Cambridge student is a ray of sunshine during lockdown

Functional Skills tutor, Suzanne Clarke has been finding unique ways to encourage her learners to continue with their English writing skills while on lockdown and in one instance this has led to the wonderful story of a Cambridge Regional College student going above and beyond to support people in lockdown.

Catering and Hospitality student, Alex Deane was tasked with producing a short letter for a hypothetical individual that may be at a low ebb during lockdown, but Alex had bigger plans. Having heard that his favourite teacher from secondary school had been ill and was keeping safe at home, Alex saw an opportunity to make a real difference. Worried that Ms Kent might be feeling anxious as well as unwell, Alex decided to make an Easter card with a short poem to assure his former teacher that she was not alone. Knowing that Ms Kent enjoys gardening, Alex used materials that he already had at home to create two beautiful flowers and inserted the following message;

We hope you are better
and not feeling blue
Happy Easter
We’re thinking of you.

Upon receiving her Easter card, Ms Kent immediately emailed Alex to thank him for such a kind gesture and what better way would there be than to write a short poem of her own

Well, what a treat has come my way,
a card from Alex,
has made my day!

Ms Kent said, ‘What a beautiful card with fab flowers. Such a lot of work has gone into that card. I am so very, very grateful, it has  cheered me up no end!’

What started as a distance learning English task turned into a heartfelt gesture, delivered with genuine care and attention demonstrating that in uncertain times there is always a ray of sunshine.

Functional skills tutor, Suzanne Clarke added, ‘We are so proud that Alex took it upon himself to turn this challenge into a reality, one that has made a real difference to someone else at this difficult, uncertain time’.