Opportunities in and near Barnstaple

Attend a Swansea visit to explore the University of Wales Trinity Saint David campus, its courses and student services. The event is designed for prospective students who want to get a feel for the university environment and learn more about what studying at UWTSD could be like. Visitors can meet teaching staff and current students, ask questions about course options and student life, and find out more about the support and opportunities available at the university. You can attend on the day or contact the student recruitment team to learn more beforehand.

The University of Exeter Open Days give prospective students the chance to explore the university first-hand. Visitors can learn about degree programmes, support services and student life, while also getting a feel for the campuses and the wider university community. Across the day, attendees can join subject-specific sessions, hear general talks about applying and student life, browse information stands and take campus tours. Students will also have the chance to speak with academics and current students, helping them decide whether Exeter is the right place for their studies. The university also offers other ways to visit, including campus tours, virtual open day content and offer-holder visit days for applicants who already have an offer. Visitors can book in advance, and guests are welcome to attend many parts of the event alongside the prospective student.

Join Cat Nash for a hands-on creative workshop focused on making a beautiful free machine art collar. The session introduces free motion embroidery and shows participants how to set up a sewing machine for this style of work, with step-by-step guidance throughout. Using chalk and visual tools, attendees will plan their design, think carefully about colour choices, and then create a custom collar using their own imagination. The workshop has a strong sustainable fashion theme, with an emphasis on upcycled and reclaimed materials. It is designed for people who already feel confident using a sewing machine, and it offers an opportunity to develop practical textile skills while making a unique, wearable piece of art.

Okehampton Music Centre is a music-learning initiative run by Community Links South West CIC for children and young people. It aims to encourage participation in music from an early age through to age 18, helping learners build confidence, creativity, and self-esteem while developing a love of music that can last a lifetime. The centre offers three routes: a Junior Music Centre for ages 3 to 7, a Senior Music Centre for ages 7 to 18, and GCSE music lessons plus an introductory music studies class for home educated children. Activities include learning to play instruments, singing, music-making, and having fun in a supportive environment. New beginner classes open each September, with registration starting at an open session in the preceding summer term. Drop-in taster sessions are also offered during the summer term, and families can join a waiting list or enquire about joining at other points in the year.

The University of Exeters Undergraduate funding and scholarships page summarises the range of financial support available to students arriving at university for the first time. The page explains merit-based scholarships and non-competitive bursaries to help those from lower household incomes, plus specialist schemes such as the Sanctuary Scholarship for asylum seekers and refugees, sports and choral scholarships, and targeted entrance awards for applicants with regional or school links. There is detailed information on means-tested awards such as the Access to Exeter Bursary (ATE) with household-income bands and annual payment amounts for 2026/27, care-leaver and estranged-student bursaries, travel scholarships (including study-abroad awards), and short-term hardship funding. The page also describes eligibility rules and application processes for specific awards (for example Entrance Scholarship criteria and how to request application forms). Additional support and services are referenced, including Disabled Students Allowance, travel and bus bursaries for Penryn Campus students, the Student Carers Travel Fund (maximum 400 per year) and contacts for enquiries (Student Information Desk / admissions-scholarships email addresses). The page is intended for prospective and incoming undergraduate students (including mature students) and signposts how entitlement is assessed and how to apply or request application forms.

Join the Swansea College of Art Open Day to explore the campus, meet staff and current students, and learn about the courses and student support available at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. The event offers an opportunity to see teaching and studio facilities, ask questions about course content and entry requirements, and get a feel for student life at the College. The open day takes place at Swansea College of Art, Campus Dynevor Place, De-La Beche Street, Swansea (SA1 3EU) on Sunday 28 June 2026 from 10:00 to 14:30. The event is aimed at prospective students considering art and creative courses, including school/college applicants and their families who want to learn more about study options and services at UWTSD.

