"It's something I've always wanted to do since I was a little girl, " added the former Plymouth College pupil.

BBC: Patten aiming to swim the Channel

Making Waves is also being supported by Plymouth University, Plymouth College of Art, the National Apprenticeship Service and Plymouth City Council.

BBC: Plymouth launches apprenticeship drive

The university was named with Plymouth College of Art among colleges which failed to meet targets in figures from the Office for Fair Access (Offa).

BBC: Exeter University pledge on poorer students

In 2007 and aged just thirteen she made the decision to leave Kenya and pursue her dream of being a world class swimmer by returning to the UK. She moved to the south west where she boarded at Plymouth College and befriended diver Tom Daley.

BBC: Decision time for British swimmer Achieng Ajulu-Bushell

Hope the Harris hawk is being used twice a week at Sir John Hunt Community Sports College in Plymouth.

BBC: Hawk used to scare seagulls away from Plymouth school

Two years ago, the bursar of the school, Peter Gorman, was arrested and later charged with fraud and intending to cause loss to the college and Plymouth City Council.

BBC: St Boniface's Catholic College head teacher suspended

St Boniface's Catholic College was founded by the Bishop of Plymouth in 1856 as an independent boarding and day school for "young Catholic gentlemen".

BBC: St Boniface's Catholic College head teacher suspended

The service took place at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth with many pupils from his school, Stoke Damerel Community College, performing at the service.

BBC: Funeral for ferry jump boy Jordan Cobb

In Devon there will be a reduced park-and-ride service in Plymouth, and a service will run from the city to Tavistock College.

BBC: First Bus strike: 'Disruption' in Devon and Cornwall

The centre is part of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, set up by the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth.

BBC: People really do like to be beside the seaside, study says