Community praises Northenden students
Students from The Manchester College have been praised for their excellent attitude and initiative at a community event. Four hair and beauty therapy students offered treatments to older people at the Didsbury Good Neighbours community fayre. The organisers said the students were excellent ambassadors for young people and the college.
Didsbury Good Neighbours contacted The Manchester College to ask if students would like to give beauty treatments at the fayre. The students put designs and a pricing plan together and agreed it with the organisers. Four students worked at the fayre, including Leighanne Higgins, Tina Keating, and Fatmata Schlenker.
Leighanne, Tina and Fatmata are studying for a Level 3 qualification in nail services at the college’s Northenden Campus. Before coming to the college, Leighanne worked in a pharmacy. She said: ‘I’d wanted to do the course for a while then, because I had been on sickness, I got help to pay for the fees. I decided to have a change of career.’
These four young women were the perfect antidote to all the rubbish we hear about young people
Fatmata and Tina both have children. Fatmata said: ‘My kids started school so I came to the college so I could get a full time job’. Tina said: ‘I went to see an advisor at the Forum and told her I liked working with nails. She advised me to do the beauty therapy course at the college because it was made up of lots of different subjects as well as nails.’
All three students would like to run their own businesses in the future, having first worked in salons to build up their experience. Tina already does some mobile work, including nails and make-up at children’s parties.
The recent riots have given young people a bad press but not everyone wants to go out and cause trouble
Judith Bridgehouse, assistant project co-ordinator for Didsbury Good Neighbours said: ‘The students delighted their clients with the quality of their work and polite customer service. They were wonderful ambassadors for themselves and The Manchester College, demonstrating initiative and a “have a go” attitude. These four young women were the perfect antidote to all the rubbish we hear about young people.’
Fatmata said: ‘Some people think all young people are trouble but the organisers have seen that not all young people are bad.’
Leighanne said: ‘The recent riots have given young people a bad press but not everyone wants to go out and cause trouble.’
The students are now working on a photo shoot with students from other courses.
What next? Want an exciting, hands-on career? Find out about courses in hair and beauty therapy at The Manchester College.
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