The Nelson Trust Swansea Women’s Centre runs a twice-weekly Lunch Club offering a hot, nutritious meal and a safe, trauma-informed space for women facing multiple disadvantage. As a Lunch Club Volunteer you will help plan, purchase and prepare meals, account for dietary requirements, assist with serving, clearing away and washing up, and maintain basic stock checks in the kitchen. This role requires practical kitchen skills and a passion for cooking: creativity to support menu options, time management and organisational skills, and a reliable, approachable manner. You will need a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate or be willing to complete one online (the Trust can arrange and fund this). Volunteers receive a full induction, relevant training and ongoing support, with opportunities for personal development. Successful applicants must be female (occupational requirement), will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check and an Enhanced Level 1 Vetting with HMPPS, and provide two referees. For more information or to discuss the role contact Anna O’Hara at anna.ohara@nelsontrust.com. To apply, log in or register on Volunteering Wales and follow the application process for this vacancy.

Join a student-led or self-guided campus tour to explore the University of Exeter's grounds, buildings and key student areas across its three campuses. Student Ambassadors guide visitors around study spaces, sports facilities, social areas and main university buildings, welcoming questions and sharing first-hand experience of student life. Tours run regularly during term time with fewer dates during vacation periods; tour dates are published on the website approximately a month beforehand. Campus tours give an overview of the campus but do not include subject department visits or internal accommodation viewings. Self-guided and 360° virtual tours are available for visitors who prefer to explore at their own pace or cannot attend in person. The University has three campuses: Streatham and St Luke's (Exeter) and the Penryn Campus (near Falmouth, Cornwall). Penryn also runs Explore Postgraduate Cornwall events that combine a campus tour with opportunities to speak with Graduate School staff and students; details and booking links are provided on the campus tours webpages.

University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Open Days and Open Evenings are held throughout the year to help prospective students explore courses and campuses. These events let visitors meet teaching staff and current students, view facilities, and get personalised guidance on choice of course and next steps for application. The programme includes both undergraduate and postgraduate sessions, with specific open evenings aimed at prospective undergraduate applicants. Examples listed on the page include a Postgraduate Open Evening (Wednesday 11 March, 17:00-19:00) offering information on postgraduate courses, funding and the Postgraduate Taught Fee Discount of up to £2,500 for UWTSD students and alumni, and undergraduate open evenings at the Carmarthen and Swansea campuses (Tuesday 17 March and Thursday 19 March respectively, 16:00-18:00). The website provides an Open Day Programme and FAQs to help visitors plan their day and identify who they should speak to. Travel information notes that campuses are well connected by car, train, bus and bike to make journeys straightforward. The events are presented as opportunities to ask detailed questions about courses, meet academics and students, and gather information to inform study and application decisions.

This Field Studies Council small-group field course offers A Level Geography students practical preparation for their individual Non-Exam Assessment (NEA). Over five days based at Margam Discovery Centre (Margam Park, between Swansea and Cardiff) students prepare, plan and collect primary data across coastal, urban and parkland environments, and receive guided tuition on field methods, data collection and analysis.

The course combines on-site workshops and supervised field sessions (coastal work at Newton, urban work at Porthcawl and surveys within Margam Park), evening data analysis and statistical sessions, and dedicated NEA workshops covering question formulation, secondary research, risk assessment and methodology. Small-group and individual student days are designed for individual students, home-educated students or schools with small cohorts. Full-board accommodation, in-course transport and expert tuition are included where residential options apply; under-18 participants from a single school must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Swansea Universitys Undergraduate Open Day invites prospective undergraduate students to visit its campuses, meet teaching staff and current students, and explore teaching facilities. Attendees can look around accommodation options, sporting facilities and student support services, and talk to student ambassadors to get an insight into student life.

The Open Day programme includes talks and sessions across the day; registration opens from 08:30 and the day finishes at approximately 16:00. The university highlights that Spring Open Days include similar content to Applicant Days or Offer Holder Days. Visitors are asked to book in advance and bring their ticket to the event.

Further information and a full list of FAQs are available on the universitys Open Days pages, including details about financial support and accommodation options which can be explored during the visit.

Tune Supply’s online "Dance the Tune" workshop with Nic Gareiss explores the musical potential of percussive step dance. Through imitation, idiomatic ornaments, and extended techniques for shoe sounds and textures, participants learn how to shape rhythm lines that echo melody and create rhythmic counterpoint, while developing listening, responsiveness, and sonic awareness.

The workshop is designed for dancers and interested instrumentalists of all levels. It is taught by ear and recorded for registered students, so you can join live or catch up later. Participants should wear comfortable smooth-soled shoes with a low or no heel to get the most from the session.

