Remembrance Day was commemorated in multiple ways by staff and students at North Kent College this year including creative projects, fundraising and marches.
Remembrance Day honours people who have served and sacrificed, including armed forces and emergency services. It is an opportunity to recognise everyone from the UK and across the Commonwealth who has stood up to defend our way of life during conflict and national emergencies. It takes place on 11th November every year and is followed by Remembrance Sunday which is held on the second Sunday in November.
This year our Public Services students participated in two Remembrance Day Parades at our Gravesend and Dartford Campuses. Our Public Service Level 1, 2 and 3 learners start preparing for these parades which are led by our cadets, in September when they join North Kent College. Weekly drill and marching sessions take place with the emphasis on perfecting timings as a group led by our cadets. The students also take part in lessons on Remembrance and the importance of the commemorations prior to the day.
At our Tonbridge Campus a beautiful dress depicting a large poppy was displayed at the reception, created by our Level 3 Fashion students. The dress was originally produced as part of the students 'Opening Credits' project, for this project the students work in groups of 3, to design & make a garment, plus a short film to communicate a theme they are given. The theme for this garment was 'Bold, Confident & Structural'. However, the students then adapted the garment by adding the black poppy like centre, to commemorate Remembrance day and display during the remembrance period.
Additionally, staff at our Tonbridge LTC sold handmade poppies to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. These were created in recent years by our LTC staff alongside Early Years students who were exploring creative techniques to fundraise with children.
Across all campuses, poppies were sold at reception and students were encouraged to wear them and take part in a 2-minute silence to reflect upon the sacrifices made by military veterans and service personnel on operations around the world.