Leicester College wins prestigious AoC Beacon Award

Leicester College is celebrating after being named as an Association of Colleges Beacon Award winner for its ‘striking’ efforts to encourage social integration. The Awards, which this year celebrate 16 years of rewarding outstanding teaching and learning in further education Colleges, were announced at a ceremony hosted by comedienne and author Shappi Khorsandi at the AoC’s Annual Conference in Birmingham on November 17.

Leicester College won the Churches’ Award for Sustainable College Partnerships that Recognise Diversity and Develop People and Communities for its community cohesion action plan. The Award recognises the work of Colleges and their chaplaincies and faith teams to developing local communities.

Leicester College, which serves a City with the highest proportion of minority ethnic groups in the country and areas of high social deprivation, prioritises community cohesion. Leicester’s success is due to the basic principles of College-wide communication, collaboration, training and monitoring.

A team of Faith Ambassadors, drawn from a number of different religions, aims to improve relationships both within the College and in the community and ensures that students witness people of different faiths working well together and distinctions are made between cultural and religious issues.

The judges agreed that the College has an excellent understanding of its local community and actively identifies and works with local partners to help create a more inclusive society and is demonstrably changing people’s lives.

The UK-wide Beacon Awards provide national recognition for excellence and innovation as well as acknowledging the talents of staff at all levels. They highlight the breadth and quality of education in the College sector.

Chair of the AoC Beacon Awards, Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb said: “Beacon winners blaze a trail in finding new ways of doing things; they contribute to social justice and are instrumental in local economic and social re-generation, essential during these turbulent times. Whilst the winners this year are located all across the UK, what they all share are the key traits of innovation, creativity, responsiveness and a collaborative approach. I am delighted on behalf of the AoC Charitable Trust to reward the contribution that these Colleges make; they are the pillars of our communities.”

College Principal Maggie Galliers CBE, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this Beacon Award.  We see Leicester’s diversity as one of its strengths and we have worked hard to make our College a welcoming and inclusive place for people of all faiths and cultures.  Much of our success in promoting inter-faith tolerance and understanding has been down to the close relationships we have developed with local groups and communities.  We are tremendously proud that our work together has been recognised as some of the most innovative and successful in the Country.”

Eddie Brittain, AoC Beacon Awards Lead Assessor said: “Having seen the Awards programme expand in the past 16 years, I am heartened, not only by the number of nominations and the engagement of the sector, but also by the degree of excellence that my fellow assessors and I witnessed when we spent time in these centres of learning. By presenting these Awards, the AoC showcases best practice, innovative development and continuous improvement, creating beacons that other Colleges can look to for help, inspiration and encouragement.”

Leicester College will host a local celebration event in the New Year and will be presented with their Award by the Rt. Hon. Kevin Brennan MP, Minister of State for Further Education, at a national presentation ceremony due to be held at Westminster in February 2010.