Hearing the Archive is an online Tune Supply workshop led by Cleek Schrey that explores how contemporary traditional musicians can learn from historic audio and digitized field recordings. The session focuses on listening deeply to archival sound, identifying what counts as musical information, and translating older styles into present-day playing.

Participants will take part in shared listening, close analysis of specific historic performances, and practical discussion of the technical, technological, and aesthetic challenges of working with archive recordings. The workshop is designed for players of all melody instruments and all levels, and it is presented in a way that welcomes both new and experienced participants.

Attendees receive a curated roadmap of historic performances, a resource guide for finding online traditional music archives, and a framework for turning style, tone, and inflection from old recordings into usable ideas in their own music-making. Registered students also receive the class recording after the session, so they can revisit the material later.

This online Tune Supply workshop focuses on building strong tune sets for traditional music performance and session playing. Participants will explore how to construct consonant sets by paying attention to keys, moods, and the movement from one tune to the next, including both seamless and more dramatic transitions.

The session draws on historic sets as a template, but it is also highly practical and participant-led: learners will work with family favourites and ideas shared in the Zoom room. The workshop is suitable for all melody instruments, and accompanying players may also find useful material for their own playing.

The class is taught by ear and is open to all levels. Registered students receive the recording after the workshop, so it can be useful both for live participation and later review.

This workshop looks at the music of Pádraig O’Keeffe through his manuscript notation and the slides and polkas that have come down through the Sliabh Luachra tradition. It introduces the ideas behind his notation methods and how his bowing directives shape the rhythmic personality of these tune types. Participants will learn a number of tunes from the manuscripts while also gaining context about one of the most influential Irish traditional musicians of the twentieth century. The class combines ear learning with sheet music, and the recording is made available to registered students after the workshop.

This conversational workshop explores the elements that make a beautiful Irish slow air, with an emphasis on listening, discussion, and practical application. Although the class is based around whistle playing, the ideas and techniques are framed so they can be adapted to any musical instrument. Class participation is encouraged throughout, with time for shared reflection and musical exploration. The workshop is taught by ear and includes a recording for registered students, so it can be enjoyed live or revisited later.

This online Tune Supply workshop explores how to build tasteful variations into traditional Irish flute and whistle playing. The session focuses on why tunes often change subtly from one repeat to the next, and how players can use chord structure, rhythmic shifts, and melodic ideas to create variation that still feels authentic and musical.

The workshop goes further into the instrument-specific details that shape variation on flute and whistle, including octave jumps, breathing placement, and characteristic notes such as the hard D and bent C natural. Participants will also look at how these ideas can be applied to specific well-known traditional tunes, making the material practical and directly usable in performance or session settings.

The class is suitable for flute and whistle players at all levels, and it is taught in a combination of ear learning and sheet music support. Registered students receive the class recording immediately after the workshop, so it is designed to work both for live attendance and for later viewing.

This workshop focuses on effective chord shapes and progressions for Irish guitar playing in standard and drop-D tuning. The class is centred on building ease and fluidity in accompaniment, with an emphasis on supporting traditional Irish music and songs. The session is taught by ear and is designed for players who want practical tools they can use straight away in session or performance settings. A class recording is provided to registered students, making it suitable for both live attendance and later practice.

Lancaster University’s Practical Budgeting webinar is designed for applicant students who are due to commence their studies in the 2026/27 academic year. It introduces practical money-management skills for young people who may be living independently for the first time, covering everyday costs such as meals, rent, household items, toiletries, haircuts and bus tickets. The session aims to help attendees understand how to budget effectively and make smarter spending decisions as they prepare for university life. There will be time at the end for questions, giving applicants the chance to get advice and clarify any concerns about managing money. This is an open event and registration is required. Participants can use an alias when signing up and do not need to switch their camera on, making it easy to attend comfortably and privately.

Mentoring United’s MU Mentorship Programme is a year-long mentoring offer for boys aged 11 to 18 in the UK. It is designed to help students strive for excellence in their studies, careers, and communities through structured support and guidance. The programme includes online group sessions built around the PAGE curriculum, which focuses on purpose, career awareness, good grades, and emotional intelligence. Participants also take part in in-person enrichment trips, one-to-one coaching calls, essay writing feedback, and a personal development report to track each student’s progress. The programme is offered on a rolling basis and spaces are limited.