The festive season has officially arrived, and what a joyful start it’s been! Across our community, young people have been busy spreading holiday magic by decorating beautiful Christmas trees in our learning centre and our supported accommodation houses. christmas in asphaleia care Not all of our young people celebrate Christmas, but most have entered into the spirit of togetherness by joining in with opening a Christmas hamper of treats that was sent to every property. Trees

As part of the functional skills employability programme at asphaleia training, students visited the Ford Recycling Centre in West Sussex to gain first‑hand insight into sustainable practices and the world of waste management. The objective of the visit was to connect classroom learning with real‑life industry experience, showing how recycling contributes to environmental responsibility and future employment opportunities. employability and careers Tutors played a guiding rol

Christmas is coming and for some it is a time for celebrating and having fun. However, Christmas can also bring up a lot of negative feelings. December can be a difficult time for people due to things like past trauma and family problems. Also, a lot of places you would usually go to for support are closed for the holidays and you may not know where to turn to. However, there are still some services open or partially open over Christmas where you can go to get support with yo

On the first Friday of every month we run an open day event. Book an appointment and find out about all the services we offer children and young people , including further education and training for 16-18 year-olds, supported accommodation for 16+, and our fostering agency. Feel free to come down if you're interested in being a foster carer and meet our agency manager who can answer any questions you have. next open day Friday 9th January, 9:30am-12:30pm The next three open

The UK government has announced a major reform to post-16 education: the introduction of V-Levels , a new qualification designed to simplify choices for students and strengthen vocational pathways. But what exactly are V-Levels, how do they differ from existing options, and what subjects will they cover? In this blog post, you’ll find V-Levels explained in detail, covering what they are, how they work, and why they matter for post-16 education. what are v-levels? V-Levels are

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping the world around us—from voice assistants and self-driving cars to medical breakthroughs and creative tools. If you, or a young person you know is curious about technology and wants a career that’s exciting, future-proof, and impactful, AI could be the perfect path forward. why AI? AI is one of the fastest-growing industries globally. Companies need people who can design, build, and manage intelligent systems. The best part? There’s a w

Respect and celebrating difference were key themes last week as students from asphaleia marked Anti-bullying Week in November 2025. Respect for each other’s differences was shown in visual form when students at the learning centre designed and displayed pictures showing odd socks. Students with a variety of different nationalities, languages, cultures and beliefs were encouraged to respect difference. Some worked as a group to identify and write basic ideas on how we can resp

Every November, Green Careers Week (3rd-8th November) highlights the growing range of “green” roles — jobs that help protect the environment, tackle climate change and support the UK’s journey to Net Zero. As an FE provider, it's a great opportunity to engage students aged 16–18 with vocational pathways into sustainable industries. This year’s theme is “Go Green!”, a chance to explore how every subject area and vocational course can contribute to a greener economy. why green

One of our On Track Study classes recently participated in activities related to Black History Month in their lesson. On Track Study is an education programme for young people wishing to improve their English skills and understanding of life and learning in the UK.​ The programme runs from September to July every year, with opportunities to start throughout the year.  The students were given worksheets to look up the various named people on the Black History Month poster and

In recent years, the importance of listening to the voices of children and young people has gained significant recognition. The UK Children’s Commissioner has launched an initiative known as "The Big Conversation" aimed at engaging with children and young people across the country. This initiative seeks to understand their views, experiences, and aspirations, ensuring that their voices are heard in discussions that affect their lives. The Big Conversation is not just a one-o

The State of the Nation 2025 report from the Centre for Young Lives has now been published. It provides a detailed and sobering overview of the challenges facing children and young people in England today, with millions growing up in poverty, homelessness, poor health, or struggling with mental health difficulties.   Key findings include:   4.5 million children living in relative poverty – nearly a third of all children 165,000 children in temporary accommodation, a 33% inc

Last week, asphaleia held its annual Learning and Development Week (L&D) for staff across the organisation. It is an opportunity for staff to examine a particular theme related to our work as an organisation and gain new knowledge, skills, and insight to apply to current practices. This year’s theme was -   Policy with Purpose: Driving Culture, Compliance & Capability   learning & development week; allowing policies to shape practices Policies aren’t just rules, they’re refle

Neurodiversity is the notion that differences in the makeup of the brain are a natural part of the human condition. Many people may be of the understanding that ADHD or autism should or could be ‘fixed’. However, this cannot be the case since these variations of the brain are a natural part of diversity and it's important to embrace neurodiversity. Some people’s brains may process bits of information very differently to others and therefore they may socialise and communicate

Functional Skills are accredited qualifications that young people aged 16-18 can do if they haven't managed to achieve a 4 or above in...

At asphaleia this month, we'll be exploring the importance of Black history and celebrating the achievements of Black individuals who...

Th 19th of September is Youth Mental Health Day. T his year's theme, Share Support , encourages young people and those around them to...

In July 2025, the UK government amended its legislation to grant voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds. This groundbreaking decision...

As part of our further education training programmes at asphaleia training, students can access careers advice with a qualified Careers Advisor. Over the past year, our students and teaching staff have had access to careers advice from a specialist careers advisor employed by the Education Development Trust. Joanna is embedded in our team and on a weekly basis is located in the centre and is accessible for staff and students to drop in and chat to her. She also goes into cla

Showbiz glamour and skilled tap-dancing entertained asphaleia training’s summer study programme students on an August visit to the...

From the 4th of August, asphaleia training has been busy with students attending our summer study programme. The summer study programme is a 4-week programme for 16–18-year-olds wishing to continue their English and maths studies throughout the summer. It is ideal for those wanting help to prepare for their next steps into further education or work, or for those with English as a second language. activities in the community asphaleia is looking after a flowerbed as part of th