MP visits National Star in Hereford

Young people with disabilities from Hereford are making sure their voices are heard by the government.

The students at National Star College welcomed Ellie Chowns, MP for North Herefordshire, to their campus at Ledbury Road, Hereford.

They shared with Ellie about how coming to National Star had changed their lives and spoke of their hopes and fears about life after college.

Heather, a second year student at National Star, wants to work in a nursery when she finishes college but says it can be difficult to get work.

“Some people don’t want to employ people with disabilities,” says Heather. “If you want work in a nursery, you need a certain level of English and maths to get a job or work experience. That can be tricky for some people with disabilities.

“I don’t think they need to be so rigid with the maths and English, then more people can get the job.”

National Star, in partnership with charity Together Trust, has recently released a report on the challenges young adults with abilities face when leaving education.

Ellie said: “The students at National Star, like all young people with disabilities, have incredible potential and deserve the same opportunities as everyone else.

“While they face daily challenges living with a disability, the real barriers are made by us as a society who fail to recognise their value. Everyone deserves to live a meaningful life, accessing those activities that mean a lot to them — yet for too many, these fundamental rights are still out of reach.”

Ellie was also one of first visitors to see the college’s newly completed two-storey extension which will enable the charity to support more local young people with special education needs and disabilities.

The extension includes two new classrooms, two additional personal care rooms, a multi-skills kitchen and communal space. Students will start using some of the new space from May. It will be fully operational from September 2025.

“We truly appreciate Ellie coming to visit us and taking the time to listen to the students,” Sasha Narey, provision manager at National Star in Hereford.

“We are incredibly proud of the students and what they accomplish with us. They make Herefordshire a better place to live.”