or studentvoice.cambria.ac.uk, or email studentvoice@cambria.ac.uk.
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