Barnsley College students inspired by powerful speakers during Crime and Justice week

Barnsley College students took part in a powerful and thought-provoking week of guest speaker sessions, hearing first-hand accounts that explored youth violence, online safety, domestic abuse and the consequences of crime.

Throughout the week, staff and students heard from a range of influential speakers whose personal experiences and professional insight left a lasting impact on everyone who attended.

One of the week’s main events was a talk from Alison Cope, who shared the story of her son, Joshua Ribera, who was murdered in 2013. Alison now works across the UK to help prevent youth violence, using Joshua’s story to educate young people about the devastating realities and long-term consequences of violence.

Students also welcomed back former Barnsley College student James White, who returned to campus to share insights from his career as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). James delivered an engaging and informative session, giving learners a real understanding of life on the front line of community policing. He spoke about the responsibilities of a PCSO, the importance of strong communication skills, and the rewarding nature of supporting and protecting local communities.

Students also heard from Claire Throssell MBE, who spoke movingly about the deaths of her two sons, Jack and Paul, who were killed by their father. Since their deaths, Claire has campaigned tirelessly to improve child safety and stop unsafe child contact with perpetrators of domestic abuse. Her session offered a powerful insight into the importance of safeguarding and the changes she continues to fight for nationally.

Heather Winter, a local women’s safety campaigner, delivered a deeply personal and emotional account of her family’s experience of online grooming. Heather spoke openly about how her daughter was exploited by an adult male who manipulated her through online communication and persuaded her to travel to London to meet him. Her honesty and courage created a compelling learning experience for students and staff, highlighting the importance of online safety, recognising manipulation and understanding the risks young people face online.

Tim Haigh delivered an eye-opening talk based on his lived experience of youth crime, prison and joint enterprise. Tim spoke candidly about his past, the choices he made and the consequences that followed, giving students a rare and honest insight into issues that many young people may hear about but never fully understand. Now working across the country, Tim uses his experiences to educate others and encourage young people to make positive choices for their future.

Students also welcomed Wayne Denner, who delivered an engaging session on digital safety and online reputation. Through live demonstrations and practical advice, Wayne showed how quickly scams, identity theft and other online risks can escalate, while helping students understand how their digital footprint can affect personal safety, reputation and future opportunities.

The week gave students the opportunity to engage with challenging but important topics in a meaningful way, helping them to better understand the realities behind crime, exploitation, abuse and online harm. Each session encouraged reflection, raised awareness and reinforced the role students can play in protecting and supporting others in their future careers.

Shelley Gaunt, a Careers and Enterprise Officer at Barnsley College, said: “This week of guest speakers has given our students an invaluable opportunity to hear powerful real-life stories that have educated, challenged and inspired them. We are incredibly grateful to all of our speakers for sharing their experiences so openly and helping our students to develop a deeper understanding of the issues affecting individuals and communities today.”

Barnsley College would like to thank Alison Cope, James White, Claire Throssell MBE, Heather Winter, Tim Haigh and Wayne Denner for delivering such impactful sessions and supporting the development of the next generation of professionals.