Mayor of Kettering opens new wellbeing space at Tresham College

Creating a welcoming space for student wellbeing

The Mayor of Kettering, Councillor Lauren Glanfield, has officially opened a new SEN wellbeing space at Tresham College, part of The Bedford College Group, as part of National Inclusion Week.

The Mayor visited the college’s Kettering campus on Thursday to open the new Haven, a fully accessible space where students can get support with their emotional wellbeing.

Situated at the heart of the campus, the Haven has different areas where students can socialise, relax or take some quiet time to reset and regulate before returning to lessons. Staff are also on hand to support students with their pastoral needs.

The space was designed and set up over the summer by Maggie Evans, Tresham College’s SEN Emotional Wellbeing Support Facilitator, with support from the college’s Estates team.

It includes a social area with sofas, a craft and dining table, small group work tables and a fully equipped sensory room, with bean bags, weighted blankets and fidget resources. Visual and interactive tools are also available to help students communicate, whether through speech or other forms of communication.

Mark Hughes, the new Principal of Tresham College Kettering, said:

“As we celebrate National Inclusion Week, Tresham College is incredibly proud to formally open the newly transformed ‘Haven’ at our Kettering campus. Designed with genuine care, compassion and attention to detail, this central hub offers a welcoming retreat for neurodivergent students. It stands as a testament to our ongoing mission to create accessible, supportive spaces where all learners feel they belong.”

Reflecting on what the new space means to students, Raffy Stephen-Smith shared:

“The haven is very inclusive, including various amounts of activities that people can do if they want to. It is also very nice with its increased space, which allows for more new people to also come and enjoy the space. I love how we celebrate different things like Inclusion Week and can be celebrated all together in our own Haven community.”

After officially opening the Haven and spending time with students, Mayor of Kettering, Councillor Lauren Glanfield, said:

“Inclusion means giving everyone an equal opportunity to succeed and ensuring every individual feels valued, heard and supported. The Haven is a wonderful example of how we can create spaces where people feel a sense of belonging, build confidence and reach their full potential”.

For Maggie Evans, SEN Emotional Wellbeing Support Facilitator at Tresham College, seeing the new Haven officially opened was a particularly proud moment:

“Having our Mayor here today to open our new Haven space, to celebrate students and of course National Inclusion Week has been a real honour.

When students feel safe, happy and included within our campus, they are more likely to achieve academically to their full potential. Supporting students’ achievements, celebrating their successes through student voice and raising their confidence within the Haven sits at the very heart of The Bedford College Group’s values. I am very proud to be in a position to guide them on their transitional journeys into adulthood.

The Haven was created to give our most vulnerable students a safe, calming space where they can reset and regulate, enabling them to return to their academic classes. It consists of a low sensory stimulation space that is zoned to enable full accessibility.”

The Haven also hosts lunch clubs, often linked to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion calendar, giving students the chance to explore different topics, take part in activities and crafts, and share their views.

The new space is an expansion of the smaller Haven, which was available at the Kettering campus last year and will provide more room and resources for students who need additional wellbeing support.

Find out more information about Tresham College.