Mission Statement: To enable people with disabilities to realise their potential through personalised learning, transition & lifestyle services. National Star is a charity working with people with severe disabilities and acquired brain injuries. All have complex physical learning disabilities and face many challenges. But with our support they access opportunities which improve their life chances and enhance their quality of life. We give them the skills they need to lead independent lives. We focus on what they can do rather than what they can't do, and with your support we can make a huge difference to their lives.
External link for National Star
Cotswold Way
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 9QU, GB
1 Ledbury Road
Hereford, England HR1 2SX, GB
Caerleon House Mamhilad Park Estate
Pontypool, Torfaen NP4 9HZ, GB
A huge thank you to Visit Cheltenham for inviting us to experience the magic of the #cheltenhamicerink this year! ❄️⛸️ Our students and staff had an incredible afternoon on the ice, soaking up the festive spirit, and making wonderful memories together. 🎄✨ A special shoutout to GDA (Gloucestershire Deaf Association) for sharing the ice with us! 🌟 #ChristmasMagic #CheltenhamIceRink #FestiveFun
🌟 Our Hereford students were eager to display their puzzle mural this morning in support of the wider 'Building a Brighter Future in Hereford' appeal! 🌟 🧩 Each piece of the 100-piece #puzzle represents a £10 #donation, and with your support, they aim to raise £1,000. As a special thank you, each supporter will receive a keychain of the exact puzzle piece they sponsored. 🔑✨ 📚 This project is a valuable opportunity for our students to develop skills in #marketing, #communication, and #teamwork while contributing to a lasting impact on their college. So far, the students have successfully sold 11 of the 100 puzzle pieces, raising £110 towards their £1,000 goal! 🎉 To receive your one of a kind keyring, donate today! Contact fundraising@nationalstar.org to make your donation! #HerefordFuture #BuildingABrighterFutureInHereford #Education #StudentCampaign #Support #Donate #Mural #Learners 🧩🎓 Sasha Narey Sean Ladd Tessa Watson Jayne Hashmat
Meet Lucy, a former National Star student whose life has been transformed. Lucy has cerebral palsy and her early years were filled with challenges. She has always found busy environments overwhelming, and her transition to secondary school was so traumatic she often refused to go. Her parents, David and Lesley, couldn’t imagine Lucy ever living independently. Then Lucy joined National Star. With personalised learning, emotional wellbeing support, and a dedicated care team, Lucy developed strategies to manage her anxiety, gained confidence, and took control of her emotions. Over time, she transitioned from needing one-to-one support to attending classes independently. She even moved into one of our on-campus independence flats, where she discovered her potential for living on her own. Since graduating in July 2024, Lucy has settled into supported living closer to home, managing her medical care, doing her own shopping, and even running her own YouTube channel! As David and Lesley share, “National Star has made Lucy. She’s realised she can be independent. We’re so proud of everything she’s achieved.” This Christmas, Lucy will be spending time with her family, celebrating her incredible progress. Your donation could help more young people like Lucy realise their potential and live fulfilling, independent lives. 💚 Please donate today and make a difference:
🎄✨ Exciting news from National Star! ✨🎄 Did you know we offer various student pathways, including one focused on work placements to help students develop the skills needed for employment? A key part of this is community engagement to build their communication skills. We’re thrilled to announce that our Work Based Learning students are going on tour! They'll be selling beautiful, handmade Christmas gifts on the run up to Christmas: 📍 Friday 6 December Market Stall in Star Shop on our Ullenwood Campus Find us GL53 9QU, 11AM - 2PM 🗓️ Mark your calendars and stop by to support our students—we can’t wait to see you there! #Christmas #studentmadegifts #HandmadeGifts #WorkExperience #StarShop #ChristmasAtUllenwood #Cheltenham #Gloucestershire
