Talk Money Week – where to find help on the Student Portal
Talk Money Week runs from 7 to 11 November and is the perfect time to stop and think about your finances. "This year’s Talk Money Week will focus on the theme of ‘credit’ – to help demystify some of the jargon, build people’s understanding of credit products, and what their options are, including other forms of support that might be suitable." Find out more and get involved on the Talk Money Week web page at: maps.org.uk/talk-money-week Money help on the Student Portal Did you know there are lots of useful money focussed resources for you to explore on the [...]
Opportunity focus – Neon Big Bang Competition
Neon Big Bang Competition for 11-19 year olds A top prize of up to £1,500 is up for grabs as part of the UK’s top annual science and engineering competition. Have you got an idea that will change people’s lives? Or help the climate crisis? Maybe even an idea that is literally out of this world? The Big Bang Competition is now open for you to submit your big project idea. Please note: VICTA is in no way affiliated with this competition but would encourage any VICTA young people that are entering to get in touch [...]
Opportunity focus – Paid Get Set Progress Internship Opportunities
Get Set Progress Internships Programme Thomas Pocklington Trust, in partnership with RNIB, is extending their Get Set Progress programme to 19 sight loss charities across the country and creating 21 paid internships for blind and partially sighted people looking to secure that first rung on the career ladder or who are returning to work following a career break. Applications close at 5 pm on Monday 31 October. Current roles open for application are: Client Engagement Officer – 4sight Vision support (West Sussex) Sight Loss Advisor – Beacon Centre for the Blind (West Midlands) Communications and Administrative [...]
Opportunity focus – Lloyds Banking Group – Live online career panel
Neon Futures are offering the opportunity for students to meet the Lloyds Banking Group data team to learn about the exciting careers available in data! Digdata have partnered with Lloyds Banking Group to bring students aged 11 to 21 years, a live online career panel session on Thursday 3 November at 6.30pm. This free 60-minute live session hosted on MS Teams will give you the opportunity to meet panellists that are currently on their graduate and industrial placement scheme, ask questions and learn what qualifications and key skills Lloyds Banking Group are looking for when hiring [...]
World Mental Health Day 2022
Making mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority 10 October 2022 is World Mental Health Day and Mental Health UK are asking you to look after ‘Number 1’ when it comes to your mental health. So we want to know - what steps are you taking to make mental health your Number 1 priority? It could be taking a walk every day, taking time to talk to your family, a VICTA activity you've been a part of, or a creative activity that relaxes you. Share yours in the form below and we'll share them here [...]
Short film ‘Picturesque’ aims to represent visually impaired LGBT+ people on screen
Ellie standing with here cane smiling in a field Written by Ellie Wallwork My name’s Ellie Wallwork, I’m 22 and I’m a visually impaired actor. I’ve known I wasn’t straight since I was about 14 and my sexuality, along with my disability, make up a huge part of who I am. I know I wouldn’t be the same person without these key parts of my identity. However, despite the fact that there are loads of queer blind people in the UK and all over the world, we don’t see that represented on-screen nearly enough. It’s [...]
Opportunity focus – Online mentoring – explore STEM futures
STEM Learning are offering 1:1 mentoring for students aged 14 to 18 * Sign up by 4 October if you would like to take up the opportunity * STEM Learning's online mentoring programme offers students a secure online platform, and a dedicated, 1:1 mentor for 10 weeks. Years 12/13 or S5/S6 receive mentoring on ‘life after school’ and routes into further study or work. "An opportunity like no other. It encourages young students to go achieve above and beyond in STEM careers." (Mentee in their spring 2021 cohort) Launching on 10 October, they have hundreds of [...]
Success – A poem by Mahalia Creft
By Mahalia Creft Success The tedious wait for the payoff of hard work to finally fall through. Accessed only from a path of constant failure, winding round and round on itself. This path is long, with rocks and stones that jut from the earth, Digging their teeth into the soles of your feet. You stumble, then you fall onto the dirty, dusty floor, Hands above your head, legs sprawled out on the ground. You get up, even though the constant fear of rejection and failure hangs over you like a cloak, dragging you down, wanting you to settle [...]
I Can and I Will – A poem by Grace Hill
By Grace Hill I Can and I Will I can and I willClimb that hillI might be scaredBut I will get thereWith my courage and prideAnd a guide by my sideI can and I will. I can and I willClimb that hillI fear the heightBut I'll be alrightGripping onto my caneI will push through the rainBecause I can and I will. I can and I willClimb that hillI'm frightened to fallBut I can still have it allWe all can flyIf we spread our wings and tryI can and I will. About Grace... [...]
Flying above the limits: My first solo trip!
By Natalia Foster If you had told 14-year-old Natalia, that in six years’ time she would be flying 3,500 miles to meet an internet friend, I think she would have stared at you with fear in her eyes and shaken her head as if to say, ‘No way.’ But, in those six years so much has changed, and I have (somehow) found myself on a transatlantic flight heading towards Toronto. As it is, this isn’t an easy thing to do; but doing something this big with a lack of sight creates a whole array of things to consider [...]
