FAQ's
What is the Star Appeal?
The Star Appeal is a £15.4 million capital fundraising campaign to provide new and improved facilities at the College for learning, creative expression, social development, preparation for employment and progress towards independent living.Why is it needed?
Over the past 40 years the National Star College has achieved great things, but today’s students present new
challenges as the College increasingly provides for those with the most severe and complex disabilities.
Advances in medicine and technology mean that more premature babies now survive birth and more children survive childhood illnesses and accidents, but with longer term serious disabilities
Improved mainstream educational provision allows students with less severe disabilities to be integrated into schools and colleges
How has this impacted on the National Star College?
Our campus is overstretched and outdated. Quite simply it is unable to cope with the increased severity of disability and needs of our students.
What is being done to address this?
Through a combination of new buildings, refurbishment, and conversion the College will provide the right facilities to meet the complex needs of current and future students. Some of the areas we plan to add to or improve include:
- Specially adapted student living accommodation
- A centre for work-related and community learning
- A multi-sensory, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy centre
- Improved and extended sports facilities and performing arts resources
- A new creative arts centre
- Flexible learning spaces
- Enhanced medical facilities
- Improved occupational, speech and language therapies facilities
- Enhanced student leisure and social facilities
- Sustainable energy to our rural campus
Click here for further information on our development plans
Where will the new campus be built?
The College will redevelop its existing campus, including land purchased in 2004 adjacent to the College’s campus at Ullenwood.
When will the building work start?
We’ve started already! Phase One of the project has already been completed with the development of a new residential building, Cleeve, which opened in January 2007
More Information
Phase Two is already completed, which includes the refurbishment of Shortwood, the construction of a new road and entrance to the College, and a Biomass installation.
The remaining work will be completed in 2009-12, subject to funding.
When will the Star Appeal end?
When we have all the money we need to complete our redevelopment plans. We have already raised just over £12 million, and hope to raise the remaining amount we need by the end of 20011-12.
Where has the money come from so far?
In July 2006, the College received approval for an ‘Application in Principle’ to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). This pledge of 50% support (c. £7.7 million) is the first major development capital investment by the LSC in the charitable, independent specialist sector.
In addition we have already fundraised just over £5 million as of June 2009. But we still have a long way to go.
How can people get involved and help the Star Appeal?
As a charity the College has always depended upon the support of individual donors, trusts, businesses and the wider community. We now need the help of our supporters more than ever. Our plans are ambitious, but with your help they are achievable. No one can put a price on the opportunities we will open up or the lives we will enrich. That is why everything and anything you can do to help will be infinitely valuable and worthwhile. Please help us.