Two students from Coleg Sir Gâr have won gold in two national skills competition heats in the carpentry and health and life sciences categories.

Inclusive Skills is part of Skills Competitions Wales and is backed by the Welsh Government - designed to celebrate vocational skills for young people with learning difficulties or disabilities to help equip them with essential life. learning and employability skills for the future.

Ebony Evans, 17, from Cross Hands and Joshua Kerr, 18, from Ammanford are just two of 11 Welsh youngsters who have been perfecting their skills in a bid to win a medal. Across a range of vocations, these budding skilled individuals could be chosen to represent Wales and Coleg Sir Gâr in the carpentry and health and life sciences categories at this year's Skills Show in Birmingham. Competing against youngsters from across the UK, the pair could potentially join 82 Welsh competitors to be part of Team Wales.

Ebony competed against one other student completing a series of health and life science challenges within a 40 minute time period, including preparing a healthy meal plan which accommodated different religious dietary requirements. Ebony, who is studying health and social care through a traineeship, said she is thrilled to have won.

“I’m so pleased to have won the competition, I feel like all my hard work has paid off and I’m excited about maybe going on to the next stage.

“We studied a range of different cultures in college and had to remember their dietary requirements while making sure the meal plan was well balanced and healthy. I feel really proud of myself and it’s made me think more about a future career in health and social care.”

Joshua, who studies an entry level qualification in timber products, completed a series of carpentry challenges to win his gold medal by making a small wooden box using different joinery methods and demonstrating safety in the workshop. He said: “Being successful in this competition has made me think of all the different things I could do with a carpentry qualification, there’s so many options in the woodwork trade. For now, I’m going to concentrate on getting to the next stage of my competition journey and making my family proud of me.”