Yeovil College students raise money in style!

The Yeovil College end-of-year Art and Fashion Show has raised more than �1500 for the Yeovil College Bursary Foundation (YCBF), which is dedicated to financially supporting hardworking students who might otherwise have to leave education.

The Yeovil College end-of-year Art and Fashion Show has raised more than �1500 for the Yeovil College Bursary Foundation (YCBF), which is dedicated to financially supporting hardworking students who might otherwise have to leave education. Donations made on the night are still being counted.

Staff and students from departments across the College, including Business, Art & Design, Hair, Hospitality and Performing Arts, joined forces for the event, Which marks the official start of two weeks of awards and celebration at the College. This year also saw the return of past students for an alumni section of the show displaying University Work and pieces created for Royal Shakespeare Company plays Twelfth Night and Alice in wonderland.

The show received support from corporate sponsors including Tesco, Waitrose, Brainwave and Aimhigher and local sponsors Pittards and O’Three. Students modelled clothes from designers including Kimberely, CR, PM and Jan Knibbs.

Charity shop Brainwave also provided clothes for sections of the show entitled ‘Reconstructed Denim’ and ‘Reconstructed T Shirts ’, where students from local schools used their creativity to find new uses for unwanted clothes.

The work of local school pupils was also included, produced during a series of master class workshops held at Yeovil College. The workshops were supported by Aim Higher, an organisation dedicated to raising the aspirations of young people and encouraging them to pursue education to a higher level. The pupils from Buckler’s Mead Community School and Westfield Community School made a number of fun and creative pieces inspired by the work of 60’s artist Bridget Riley. Students from Buckler’s Mead, Huish Episcopi and Holyrood schools created some contemporary designs under the title ‘Reconstructed Denim’ for the show.

This year there was a special section that highlighted the work of Yeovil College alumni Zanchi & Roberts and Emma & Kimberley Gerrard, Their work included printed silk dresses, bags and costumes. Show organiser Clarissa Ready said ‘It has been great to have our alumni with us tonight, showing the great progression of our students onto university courses and successful employment.”

The models hair and make-up was done by the College’s Hairdressing and Beauty students with support from lecturers Jennie Workman and Shania Simmonds.

The Fashion Show took place in Yeovil College’s Main Hall with a champagne reception in a marquee in front of the impressive Leonardo Building, The Leonardo Building a free Art show displaying the work of many more talented Yeovil College students. Attending the show were teachers and pupils from local schools, Friends and family of the students as well as members of the public and local dignitaries, including Yeovil Mayor Cllr. Phil Chandler.

Jo Roundell-Green, Chair of the YCBF, was grateful for the support of everyone involved. She said “The YCBF was founded in 2002 and since then it has given away over �18,000 in bursaries to support hard working students. We still need support, however, so that we can continue to help students and improve the skills base in Yeovil and this support will become even more vital with the current economic climate we find ourselves in.”

Yeovil College Principal James Hampton praised the work of the students and the Bursary. He said “The annual Arts and Fashion Show is a highlight of the year for me. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the work of students over the last year and, from what I’ve seen, their effort was really worth it. It shows just how much young people from Yeovil and the surrounding area can achieve.

“The show is an important way to raise funds for the YCBF so that it can continue supporting hardworking students who need financial support to get to College. It would be a real shame if young people couldn’t continue their studies. The Foundation exists to allow them to successfully develop into students like those on show tonight.”

Art and Design lecturer Clarissa Ready co-ordinated the event, supported by students from the faculties of Business and Creative Arts. She said “I am very, very proud of all the students involved tonight. They did exceptionally well, it takes a lot of nerve to get up on stage and put on a brilliant show like we have seen tonight and also requires a huge amount of support behind the scenes. It’s also lovely to be able to support such a worthy cause and for everyone to be involved.”

Lloyd Richards, Faculty director of Art, Media and Publishing, said “This was another brilliant show which our students have been working so hard on. It’s even better that we have had the alumni here as well to show where that hard work can take them in the future.”

The next Art & Fashion Show will be in June 2011. For more information about the Yeovil College Bursary Foundation, please visit www.yeovil.ac.uk/bursady_foundation.