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November's Community Week Highlights

17 November 2025
During Community Week, our staff and students come together from across the College to take part in social action projects. 

During Community Week, our staff and students come together from across the College to take part in social action projects that give back to the local community around Folkestone. 

Community Week is an important part of our College values, providing a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase the skills they’re developing on their courses while making a real difference to others. 

Here are some of the brilliant projects our EKC Folkestone College students have been involved with this week: 

Carpentry | Students create stage extension for local church choir 

Our Level 2 Carpentry students have been busy building a wooden stage extension for a local church choir, putting their practical skills to the test. 

The new stage will give choir members more space to perform during services and concerts, helping the church to better accommodate community events. 

Students have been measuring, cutting, and assembling the wooden structure from scratch, gaining valuable experience while supporting a local cause. 

Level 2 Carpentry student, Cameron, has enjoyed being part of the project, saying: “I like the intricate side of the work that we’re doing. I’d love to go into more joinery projects and furniture making in the future, so this is a nice way of testing all the different skills that I have.” 

Carpentry student helping make a wooden stage extension for local church choir.
Level 2 Carpentry student helping make a wooden stage extension for local church choir.

Inclusive Learning | Students welcome homeless charity Emmaus Dover 

Our Discover students welcomed volunteers Darren and Rob from the Dover-based charity Emmaus, who visited to talk about the vital work they do supporting people experiencing homelessness. 

The visit linked perfectly with the group’s termly topic on Homes, sparking some brilliant conversations about employability, homelessness, and gratitude. 

To build on the session, students will be taking part in a ‘Christmas Clear Out’, where they’ll donate clothes, games, and gifts they no longer use. They’ll bring the items into College to be sorted, washed, and given to the Emmaus charity, spreading kindness in the lead-up to the festive season. 

Inclusive learning students receiving a talk from Emmaus charity in Dover.
Darren (left) from Emmaus Dover talking to our Inclusive Learning students.

College pays tribute on Armistice Day 

On Tuesday during Community Week, staff and students gathered together in the College grounds to pay their respects to fallen soldiers for Armistice Day. 

At 11am, everyone observed a two-minute silence, led by English lecturer Steffan Hughes, who played The Last Post on his bugle to mark the start. It was a deeply moving moment, with everyone joining in reflection and remembrance. 

Armistice Day two-minute silence taken with the whole college.
Staff members Steffan (left), Kev (middle) and Nick (right) conducting the two-minute silence for Armistice Day.

Plastering | Students help Churchill Primary pupils make festive moulds 

Our Level 2 Plastering students welcomed pupils and their Deputy Head from Churchill Primary School on 11 November for a fun and festive workshop. 

The children got the chance to create their very own Christmas plaster moulds with the help of our students, before taking them back to school to paint and display. 

Churchill Primary pupils getting their hands in plaster to make their festive molds.
Churchill Primary School pupils creating their own festive plaster moulds.

Early Years | T Level students support Churchill Primary lessons 

Not only did Churchill Primary visit us but our T Level Education and Early Years students also returned the favour with a visit to the school. 

They joined in guided learning sessions, outdoor play, and PE lessons with children in Years R, 1 and 2. One student reflected: 

“I learnt how the environment in a reception class should reflect a nursery setting, it was inviting and the children were engaged.” 

Students also took time to read individually with pupils, supporting their learning and confidence. 

Early Years lecturer Sarah Partner said: “The students showed professionalism, and I observed positive role models, which was a pleasure to see!” 

T Level Early Years and Education students outside Churchill Primary School.
T Level Education and Early Years students outside Churchill Primary School.

Carpentry and Bench Joinery | Students continue Kingsnorth Gardens project 

Our Level 2 Carpentry and Bench Joinery students are continuing their exciting two-year project for Folkestone and Hythe District Council, which began last year. 

They are constructing a Japanese-themed timber framework, set to be completed next spring. Once finished, it will be painted in traditional red and black, assembled, and displayed in Kingsnorth Gardens for the community to enjoy. 

Construction students helping with the local project for Kingsnorth Gardens.
Level 2 Carpentry and Bench Joinery students continuing the Japanese-themed timber framework project for Kingsnorth Gardens.

It’s been fantastic to see all the creative, community-focused projects that our staff and students have taken part in throughout this year’s Community Week. Each activity has showcased the talent, teamwork, and kindness that make EKC Folkestone College such a special place to learn. If you’d like to be part of a college community that makes a real difference, explore our courses and discover where studying with us could take you.