10th October 2018
Barking & Dagenham College is hosting a range of activities to celebrate Colleges Week including a Community open event on Thursday 18 October 4-7pm.
Everyone is welcome to come along to the event to use their community facilities, have a tour or take part in a have-a-go activity; community facilities at the College include a public library, careers guidance, hair and beauty salons and a café.
Barking & Dagenham College is a vital part of the borough supporting over 12,000 people per year to learn, train and get on.
Colleges Week takes place from Monday 15 October to Friday 19 October 2018 and is part of the ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign and sees colleges across the country hosting events to showcase the brilliant stuff they do, day in and day out, as well as national lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 17 October.
The ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign is a partnership between Association of Colleges (AoC), National Union of Students (NUS), Association of College and School Leaders (ASCL), University and Colleges Union (UCU), Unison, GMB, TUC and National Education Union (NEU).
Whether it’s through top-class technical education, basic skills or lifelong learning, colleges help people of all ages and backgrounds to make the most of their talents and ambitions. Rooted in local communities, they are crucial in driving social mobility and providing the skills to boost local and regional economies.
However, there is currently a reduction in education funding once a student turns 16 – whether they are in a school sixth form or a college. ‘Love Our Colleges’ is calling on government to increase 16-19 funding by 5% a year for 5 years.
It is also asking Department for Education to provide exceptional funding, ring-fenced for teacher pay.
David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said: “Every single day colleges like Barking & Dagenham College provide a world class education and transform the lives of millions of people.
Colleges Week is an opportunity to celebrate the brilliant things that go on and a chance to showcase the brilliant staff that make it possible. It is simple, if we want a world-class education system then we need to properly invest in it.”
Jon Cruddas MP is due to attend Barking & Dagenham College’s Community Open Event next week.
