Author Archives: Amber Tennant

autumn leaves - health and fitness tips

Health and Fitness Tips of the Month: October

Stoptober

Did you know smoking is the biggest cause of death and illness in the UK? 1 cigarette contains around 4800 chemicals; only 69 are known. Smoking can cause unrepairable damage to our lungs which make it harder for smokers to breathe.

Passive smoking is dangerous because although you can’t see the smoke the chemicals can still be in the air and on clothing. This can increase the chances of a non-smoker developing lung cancer.

If you need advice on how to stop smoking contact your GP or have a look on the NHS website. There are lots of way to assist you in quitting smoking such as the E-cig, nicotine patch, nicotine chewing gum, nasal/mouth spray and tablets.

Stop smoking for 28 days in October for Stoptober and take part in a nationwide challenge!

Water

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends an intake of 2.5 litres of water for men and 2.0 litres of water for women per day, via food and drink consumption. Of this, they suggest that 70-80% of the daily water intake should come from drinks, and the remaining 20-30% should come from food.” (http://www.naturalhydrationcouncil.org.uk/hydration-facts/)

Based on the above and that a glass is approx. 250ml, you should aim to drink at least:

  • 1750ml (7 cups) to 2000ml (8 cups) men per day
  • 1400ml (5.6 cups) to 1600ml (6.4 cups) women per day
  • Or a glass of water every 2 to 3 hours (based on a 14 hour day)
  • Or 2.5 to 4 glasses during your day at college. (total 625ml to 1000ml)

The Art of Music

When people are looking to enjoy life they often turn to music. Whether it’s a Beatle’s ballad, Mozart’s Requiem or Ed Sheeran’s latest, music plays as a background to our greatest life changing moments.

However, it may be wrong to think of it as just background music. Music can have a much more active effect on our wellbeing. According to scientists music affects the body in physical ways. It can cause changes to the elements that make up our body, how it deals with situations.

It is fairly obvious that music can make us happier, it gives us a natural high. But it can also lower stress, help you sleep better, reduce depression, even reduce your need for food and keep you slimmer. Its effects on our body can even make us run faster.

Listening to music helps our brain take in information. It can help you learn, increase your ability to think and your verbal skills. Most importantly it can keep your brain young.

Then there is the known uses of music as medicine. It can help dementia sufferers regain their memory, overcome pain, counteract stroke effects on the brain and help patients prepare for and recover from surgery.

All of these are affected by listening to music but the effects are amplified when the subject is actively involved, either playing music instruments or just simply singing. Music should not stay in the background. Bring it to the front of your life.

 

World Teachers’ Day: Train the next generation of veterinary nurses!

Today is World Teachers’ Day!

Have you been there, done that and got the gown and gloves?

If so, why not share your knowledge and experience of veterinary nursing with the next generation?

At The College of Animal Welfare we regularly recruit for a number of teaching positions. Previous experience in teaching is not usually required, as successful candidates will join our teacher training programme and be mentored as their career develops. A list of roles that we have recruited for in 2017 so far can be found below…

Veterinary Nursing Lecturer

Lecturing is perfect for those with a genuine enthusiasm and passion for their subject. As a veterinary nursing lecturer, you would teach on a range of programmes, such as the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing programmes. You may also have the opportunity to attend events on behalf of your employer, or teach on short course programmes. Find out more about what it’s like to be a lecturer at CAW

Clinical Tutor

As a clinical tutor you would provide support to veterinary practices and students in college and on placement. You would be responsible for managing key relationships between employers and clinical coaches. Day-to-day you would undertake regular visits to Training Practices to support clinical coaches. You could also be presenting clinical coach training sessions and standardisation events, as well as delivering student support.

