Lincoln College joins nationwide campaign to support its local communities

The Lincoln College Group (@lincoln_college) has joined a national initiative to help its staff and students support and connect with local communities in Lincoln, Newark and Gainsborough.

The Good for ME Good for FE campaign aims to generate £1m of social value via a sustainable programme of community action including volunteering, fundraising and charitable partnerships.

Over 100 colleges have already joined the campaign which builds on the huge success of FE Foodbank Friday. This saw colleges around the country come together during the pandemic to raise over £47,000 and collect more than 20,000 items for local foodbanks.

With demand for Foodbanks remaining high, this strand of activity will continue as part of Good for Me Good for FE, to ensure that communities continue to be supported with basic food needs.

In addition, staff and students who are keen to undertake voluntary and fundraising activities will be supported to do so. There is a strong link between volunteering and improved mental health – a current key priority for colleges and their staff following such a challenging year.

Mark Locking, Managing Director for Education and Training for the LCG, says:

“Lincoln College plays a vital role in all of the communities we serve; in the UK in Lincoln, Newark and Gainsborough. We strive at our core to provide “social and economic value” to those communities, and this is a terrific initiative to help us do just that.

“We can’t wait to add to the impact colleges are having helping the recovery of individuals, employers and the economy from the Covid pandemic.”

Penny Taylor, the Lead for Education and Training at Newark College, part of the LCG, is helping to lead the campaign. She says:

“At Lincoln College we recognise the impact good food has on learning and we will continue to develop and seek new initiatives, so our students have access to nutritious food.

“We value the necessity for good mental health for our staff and students. We already have a range of activities in place that aim to improve and develop mental health across all three of our campuses and we look forward to building on this further with the Good for Me Good for FE campaign.”