Carlisle College’s commitment to student development and social mobility has been awarded a Purpose Coalition Breaking Down Barriers Award, in recognition of its distinctive pledge to its students – the NCG Guarantee.
The Breaking Down Barriers Awards, held at the Houses of Parliament, recognise social mobility champions who are delivering opportunities for everyone, everywhere.
NCG, the college group that Carlisle College is part of, won the ‘Positive Destinations for Post 16+’ category, for the transformative impact that the NCG Guarantee has on thousands of young people across the country.
The NCG Guarantee, sponsored by global leader in skills development City & Guilds, supports students in Carlisle College to develop employability and life skills, and helps them to be truly competitive in their next steps into education or employment through a range of activities and projects.
Designed to offer students and stakeholders the real benefit of being part of a national group, it consists of five badges aligned to key principles of work readiness; Employability, Community, Enterprise, Mental Fitness, and Digital Literacy.
Sarah McGrath, Principal of Carlisle College, said "The NCG Guarantee is an excellent example of our commitment to supporting young people in our college toward success and how being part of a national group has fantastic benefits for learners here in Cumbria and the Borders.
The framework for the NCG Guarantee was developed in 2021 through Community of Practice for Enhancement. The group expanded on the already comprehensive skills-based curriculum delivered at each college, using collaboration with employers and key stakeholders to provide a wide range of workshops, social action projects and community initiatives that would challenge students and broaden their experiences.
Four years later, tens of thousands of students across NCG’s colleges are now regularly benefitting from the NCG Guarantee, including at Carlisle College. Last year, more than 2000 students at Carlisle College took part in confidence-building public speaking workshops with Loud Speaker and many have worked on projects with local and national charities and employers.
Congratulating the winners, Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Education Secretary, Rt Hon Justine Greening, said: “Our winners all lead by example and I hope they will inspire others to step up to the plate and consider what they can do to make a difference for their colleagues, customers and the communities they serve, especially in these challenging economic and social times.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to enabling social mobility, NCG is a member of Purpose Coalition's Breaking Down Barriers Commission which is shaping the role that businesses and organisations can play in breaking down the barriers to opportunity.