Academic Assistant

Academic assistants are responsible for supporting students across a range of courses; liaising with lecturers, student and employers where necessary to help them achieve their qualification.  View the job description

If you’re keen to use your knowledge to help the next generation, but can’t see yourself leaving practice, have you considered training as a clinical coach? Clinical coaches act as a mentor to veterinary nursing students in practice, and support them in completion of their Nursing Progress Log (NPL). We offer free clinical coach training to those working at CAW Training Practices, and those supporting CAW students.View our upcoming clinical coach training sessions

View current vacancies at CAW
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Animal abusers to face up to five years in prison under tough new proposals

People who abuse animals in England will face up to five years in prison under tough new proposals.

The Government is planning to raise the maximum sentence from six months in jail.

The new proposals come following a series of shocking animal abuse cases, in which courts said they would have liked to impose tougher sentences if they had the option.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “We are a nation of animal lovers and so we must ensure that those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals face suitably tough punishments.

“These plans will give courts the tools they have requested to deal with the most abhorrent acts.”

As the draft proposals are unlikely to face opposition in Parliament, the new guidelines are expected to come into force early next year.

Further information

world food day competition poster

E&D Competition of the Month: World Food Day (16 October)

This month’s prize competition topic is World Food Day – enter and be in with a chance to win a £20 amazon voucher!

World Food Day, celebrated on 16 October, is an annual worldwide day of action dedicated to tackling global hunger. The focus of the day is to promote food as a basic and fundamental human right, and to show commitment to providing food security and nutritious diets for all.

In order to be in with a chance of winning a £20 amazon voucher, you simply need to submit an effort you have made to engage with and/or raise awareness of the topic World Food Day to marketing@caw.ac.uk by Wednesday 25 October 2017.

What you choose to submit is open to your interpretation, meaning you can enter anything you feel is relevant. This could be anything from artwork and videos, to personal stories, blogs, fundraising efforts or poems. If you’re struggling to think of ideas, you could send us…

  • Artwork – Art has the power to create positive social change. Perhaps there is a particular societal problem involving food poverty or security that you care about. Why not create a poster or leaflet to highlight this?
  • Personal stories – What role does food play in your life? Do you have any family dinner traditions you can tell us about? How about a meal that is special to you? Telling a personal story is a great way to reach out to others and break down stigma.
  • Blogs – Blogging is one of the most accessible ways to share your ideas with others, and there are endless possibilities when it comes to what you can write about. You could write about cooking, baking, your favourite meals, food security and poverty, education… or cakes?!

These are just a few ideas. Remember – we will consider whatever you choose to submit, provided it fits the theme!

Good luck!

This competition is open to all students and staff at The College of Animal Welfare. Entries should be sent to marketing@caw.ac.uk, or handed in to College, by Wednesday 25 October 2017.

 

heart in the sand - world heart day

World Heart Day! (29 Sept)

World Heart Day is celebrated on the 29th September each year and is a campaign where people around the work participate in activities to take charge of their heart health and that of others!

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the world today. You can find out more about how World Heart Day here, and how it came about https://www.worldheartday.org/

Here are some healthy heart tips to get you thinking:

Get Active: Getting – and staying – active can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. It can also be a great mood booster and stress buster.

Get your 5 a day: Eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day. They’re a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Fish: Eat fish at least twice a week, including a portion of oily fish. Fish such as mackerel, sardines, fresh tuna and salmon are a source of omega-3 fats, which can help protect against heart disease.

Cut down on salt and saturated fat: Eating too many foods that are high in saturated fat can raise the level of cholesterol in your blood. This increases your risk of heart disease. To maintain healthy blood pressure, avoid using salt at the table and try adding less to your cooking.

dog peeking through a fence - keep microchipping information up-to-date

Dog’s Trust urge owners to update microchipping information

Dog’s Trust is urging all UK dog owners to ensure their dogs’ microchip information is up-to-date.

The message comes following the publication of the organisation’s Stray Dog Survey, which revealed that 181 dogs go missing every day.

The research found that 69% of the microchipped stray dogs taken in by Local Authorities were not able to be reunited with their owners, as their microchips contained out of date information. Because of this, many of these dogs risked the threat of being put to sleep by local authorities.

The charity suspects that these dogs may be much loved family pets which have sadly ended up permanently separated from their families because their owner’s had moved house or changed their phone number, and neglected to contact the microchip database to update their contact details on their dog’s microchip.

