Weymouth College has been awarded the prestigious Buttle UK Quality Mark in recognition of its commitment to young people in and leaving care.
To receive its Quality Mark the College had to demonstrate that it has a robust strategy in place to ensure that students from a care background can access a package of support – financial, pastoral and educational – to assist with their studies and help ensure they achieve their potential.
To celebrate, Weymouth College will welcome Dorset County Councillor Toni Coombes, cabinet member for Education and Communication, who will formally present the award at a ceremony attended by guests and staff on Monday 24 March at 3pm.
Created by Buttle UK – the largest grant-giving organisation in the country directly supporting children and families living in poverty – the charity awards the Quality Mark to colleges and universities which commit to support a young person who has been in care, to access further and higher education and successfully complete their studies and achieve their ambitions.
The challenges facing young people leaving care are enormous. They are one of the most under-represented groups in education in the UK. Often lacking family support, suffering financial disadvantage and struggling to find somewhere to live, applying for and being accepted for further and higher education is a real achievement.
To date, more than half the universities in the UK hold the Buttle UK Quality Mark, together with a rising number of colleges. Weymouth College is the first college or university in Dorset to receive the award.
Susan Mueller, Buttle UK Quality Mark Manager, says:
“We are very pleased with the success of this award and are delighted to extend it to Weymouth College. The College has amply displayed its dedication and initiative to helping young people leaving care to receive an education and have the opportunity to succeed and move on to the next stage of their lives.
“Our Quality Mark is also a clear way for the College to demonstrate its credentials to partners, funders, inspectorates and the wider community – and importantly to the young people from care themselves.”
Rob Jones, Vice Principal at Weymouth College, says:
“At Weymouth College we believe that all young people should be able to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions, whatever their background. We’re proud to receive this award and the recognition of an organisation like Buttle UK, which confirms ours is a College that is both inclusive and high achieving.”
