HSDC is dedicated to providing its students with the best educational opportunities possible regardless of their background, and one student who embodies this is Arlo Kearns.
In June 2024, Arlo, who has multiple complex disabilities and uses an electric wheelchair, was one of 11 students to go on an 18-day trip to Mexico, funded by the Turing Scheme. The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s programme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world, helping to provide students with life-changing experiences.
As a former media student at Alton College, Arlo used the trip as an opportunity to film a documentary of his experiences. The documentary was screened at HSDC Havant on Wednesday 6 November, giving Arlo, his classmates, staff and guests a heartwarming moment to celebrate his success.
This documentary, and subsequent Q&A, shed light on the challenges Arlo faced during the trip, and the steps that he, and the people around him, took to alleviate these.
Arlo believes that the documentary is a “launchpad” for his personal and professional aspirations, and has given him the confidence to look at how to further develop his skills. Speaking about his time directing the documentary, Arlo said
“Electric chairs are foreign to a lot of people. I hadn’t even touched a proper camera a week before we flew out to Mexico. It gave me a great perspective on how shots are composed, and the importance of collaboration. Using the camera gave me a sense of independence and opened up a lot of opportunities. It showed me that I can do it, that it’s possible.”
HSDC’s primary vision for its students is to use educational opportunities to transform their lives, with Arlo’s story being a testament to this. Aaron Butson, Assistant Principal for Business, Employment & Skills said:
“The Turing Scheme is one of the main ways that HSDC is able to realise its vision of transforming these students’ lives with the power of education. It’s an incredible honour to be involved in schemes like this.”
Since 2022, HSDC has completed four successful Turing bids, allowing the College to run trips to India and Switzerland, as well as Mexico, involving 85 students in total.
This wonderful and unique experience really showcases HSDC’s dedication to changing the lives of its students. No matter the personal challenges they may face, the College is wholly committed to pushing students to overcome their adversities and aspire to do great things.
HSDC’s Turing Coordinator, Julio Carillo, who helped to supervise the students on the Mexico trip, said that being able to celebrate the experiences of Arlo and his peers was a feeling like no other:
“The transformational impact of these experiences is second to none. Watching Arlo face these challenges, overcome them and put them in his documentary was incredibly moving to watch. It’s such an incredible honour to be at the forefront of this experience.”
The Turing Scheme continues to play a pivotal role in transforming student’s lives, with HSDC having two trips scheduled for 2025 involving another 39 students – India in February, and Mexico in the summer. It’s an invaluable experience for these students, and represents the core of what makes studying at HSDC so special.
Arlo’s story is one of sheer hope and triumph, and one that continues to inspire everyone at the College. Now at university, Arlo is hoping to seize the opportunity to go on placement years abroad with the hopes of pursuing a career in the media industry. Without the trip to Mexico, Arlo believes that he would have never considered these opportunities, making the Turing Scheme a real chance to change the lives of students across the country, regardless of their background.
For more information about the Turing Scheme, please visit: https://www.turing-scheme.org.uk/.