A specialist further education college in Openshaw received a visit from the Mayor of Trafford this week.

Mayor Rob Chilton met with staff and students at Bridge College, which supports students under-25 with learning difficulties, disabilities or other complex health needs.

Mayor Chilton said: “It was a genuine pleasure to meet the students and staff here at Bridge College and everyone has been so welcoming.

I’ve been impressed to see how engaged the students are and it was really inspirational to see them not only developing valuable new skills, but also to see how happy they are to be learning and just how much they value life here at the college.

“I was also very impressed by the dedication of the staff. It’s clear that they have a great team here at Bridge College, who are thoroughly dedicated to supporting the students in meeting their goals and aspirations.”

The college offers routes into hospitality and catering, horticulture, art and media, sports, outdoor education and music.

It also runs a supported internship, working with employers to help people aged 16 to 25 with a disability into paid employment.

Mayor Chilton toured the college’s new café, which offers students the chance to gain experience of working in catering

Lisa Duncalf, Principal of the College, said: “We’re delighted that the Mayor visited us today.

“We feel it’s important to take every opportunity to show elected representatives, from across the North of England, how our large multi-disciplinary team of nurses, therapists, psychologists, support staff and tutors combine their efforts to meet the needs of individual students.

“There’s a great need for specialist services such as Bridge College and by having someone like Mayor Chilton come and visit us we’re able to highlight all the hard work put in by our students and our members of staff, and to celebrate their achievements.

“And everyone really appreciated the fact that the Mayor took the time to talk to them and to find out more about them as people and to learn all about the great things we’re doing here at Bridge College.”