Be inspired. International Mother Language Day
DofE VICTA volunteer Armaan tells us about growing up with English as his second language Hello, my name is Armaan, and I am bilingual meaning that I can speak two languages and those are ‘English and Bengali’ while I can also read Arabic and speak simple Spanish. Bangla was my first language and I learnt it from my Grandma at the age of one/two. Performing tasks such as singing in the language and generally talking with her, helped when my family moved here from Bangladesh because I could talk to them, therefore allowing me to be more connected with [...]
Let’s connect for Children’s Mental Health Week
Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 (CMHW) will take place from 6-12 February 2023. This year’s theme is Let’s Connect. There are lots of ways you can get involved, here are some of our favourites! Fun activity suggestions from CMHW... Class connections One to try at school - look at the different ways you are connected to your classmates. Download the activity sheet Hula hoop connections Test your team work skills by trying this fun activity with your friends or family and some hula hoops. Download the activity sheet Music that connects [...]
New opportunity – BBC Young Reporter 2023
BBC Young Reporter Competition 2023 The BBC Young Reporter Competition is open until Friday 31 March 2023 for ages 11-18. Share your story for the chance to have it produced with the help of BBC journalists, producers and programme makers for broadcast on TV, radio, online or on social media. The theme is ‘Me and My World’ - entries can be written or recorded as a short video or audio clip. You can enter as an individual or as a group. Find out all about the competition and how to enter here: bbc.co.uk/teach/young-reporter/competition/zghcydm You'll find all of [...]
Be inspired. Dayzie’s writing journey
Congratulations to Dayzie Simpson whose Peace Essay entitled 'Lead with Compassion' won the MK and District Final and then the National Final in The Lions Clubs' essay writing competition. Dayzie tells us all about her experience writing her winning entry. I’ve never been very ‘creative’ or ‘imaginative’ and that’s what I struggled with when I first discovered my passion for essay writing. Being blind and not being able to see anything, I can’t do the ‘writing’ part, but as technology has advanced and I’ve learnt the skills I need. I have learnt how to touch type on a QWERTY [...]
Previous Braille Art winners on why you should get involved!
VICTA's annual Braille Art competition is open and we think you should get involved! We chatted to winners from previous years about their entries and why they loved getting creative with Braille. In 2021 Joseph was the winner in our over 10s category with his chocolate braille creation! The image features a rocket launching into space made from chocolate buttons. Joseph tells us why he thinks Braille is so important to recognise and celebrate: "I think that Braille is an important skill for people of all different levels of vision impairment to learn. Although [...]
Christmas treasure hunt 2022!
Sorry this competition is now closed, winners will be announced soon and contacted by email, good luck! Our Christmas competition is back for its second year! Follow the clues below to find the right page on the Student Portal and enter our prize draw to win an Amazon voucher. Each age group section has three Christmassy characters hiding within it. Just follow the clues for your age category and try and work out which page you think our character is hiding on. Once you have found the right page, you'll find a picture of the character and a [...]
Reach Out for Anti-Bullying Week 2022
VICTA is proud to be a member of the Anti-Bullying Alliance and from Monday 14 to Friday 18 November we'll be helping to celebrate Anti-Bullying Week 2022. Join in with us on the VICTA Student Portal to highlight this hugely important issue and encourage others to Reach Out. Reach Out The theme this year is Reach Out, chosen to encourage young people to feel empowered to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes. How has somebody reached out to you? Comment on this post or email students@victa.org.uk to let us know if somebody [...]
Be inspired. We chat with Cath Gilby – Head of Para-Performance at the FA
VICTA was privileged to attend the 10 year anniversary of St. George’s Park, celebrating 10 years of success in English football. We were excited to join the celebrations and find out more about the FA's involvement supporting players with vision impairments. The FA are championing disability sport and have high hopes for the blind and partially sighted teams. We were lucky enough to meet Cath Gilby, Head of Para-Performance, who chatted to the VICTA Student Portal about the teams, her role in disability sport and getting more people involved. Watch the interview below and have a think about [...]
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 – 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 [...]
