Our Safeguarding and Welfare Team has been shortlisted alongside two other finalists – Education Partnership North East and City College Plymouth – for the RCU Award for Support for Students 2022/23.
This award seeks to recognise, celebrate and promote examples of student support provided by colleges for a significant group of learners, across a whole provision or college wide approach.
Our staff have incorporated the five pillars of Contextualised Safeguarding (Collaborative, Ecological, Rights-Based, Strengths-Based and Evidence-Informed) into their daily activity and developed a unique Safeguarding Personal Development Programme.
Students have applied their learning as part of the Greater Manchester Safer Streets campaign to challenge street harassment and to help keep women and girls safe on public transport.
We have also worked with key partners to pioneer a new ‘Street Doctors’ programme teaching emergency life-saving skills to young people with a focus on injuries sustained from stabbing incidents. This programme has informed young people about their legal rights if they are in a violent situation, and has built their social and emotional skills.
Mark White OBE DL, Chair of AoC’s Charitable Trust said: “The AoC Beacon Awards showcase exactly why colleges are so important to every community and why people value them. The work of the finalists demonstrates outstanding examples of information, advice and guidance for students.”
Alun Francis, Oldham College Principal & Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that Oldham College has been named as a finalist in this year’s Beacon Awards.”
“This is in recognition of the commitment and brilliant work of our Safeguarding and Welfare Team. So many of our students are benefitting from their innovation and dedication – and that’s not just through their day-to-day work: it’s also through their delivery of pioneering projects like Street Doctors and Safer Streets alongside our partners.
“The Beacon Awards highlights and promotes best practice among further education colleges, so to be a finalist is a very proud moment for our staff.”
The AoC Beacon Award Winners will be revealed in Spring 2023 following a visit by assessors in January.
