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Foundation Learning students made poppies for Remembrance to raise money for the Royal British Legion.  

Learners on the Entry 2-level Entry to Employment course identified the price of the items they needed, and calculated how much each poppy would cost to produce. They then set a sale price that reflected their costs and ensured there was an appropriate donation for the charity.

The students also created promotional materials for the sale, offered excellent service to customers, handled money with confidence, and correctly totalled the donation amount.

The poppies sold out within minutes during the college morning break, and the students raised £38 for the charity. 

Oliver Martin, a student on the Level 1 FE Pathway qualification, is a member of the Surbiton Royal British Legion youth marching band. He was part of the Lord Mayor show in London on Saturday, and the Remembrance Parade in Surbiton on Sunday, where members did a parade to the cenotaph. 

The youth marching band welcomes all young people, regardless of music experience, and only charges a nominal fee. 

"The band promotes musical knowledge, self-discipline and self-confidence and in the past has had many members go into careers within the forces as well as becoming professional musicians in other bands and orchestras," said Oliver. 

"I have made lots of new friends since joining the band. I have learned to play the bass drum and I have become a lot more confident."

The Foundation Learning department offers qualifications aimed at supporting students to reach their full potential. Some of the department's programmes are aimed at students with learning difficulties and disabilities, and others have been developed for young people who left school with few or no formal qualifications. You can find out more about the department here.