News

Northumberland College Students benefit with a little help from their Friends

Northumberland College has opened brand new veterinary training facilities at its Kirkley Hall Campus in Ponteland thanks to donations from The Friends of Kirkley Hall and local businesses.

The Bell Centre has been transformed over the past year from an unused building to a modern training facility fully equipped with everything you would expect to find in a veterinary surgery including a wet room, consultation room, operating theatre, grooming parlour and kennel facilities.

The Friends of Kirkley Hall donated over £2,000 to help Northumberland College fund the project. This money allowed the College to carry out the necessary refurbishment of the building and purchase vital pieces of equipment which you would expect to find in a functional veterinary surgery such as an x-ray machine, operating tables and scrub sinks.

Vicky McGarry, Animal Care Lecturer at Northumberland College said: “Opening the Bell Centre is the result of months of hard work from everybody who has been involved in this project including the staff and students of Northumberland College and The Friends of Kirkley Hall. We are extremely grateful for all of the help and support we have received.

“The new facilities offer our students a real life working environment in which they can simulate working practices which they would encounter working in a veterinary surgery.
“With the money donated by The Friends of Kirkley Hall we have been able to purchase all of the equipment which is a mandatory requirement for the College to be able to offer the Level 3 Diploma for Veterinary Nursing which we are hoping to start running from September.”

The Level 3 Diploma for Veterinary Nursing is for people who are looking to pursue a career in Veterinary Nursing or to progress onto a higher education course.

Malcolm Watson, Chairman of The Friends of Kirkley Hall said “The Grade II listed building dates back to the 18th Century when originally it was used as a sheep shearing centre. I find it remarkable that now it has been restored and its function has done a full circle and it is now being used as part of an animal centre.

“We are always pleased to be involved in projects with Northumberland College and the Kirkley Hall campus and we are delighted to see that the money we donated has been put to good use and will help students achieve great things in the future.”

The Bell Centre will also be open to the public as a grooming parlour. To make an appointment email grooming.parlour@northland.ac.uk

For more information about courses available at Northumberland College visit www.northumberland.ac.uk or call 01670 841 200 or email advice.centre@northland.ac.uk.