Latest news with #Bangor
BBC News
13 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Special educational needs school leavers working as classroom assistants
Classroom assistants Dan McKee and Savanna Presho are both aged 20 and have Down's with 22-year-old Ben McCreight, who has a learning disability, they are working hard to make a positive difference to pupils at two primary schools in Bangor, County and Ben work as classroom assistants in Clandeboye Primary School, while Savanna works in Bloomfield Primary principal of Bloomfield PS, Rebecca Bishop, told BBC News NI that Savanna "brings out the best in our pupils." BBC News NI visited the school to see her at work in the school's polytunnel, helping the pupils learn about how to grow flowers, plants and also works with pupils in the school's nurture unit and P1, supporting the teacher."She's fitted in here like she's part of the furniture," Ms Bishop told BBC News NI."Savanna comes in here and just enjoys being part of our everyday."She brings that natural empathy which all children have within them, and that willingness to engage and to work with new people."It's nice for them to see somebody different coming into school and have that opportunity to shine with their own personalities." Just over a third of people with disabilities in Northern Ireland are in work, compared with more than half in the rest of the to the Department for the Economy (DfE), adults with disabilities in Northern Ireland are twice as likely to be unemployed as those without a disability. Making a difference At Clandeboye Primary School, principal Julie Thomas says Dan and Ben working in the school every Monday had made a difference to said he loved the children and staff in the school and looked forward to work every Monday."We help the kids doing PE and after that doing some work," he Thomas added: "Dan and Ben have been working with P1 and in our nurture room, The Nest, to help support the children with their practical activities and their social activities and also their time outside in the playground."Within a very short time, we've seen their confidence grow."They have grown in how they're seen within the building."They've made really good relationships with the staff as well as the children and we just see them as part of our staff now in Clandeboye Primary School." At Clandeboye, Dan and Ben were role models, Ms Thomas said."With us working now fully with children who have additional needs, I think it's important for the families of those children to see that there are other experiences once the children go beyond school life themselves and on into adulthood," she said. SEN support Parents and school principals have highlighted how support for young people with special educational needs (SEN) ends when they leave have campaigned for to change that and introduce statutory support until the age of is a situation that Robert McGowan runs Strides Day Opportunity Service in Bangor, which provides work experience and other classes for young adults who have come through special education. Mr McGowan arranged Dan, Ben and Savanna's placements as classroom assistants with the two primary schools."Dan started in special education as a boy of maybe five or six, so he's had 13 or 14 years in special education," he said."Then the provision stops. Once they reach the adult sector, there seems to be a gap there."All that effort, all that consistency, all that time that's been spent that can ease off and almost dry up."Mr McGowan also said it was important to provide "meaningful" work experience for young adults with disabilities.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
The best and worst universities for accommodation ranked by students
The best and worst universities for accommodation ranked by students Bangor was top in Wales at 12th - but one Welsh university ranked 95th Student accommodation in Bangor has been ranked the best in Wales (Image: Bangor University ) The best universities for accommodation have been ranked from student reviews. With students paying an average £139 to £341 a week and far more in London it's a major consideration when applying or preparing to go to university. Last week Cardiff University Vice Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner told a Senedd committee the number one reason students give for not choosing her institution is accommodation. On the latest Uni Compare rankings, out this week, Cardiff comes 95th out of 100 universities compared on accommodation and no Welsh university was in the top 10. Bangor takes the crown for best university accommodation in Wales and 12th out of 100 in the UK. Bangor is followed by Cardiff Met and Swansea comes third. Uni Compare based the rankings on what is says are 28,430 verified student reviews. Rankings were based on considerations such ash modern facilities, good locations, and strong campus communities. The reviews listing is based on reviews of student halls and off-site accommodation. Here we look at how UK universities for student accommodation in 2026, according to Uni Compare's latest student-led review rankings. Article continues below Best university for accommodation in Wales Figures have the UK rank and comparison to last year in brackets. Wrexham is not included in the list Bangor (12 = +17 places) Cardiff Metropolitan (28= +8 places) Swansea University (33 = -6 places) Aberystwyth (52= +16 places) University of Wales Trinity St David (55 =+39 places) University of South Wales (69 +17 places) Royal; Welsh College of Music and Drama (79=+54 places) Cardiff (95 = -43 places) UK's Top 10 Universities For Accommodation 2026 according to Uni Compare Edge Hill University Liverpool John Moores University Newcastle University University of Liverrpool; University of Lincoln Middlesex University University of Derby University of Salford University of Sheffield University of Surrey Uni Compare said: "The 2026 rankings represent the culmination of 28,430 verified student reviews and ratings collected across 209 universities. "Since the platform's inception, Uni Compare has amassed 151,805 reviews and ratings, creating one of the UK's largest student-led review databases focused solely on the university experience. "Uni Compare's methodology combines student feedback collected through their website and mobile app with verification processes, including CAPTCHA checks and IP monitoring to maintain authenticity. Article continues below "The platform uses a hybrid scoring system that weighs both average ratings and review volume, giving greater statistical reliability to institutions with larger sample sizes." The full listing can be seen here.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Lindsay Brown: Rugby commentator Mark Robson kept Bangor Grammar School abuse secret
