Love Our Colleges

Dearne Valley College Takes Local Action to Mark Colleges Week 2019

16 October 2019

Following on from the success of last year’s ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign, Dearne Valley College is dedicating 14 – 18 October to Colleges Week 2019 and highlighting the amazing work colleges do and why long-term term investment is crucial for our future.

Dearne Valley College is part of RNN Group. The Group is an education and training provider serving communities across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire through Rotherham College, North Notts College, Dearne Valley College, University Centre Rotherham and RNN Training.

As part of Colleges Week, RNN Group is joining the #LoveOurColleges week of local activity. Events are taking place all week at Dearne Valley College, with activities lined up including an employer day, student band ‘The Hara’ performing for awareness of mental health and a colour smash event involving hundreds of students.

The government has committed to colleges in recent months but this must be followed by sustainable, long term funding.

Dearne Valley College is at the heart of its community, working with businesses and helping to educate and train many young people and adult learners each year. Despite this, colleges in the country have had to deal with an average of 30% cut to their funding over the last decade.

RNN Group CEO and Principal Jason Austin said: “Seeing the life-changing impact of our colleges to thousands of students and apprentices every year is so rewarding. During Love Our Colleges Week we are celebrating the hard work and achievements of our learners and staff and the excellent relationships we have with employers and other external partners.”

Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges David Hughes said: “The £400m funding boost announced in the spending review and the Secretary of State’s speech at the Conservative Party conference showed that the government is committed to investing in further education and skills. However, there are many funding and policy challenges to grapple with to ensure colleges can thrive in the long term. Now more than ever we need highly-skilled, well-educated workforces to deliver for our economy and country.

“Colleges Week this year is about celebrating the amazing work colleges do, educating 2.2 million people every year, including more than 600,000 16 to 18-year-olds. Colleges have been neglected in recent years and proper funding for adult education is still urgently needed. This week is about making our voices heard and campaigning with partners to make sure colleges continue to be a serious political, economic and social priority.”

 

Find out more about how we’re supporting Colleges Week.

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