Get involved – Earth Hour
WWF - Earth Hour 8:30pm on Saturday 26 March 2022 is #EarthHour A global movement that reminds us that even small actions can make a big difference. Change is possible, but only if we act together. Find out how to get involved with The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Before Earth Hour… Download the WWF My Footprint app and take on a challenge. You can use the app to calculate your impact then choose and track challenges to help reduce your environmental footprint with WWF’s My Footprint App. Let us know what you find out in the comments below! Click here [...]
National Careers Week 2022
Careers Week on the Student Portal! We've pulled together lots of helpful information to help you get the most out of National Careers Week 2022. Plus you can watch vlogs from young VI professionals, who share their advice. National Careers Week 2022 - Online Careers Fair National Careers Week are hosting an online careers week for you to explore. Each day has a different focus - Monday: NatWest Group, Tuesday: Careers at Sea, Wednesday: Health Careers, Thursday: BBC Bitesize and Friday: Civil Service. Visit the NCW Careers Fair > Visit the NCW website > [...]
Be inspired. Video chats with young VI sports stars
The Winter Paralympics are here and we're excited! If the buzz of the snow sport action over the next couple of weeks leaves you feeling inspired to give something new a try, then go for it! These young athletes we chatted to at our Sports Camp did just that... Meet Hester Poole, a Para-Alpine Ski Racer for GB! Hester chatted to the VICTA Student Portal to tell us all about how VI skiing works and how she fell in love with the sport. What started as a tobogganing experience on a dry slope let to [...]
Talking about my mental health
Hi. My name is Johnathan and I am 15 years old. Since it is Children's Mental Health Week, I wanted to tell you about my story and what helped me because I don't think any person should go through those few months. To fully tell this story, we need to go back one and a half years to around the time of the first lockdown. I truly started experiencing mental health issues in the summer of 2020. I became more distant, less interactive and left my room very little. I spent every day just watching YouTube and didn't [...]
Children’s Mental Health Week activity – a letter to your younger self
7 to 13 February is Children's Mental Health Week and this year's theme is 'Growing Together'. Place 2 Be are challenging us to think about how growing emotionally is such an important part of our development. 'Things that upset us when we were younger may no longer overwhelm us as we grow and learn to cope with life’s ups and downs. Challenges and set-backs can help us to grow and adapt.' Writing a letter to your younger self for Children's Mental Health Week You might surprise yourself when you put pen (or braille!) to paper and think about [...]
New opportunity – BBC Young Reporter
BBC Young Reporter Competition The BBC Young Reporter Competition is open until 27 March 2022 for those aged 11-18. It's an amazing opportunity to produce a report on a story or issue important to you. It is a unique chance to tell your story on TV, radio, online or on social media with the help of BBC journalists, producers and programme makers! This year’s theme is ‘Me and My World’. Find out all about the competition and how to enter here: www.bbc.co.uk/teach/young-reporter/competition/zghcydm Need some inspiration? Previous examples include: Ben’s story, produced with BBC Sport, reflects the reality [...]
Exploring the creative arts – interview with singer Grace Whitford
In November we chatted to singer and actress Grace Whitford about following her dreams of becoming a singer. Grace Whitford initially came across some resistance against following her dream career as a singer. She talks to the Student Portal about discovering her love of music after losing her sight at a young age and the point at which she realised she wanted to pursue it as her career. Grace now performs live at venues and festival and is recording her first EP, she offers some great advice on being determined and working hard to achieve your goals. Watch our [...]
How Braille has changed throughout my life
by Harriet Smith Thinking back over the years, it is interesting to see how braille has changed throughout my life. I don't remember learning braille, but I've been told that I used to feel and sort through a lot of seeds in order for my fingers to become sensitive to it. This is important from a young age because it can be hard to learn braille when you're older as your fingers are less sensitive. I absolutely love braille and would hate to be without it. I think it is wonderful how the development of technology has allowed braille [...]
Superhero triathlon fundraiser – Q & A with Ryley
In 2018 Ryley, age 13, decided to set himself a huge sporting goal and enter the Superhero Tri, the UK’s one and only disability sports series for the Everyday Superhero! Ryley was born with a rare congenital eye condition which limits vision in both of his eyes and after attending VICTA activities himself, decided to support VICTA and raise funds towards our activities and services. We decided to find out what spurred Ryley on to take on this inspiring challenge… What inspired you to enter a triathlon? I wanted to try a new group of sports all together and [...]
World War I battlefields tour across France and Belgium
With a big trip ahead, an intrepid and excited group from VICTA came together through the hustle and bustle of Ashford International and quickly became acquainted. We hurried aboard our coach and waved ‘au revoir’ to England… France and Belgium here we come! Our travels kicked off with a ‘treat’ for our taste buds as we sampled some of the foods that may have been consumed during the Great War including, corned beef, tinned sardines and canned fruit. After speeding under the English Channel on the Eurotunnel, we emerged on the continent, saying ‘bonjour’ to France and after a [...]