Mark Robson has one of the most recognisable voices in rugby outsiders, he has been living the dream - travelling the world covering a sport he is passionate in reality, he was suppressing a dark and distressing was abused at Bangor Grammar School by the prolific paedophile Lindsay vice principal served two sentences for abusing boys at the County Down school - seven years in 1998 for a catalogue of abuse between 1968 and 1982 and for a further eight months for similar offences in 2021. He died in 2023. Warning: This article contains distressing content "He had a type and I was it: blonde hair and blue eyes," Robson told the BBC's The State of Us podcast."I didn't tell anyone, not even my schoolmates. I thought I was the only one."Speaking on the podcast, Robson has revealed publicly for the first time the extent and impact of the abuse he endured from Brown. 'I was in denial' Robson describes Brown as a charismatic and very popular teacher. "All the parents loved him, all the staff loved him," he said."The boys who weren't being abused loved him."His grooming technique, which I'm not going to reveal because I don't want to give anyone any ideas, was incredibly clever and incredibly devious because he made me feel that he loved me."Not telling anyone was part of Robson's attempt to deal with what had happened to him. That continued until he was well into adulthood."I loved my life because I refused to accept this had ever occurred," he said."I was in denial, I buried it." When he was 28, Robson received a phone call that changed everything."It was the then (police) vice squad and they said, 'We hear you were one of Lindsay Brown's boys'. I'll never forget the words the girl on the phone used."The effect on me was catastrophic."It was only then I realised what had happened to me."The commentator was about to go to New Zealand to cover the Commonwealth Games for the BBC. "I went completely nuts in New Zealand," he said."We broadcast all day and drank and partied all night - that was my way of trying to drown away these thoughts that were in my head."When he came back, he developed symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and said he went into "complete mental and physical freefall".That lasted for almost 20 the time he was 40, he had left his job at Sky Sports and came home to Bangor to live with his parents."I became non-verbal for two years and I was confined to the house - I disappeared," he said."I didn't see the point in speaking. My head at that time was full of white noise. I had no room for words." Disclosing to his parents what Brown had done was difficult. Neither had any idea their son was one of his he was ill and housebound, Robson said his father became his rock and cared for him every day."He would tell me to get up out of bed and have a cup of tea - and he was right. If I did that, it was a successful day."While his recovery has been slow, he is now back working as a successful commentator."For the last 15 years, I have been well," he said."I still have this burning anger - mostly directed at the world. I'm angry about him and what happened and it affects my personality."His escape, he said, has been exercise. He enjoys fell running in mountains around the world and sea swimming close to home in Bangor."It releases endorphins and has helped me to recover," he can listen to the full interview on The State of Us podcast on BBC you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story please see the BBC's Action Line for groups and resources which may be able to help.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Maine's first official comfort dog is found dead in sweltering hot state vehicle
The death of Maine 's first official comfort dog is under investigation after the beloved pooch was left to bake to death inside a state vehicle. Baxter, 3, a Chocolate Labrador retriever, was found dead inside the vehicle late last month while it was parked at the Bangor Regional Communications Center in Bangor. Officials in the Pine Tree State said the pup had been left in the running vehicle but that something caused the engine to cut out, causing the air conditioning to stop. At the time, the National Weather Service said that Bangor had reached a high temperature of 83 degrees. The Department of Public Safety said that the vehicle in question was undergoing a inspection to identify any potential faults. On Wednesday, the department said it would be investigating the circumstances surrounding the dog's death. The probe is being led by the Animal Welfare Program, which forms part of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF). Baxter had joined the state bureau of Emergency Communications in 2022 to offer emotional support to telecommunicators at three regional dispatch centers. State officials said the pup had been left in the running vehicle but that something caused the engine to cut out, causing the air conditioning to stop Laura Barker, founder of Hero Pups, a non profit that provides dogs to first responders, described Baxter as being 'a great dog with a love for life.' 'During the training process we go through a lot of the obedience, the dogmanship stuff, the handling, the transportation,' she told WABI5. 'We can make recommendations, but once the dog leaves us we don't have any say on that matter anymore. 'I'm hoping this will get people talking and really be more committed to the care of the dogs on a broader scope, not just doing a job.' Barker added that Baxter had made a huge impact in people's lives in his short time, adding that his handler was 'devastated'. She had set up the organization to support veterans and first responders after her son was wounded in Afghanistan. Baxter was the first comfort dog the organization had sent to Maine. He came from a litter that needed constant care due to his mother's health issues. 'His calming and cheerful presence will be deeply missed by all those who interacted with him,' the DPS said in a statement following Baxter's passing. 'The department extends its deepest condolences to Baxter's handler and his family, as well as the entire emergency telecommunication team.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Bangor City stadium capacity to double under new plans
Bangor City Stadium's seating capacity will be doubled after "significant redevelopment" plans were redevelopment would see the ground upgraded to a Uefa Category 2 Stadium and able to host Women's competitive internationals as well as Under-21 games and European Club competition stands will be built behind both goals as well a stand filling in the remaining half of the Menai Strait side of the ground and see seating capacity doubled from 1,045 to 2, improvements include upgraded changing rooms and a new function room. A new 4G pitch for an adjacent pitch to the stadium was recently City Stadium opened in 2012 as a new home for Bangor City, who left their traditional Farrar Road City's demise, the stadium is now home to Bangor City 1876, a phoenix club which was set up in 2019 by supporters of Bangor City who were concerned at how the club was being current Bangor 1876 board announced plans to step down at its forthcoming Annual General Meeting. It will propose Bangor City Stadium take over full responsibility for the men's team, who will play in the third tier Ardal North West league next season after relegation from the JD Cymru North.
