Shining a light on the power of social impact in further education at the Good for Me Good for FE Awards 

I recently had the privilege of attending the Good for Me, Good for FE Awards ceremony, held in the historic setting of the House of Lords in London.  

A nationwide initiative bringing together colleges and charity partners to encourage and calculate the value of volunteering and fundraising, Good for Me Good for FE is creating significant social impact. 

The purpose of this event – which was sponsored by NCFE – was therefore to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of staff and students from further education (FE) colleges across the UK, recognising their incredible efforts in volunteering and social action. It was a day filled with inspiration, pride, and a true sense of community. 

An afternoon filled with ambition and achievement 

The ceremony began with a warm welcome from Baroness Barran, who hosted the event in the grandeur of the House of Lords, overlooking the River Thames. It was a fitting venue to recognise the inspiring efforts of individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in their local areas. 

This year, 10 awards were presented to staff and students from participating colleges. Among the many inspiring winners were Suzanne Richards from Walsall College and Aimee Garratt from Dudley College, who shared the prestigious Overall Winner award for their resilience and transformative fundraising efforts.  

Pictured: Good for ME Good for FE Award winners and judges (credit to Tessa Clements Photography)

Suzanne raised £35,000 to support bereaved families through her charity Smile for Joel, while Aimee founded the charity Ronnie and Friends, raising over £24,000 to create a bereavement suite at her local hospital, in memory of her baby son. 

London South East Colleges’ Wellbeing Wednesday Lunches won the Project of the Year award for their work tackling loneliness and social isolation, by providing free meals which students prepared and served to local residents. 

Our CEO, David Gallagher, had the honour of judging the Student Volunteer of the Year category, which was awarded to the exceptional Beth Williams from Nottingham College.  

Despite facing personal setbacks due to an injury, she dedicated over 900 hours to volunteering. Her incredible contributions spanned supporting youth offenders through working with the Reducing Reoffending Partnership, acting as a National Youth Voice Ambassador with Ingeus, and contributing her time to support St John Ambulance. Through her tireless efforts, Beth has been instrumental in shaping opportunities for vulnerable young people, breaking down stigmas, and inspiring her community. 

Our COO, Philip Le Feuvre, had the privilege of presenting Beth with her award on the day. Watching her receive recognition for her hard work was a moment of pride and joy for her family, as well as the attending NCFE team. 

The stories of these winners and many others highlighted the power of resilience, compassion, and dedication in transforming lives. 

Pictured: NCFE's Philip Le Feuvre presenting Beth Williams with her award (credit to Tessa Clements Photography)

Supporting a powerful and purposeful initiative 

As the ceremony came to a close, we had the opportunity to reflect on the profound impact of initiatives like Good for Me, Good for FE. These awards are not just about recognising achievements; they’re about celebrating the power of community, resilience, and hope – values that resonate deeply with NCFE. 

The campaign Good for Me, Good for FE was formed as a result of the successful short-term project “FE Food Bank Friday”, a national initiative spearheaded by London South East Colleges during the pandemic. This innovative campaign inspired local FE colleges to work together and between the 30 colleges then involved they raised more than £47,000 and donated over 20,000 items to local food banks.  

Building on this success, London South East College teamed up with East Coast College and Loughborough College to launch the larger and longer-term campaign Good for Me, Good for FE. 

Since its inception in 2021, the campaign has achieved incredible milestones, uniting 140 colleges nationwide, generating over £2.2 million in social value, and supporting local communities with 123,000 food donations and £138,000 raised in fundraising. These remarkable achievements highlight the extraordinary commitment of the FE sector to making a difference.

As a proud sponsor of the awards, we've been involved with the Good for Me, Good for FE from the start. This unique initiative, which encourages FE staff and students to engage in volunteering and fundraising, perfectly aligns with our core purpose – to promote and advance learning, and ensure no learner is left behind. 

Pictured: The Good for Me Good for FE overall winner award (credit to Tessa Clements Photography)

Supporting these awards reinforces our commitment to fostering meaningful social action within our sector, and we are inspired to see the continued impact of this powerful initiative. 

Colleges as anchor institutions of their communities 

The day was a reminder of the immense potential of further education to change lives and create social value. The awards also shone a light on how colleges act as anchor institutions in their local communities, driving positive change and fostering a culture of collaboration and care.  

As I left the House of Lords, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in the sector and in this important initiative that has grown so vastly since its inception. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their incredible efforts – you are an inspiration to us all. 

I look forward to seeing how the Good for Me, Good for FE initiative continues to grow and empower even more learners and staff to make a difference in their communities over the coming months. 

You can learn more about Good for ME Good for FE on their website. You can also discover more about our partnerships and investments, as well as our purpose and mission.