A combined staff and student effort at a Warwickshire college has received national recognition as part of the legacy of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group) has been named the latest winner of the Royal Anniversary Trust Student Trial Prize Fund through the Platinum Jubilee Challenge.
The college group has been given £5,000 by the Royal Anniversary Trust to bring its concept of online learning modules - which focus on making sustainability and climate change a more accessible subject - to life.
Ben Fairhurst, head of FE quality and international programmes at WCG and business administration apprentices and AS Level English students at Royal Leamington Spa College, led the entry to win the prize.
WCG were one of only five winners that were announced at the Platinum Jubilee Challenge residential, and the only college to be recognised by the 42-strong judging panel - comprised of representatives from colleges and universities from across the UK.
Ben Fairhurst said: “It’s fantastic to have won the prize and be recognised for what the college can bring to the spheres of sustainability and climate change.
“The group were committed to presenting a project with sustainability considerations at its core.
“Despite our resources being lighter than others, receiving the extra funding shows that we have a clear plan for educating future employees and students of the college about the importance of sustainability and climate change.
“We’re excited to deliver our new platform as a result of the generous funding from the Royal Anniversary Trust, and hope we can improve understanding and work to eradicate myths around the subject that is fundamental to the college’s ongoing strategy.”
Kristina Murrin, CEO at The Royal Anniversary Trust, said: “We’d like to congratulate WCG on its successful sustainability and climate change entry.
“All entries were considered thoroughly at the Challenge's 4-day residential and voted on by its 42 participants. We were thrilled by the overall quality of the entries and pleased to see such brilliant ideas being produced by the staff and students at WCG, as they try to help us tackle one of the biggest issues that is currently facing our planet.”
Ben, as nominated student challenge lead for WCG, was invited to submit a proposal in conjunction with the students on sustainability and climate change, alongside other past winners of the Queen's Anniversary Prizes - numbering 21 in total.
After winning the Prize, WCG will now work with its partners at Planet Mark, a sustainability certification company that verifies and measures carbon and social data to reduce emissions, to bring the modules to fruition as early as September 2022.
WCG is in its nineth consecutive year of Planet Mark Business Certification, which requires organisations to make year-on-year reductions in carbon emissions.
Amelie Trolle, Head of Engagement at Planet Mark, said: “We’re looking forward to working with WCG on delivering these engaging and informative learning modules.
“We’re seeking to inform and inspire students to identify opportunities for themselves to take action today and to make sustainability part of their future careers.
“We hope that our emphasis on solutions and sustainability innovations will also help address feelings of climate anxiety which are prevalent amongst young people today.”
IMAGE CAPTION: Eve Turner and Ben Fairhurst outside Royal Leamington Spa college, part of WCG.