Championing equality
In 2023 the Group attended the AoC Beacon Awards and was announced the winner of The National Centre for Diversity’s Award for Inclusive Learning Leadership. This was awarded as a result of demonstrating “a high level of innovation, impact and sustainability.”
“For nearly a decade, this College has led the way in championing diversity and inclusion, putting it firmly at the heart of the organisation and embedding it within its corporate culture. In 2013 the College created its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion role and by 2019 it became the only UK college to achieve the Stonewall Silver Award. In December 2021 it was the first college to be awarded Gold from Stonewall for its LGBGT+ inclusion work on campus and in the community.
“The extensive work this College has undertaken includes making EDI training compulsory for every new member of staff and providing all employees with ongoing access to professional development in these areas.
“The College is now using this best practice approach and applying it to inclusion work for other protected characteristics, focussing next on race equality.”
Celebrating cultures
In the summer term, campuses across the Group held their own Culture Day to celebrate the various backgrounds students and staff come from. It was a great opportunity to celebrate the traditional dress from across the world, listen to music and enjoy traditional dishes representing each culture that was served at the events.
Health and Wellbeing Fair
According to the government’s State of the Nation 2022: children and young people’s wellbeing report, the rates of probable mental disorders amongst 17- to 19-year-olds had increased to one in four in 2022 from 1 in 6 as reported in 2021.
Recognising this, work is carried out throughout the year to highlight support available for our students across The Bedford College Group including a dedicated Health and Wellbeing Fair hosted at Central Bedfordshire College.
The Health and Wellbeing Fair welcomed 20 organisations to highlight the support available in their particular areas of expertise. This included exhibitors from the Prince’s Trust, Healthwatch, Mind BLMK, NHS Children Services, Terrence Higgins Trust.