🔍 BSL vs. Makaton: What's the Difference? Did you know British Sign Language (BSL) and Makaton serve entirely different communities? 🤔 🔹 #BSL is the natural language of the #Deaf community, with its own grammar, syntax, and cultural richness. It’s recognised as a fully independent language and plays a vital role in the identity of the Deaf community. 🔹 #Makaton, is a communication programme for people with learning or communication difficulties. It combines speech, symbols, and signs (adapted from BSL) in English word order. It’s not a full language but a supportive tool. At National Star, we’re fortunate to have dedicated staff like Nick, who take pride in their work in special education. As the father of a second-year student who is Deaf, Nick is passionate about ensuring all his colleagues are knowledgeable about tools like BSL and Makaton. His commitment reminds us how essential it is to understand these differences, fostering inclusion and accessibility for everyone. 💙 Want to learn more? 📘 Read about BSL and Makaton - https://lnkd.in/e9ib_xNF #Inclusion #Accessibility #BSL #Makaton #DeafCommunity #SpecialEducation #Inspiration #Educate #Education #DisabilityInclusion
Last week some of our students took their health and safety class outside and welcomed some special visitors Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service The students discussed the different ways the Fire Service help people, what to do if they experience a fire and even had a go with the hose! #FireSaftey #Cheltenham #Gloucestershire #FireFighters #LearningExperience
🌟 Only 10 days to go to vote for the Cotswolds Awards! 🌟 We’re excited to be recognised in the ‘Best Glamping in the Cotswolds’ category, But we need your vote! 🙌 Every vote counts, and it’s super easy! 👉 Click here to vote - https://lnkd.in/eMrZWqy3 Thank you for your support! 💚 #CotswoldsAwards #VoteForUs #CotswoldsConcierge #SupportLocal #Glamping #Cheltenham #CotswoldWay
Last Friday, National Star honoured 40 incredible staff members who have collectively dedicated an amazing 580 years of service to our charity. 💚 It’s because of colleagues like them that National Star has the first-class reputation that it does among families, professionals and the wider communities in which we operate. Care and support workers, registered managers, administrators, caretakers, therapists, tutors and wheelchair technicians were among those given their time to shine. Many had made the most of the career opportunities on offer at National Star and moved into management roles during their time at the charity. 💬 “I felt very proud and moved by the whole affair and also very honoured and lucky to be a part of the National Star,” said Care and Support Worker Claire. If you’re looking to join a workplace that values its people and invests in their growth, explore our current vacancies: nationalstar.org/jobs
🚨SOS #Herefordshire businesses!🚨 We have five students with learning/physical disabilities at National Star in #Hereford who are as keen as mustard to showcase their skills at a reverse jobs fair on 28 November between 12 noon – 2pm at the Kindle Centre, Hereford as they prepare for the world of work after college. They have been working on their CVs, practising their elevator pitches and are desperate to use their communication skills to talk to people about the career they’d like to pursue after college. But currently only three businesses/organisations have confirmed that they can come along to meet our students and discover more about their talents. Special thanks to Halo Leisure, National Careers Service, St Michael's Hospice, Hereford. The number of #disabled people in #work since the COVID-19 pandemic has dropped according to the latest Government figures. Only 4.8% of adults with a learning disability are in #employment (NHS Digital, 2022). Even if you don’t think you have a vacancy that may be suitable for them please spare 30 minutes to hear about how they have been preparing for work. We know you’ll be blown away by their determination and enthusiasm to become active citizens in control of their own lives after college. Please contact their Job Coach Cheryl for more information and to let her know you can attend by emailing cwatson-cumbes@nationalstar.org . If you deliver one act of kindness this week, let it be this!
Are you searching for your next career opportunity? If so, look no further as here at National Star we are #hiring for a wide variety of roles! 🌟 We are currently hiring: ❤️ #CareandSupportWorkers 🧑⚕️ #PhysiotherapyCareAssistants 👥 #ResidentialManagers 🚐 #Drivers 🩺 #Housekeepers 📋 #Administrators Join our team and make a difference! Check out our latest vacancies ➡️ https://bit.ly/3AFTie0 #CareerOpportunities #NationalStar #Charity #Recruitment #Cheltenham #Gloucester #Hereford #Education #Job #Hiring #