The research also revealed that only one in four people know to contact the local dog warden if they find a stray dog.

For further information visit the Dog’s Trust website.

 

dog peeking through a fence - keep microchipping information up-to-date

Dog’s Trust urge owners to update microchipping information

Dog’s Trust is urging all UK dog owners to ensure their dogs’ microchip information is up-to-date.

The message comes following the publication of the organisation’s Stray Dog Survey, which revealed that 181 dogs go missing every day.

The research found that 69% of the microchipped stray dogs taken in by Local Authorities were not able to be reunited with their owners, as their microchips contained out of date information. Because of this, many of these dogs risked the threat of being put to sleep by local authorities.

The charity suspects that these dogs may be much loved family pets which have sadly ended up permanently separated from their families because their owner’s had moved house or changed their phone number, and neglected to contact the microchip database to update their contact details on their dog’s microchip.

The research also revealed that only one in four people know to contact the local dog warden if they find a stray dog.

For further information visit the Dog’s Trust website.

 

Help CAW Edinburgh raise money for the CCLG!

Our team in Edinburgh are “going gold” this September/October, in aid of the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG)!

The team will be kicking off their fundraising efforts with cake sales on the 4th and 18th October. If you are in college on those days, treat yourself to a yummy cake and help raise money for an excellent cause.

What’s more – the CAW Edinburgh team will be raising money for the charity by completing a 40 mile bike ride around Fife on the 21st October! 

To help the team raise money for this vital cause, you can donate directly to their fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/team-caw

the caw edinburgh team - cclg fundraisingIMG_0495

European Day of Languages (26 September) – Broaden your horizons, learn a language!

Learning a new language takes time and commitment, but offers a rewarding set of advantages to your mental health. Studies show that bilingualism improves memory, organisational skills and performance in other academic areas. The process of learning a new language can also help you to understand your own native language in more depth. Why not take on the challenge? See our language learning tips below to get the best out of the experience of learning a language.

Make use of free language learning materials
You can find free resources on almost any subject you could ever want to learn about online. Prospective language learners should consider joining Duolingo – a gamified website that offers a variety of language courses free of charge. Open culture promotes free podcasts and videos, giving people the opportunity to choose from over 45 different languages.

Learn while you browse
Your browsing habits can be easily turned into a means to learn more vocabulary. Readlang is a free extension that translates words from your webpages, and then generates flashcards to help you remember them.

Learn through entertainment
Understanding language through popular culture can be a fun diversion from studying from a dictionary or book. You could watch a foreign movie or read a newspaper printed in your chosen language.

Connect with other people
Studying textbooks is a good way to build up a solid understanding of the structures behind different languages. However, if you’re unable to apply your newfound knowledge in real life, then your academic efforts have gone to waste. Broken conversations with native speakers might initially be tedious and awkward, but there’s only so far studying from a book can take you before it becomes crucial to learn by application.

To find out more about how you can promote language learning, you can visit the European Day of Languages website.

Being able to speak one language well can enhance your career prospects for life. If you’re looking to improve your understanding of English, our Functional Skills in English courses are open to anyone based in the UK. More information on how to apply can be found on our website.

red squirrel awareness week - red squirrel in a tree

Red Squirrel Awareness Week – Go Nuts for Squirrels!

This week is red squirrel awareness week!

This once common species has been on the decline, with numbers in the UK falling from approximately 3.5 million, to an estimated 120,000 (15,000 of which are thought to be in England).

Find out how you can help protect these wonderful redheads on the Wildlife Trust website.

Why not go on a Squirrel Safari and report your findings to The Wildlife Trust. Autumn is a great time to spot them as they forage for nuts to store for the winter!

Here are some facts about the nation’s favourite nutkin!

  • Like us, squirrels can either be left or right handed
  • They are strong swimmers
  • A red squirrels tails is used for balance, communication, to slow them when jumping…. And as a snuggly blanket!
  • Their ankles are double jointed to allow them to go down a tree headfirst.