As the further education commissioner and a strong advocate for the sector, I see the value that colleges add to their communities every single day. Further education is a driver of social mobility that enables people from all backgrounds to gain the qualifications they need to achieve their career goals.
But what we have seen over the past two years is a phenomenal movement within the sector that has begun to reflect the real additional value that it provides. Over 140 FE colleges signed up to the Good for Me, Good for FE campaign in 2021, which to date has generated over £4 million of real social value through volunteering.
This figure – verified by a social action calculator based on the TOMS framework – is the result of an extraordinary collective volunteering and fundraising effort led by college staff and students. Much of this activity was ongoing before the campaign launch, but by equating it with a monetary value, colleges have been motivated and inspired to increase and expand their contribution.
The desire and commitment of people within the sector to help others is evident. This is despite the many working pressures experienced by FE staff and reflects the inherent community spirit that runs through colleges. It has also further reinforced the importance of colleges as civic anchor institutions.
