Barking & Dagenham College takes local action to mark Colleges Week 2021

Following on from the success of last year’s ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign, Barking & Dagenham College (@BarkingCollege) is dedicating 18 – 22 October to #CollegesWeek2021 and highlighting the amazing work colleges do and why long-term investment is crucial if the government is to ‘level up’ all areas of the country.

During Colleges Week, Barking & Dagenham College will see students and staff calling for dedicated support for colleges to take action on climate change. With the government’s comprehensive spending review taking place imminently, Colleges Week is also a reminder to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak that funding colleges, training and skills is the catalyst for a stronger, fairer and more resilient society. We are calling on Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge MP and Jon Cruddas MP to ensure we remain a priority in the comprehensive spending review.

Yvonne Kelly Principal & CEO of Barking & Dagenham College and the East London Institute of Technology said:

“Colleges play an important role in society, ensuring that students are properly equipped with the skills they need to succeed in their future careers and employers are able to recruit people with the skills they need. 

“Colleges are at the centre of combatting long-term challenges like climate change and training workers for the jobs of the future.

“Post-pandemic, colleges will make a massive contribution to the country’s economic rebuild and so must be recognised; investment in colleges is vital.”

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said:

“Colleges Week showcases exactly why further education holds the answers to some of the biggest issues facing all of us. Now more than ever we need highly skilled and well-educated workforces to deliver the economic recovery this government aspires to. 

“Colleges Week this year is about celebrating the amazing work colleges do, educating 2.2 million people every year, including more than 600,000 16 to 18-year-olds. They hold the key to reducing skills gaps, combatting inequality, and providing better opportunities to disadvantaged communities. This week is about making our voices heard and campaigning with partners to make sure colleges continue to be a serious political, economic and social priority.”