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Hackney Community College wins prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for outstanding mental health support service
Posted 25th November 2011
Hackney Community College has been awarded the most prestigious accolade available in the FE sector – recognising the exceptional work it does to help people with mental health needs in education.
The Queen’s Anniversary Prize is a National honour, approved by Her Majesty, which acknowledges excellence in higher and further education across the country.
The College was the sole London College and one of only three FE institutions in the UK to receive the special award this year.
The prize was in recognition of the dedicated support scheme created to assist those with mental health support needs in making a smooth transition back into education and employment.
The College was officially announced as a winner at a ceremony held in St James’s Palace on Thursday (24 November).
A formal presentation of the awards will be held in February 2012 at Buckingham Palace.
Principal Ian Ashman said: “Hackney Community College is extremely proud of the work that we do to support people with mental health needs to succeed through education. We are thrilled that our efforts have been recognised by Her Majesty; it is a huge honour and is a great tribute to all our staff who work with people with mental health needs.”
The Mental Health Education and Employment Service was established in 1997 to address concerns around the lack of provision for supporting mental health service users to access education and training; and to provide support with study and progression.
From supporting approximately 50 learners in its first year, the service has evolved into a multi-faceted network delivering a range of interventions, opportunities and activities to over 4,000 learners and prospective learners with mental health support needs.
The service, which is funded by the East London Foundation Trust and City and Hackney’s Primary Care Trust, also provides professional support to teachers and support staff.
Its development and success is due to intensive multi-agency liaison, dedication and professional expertise across all partners.
Many students have benefited immensely from this service.
Georgina, who had been suicidal and suffered serious mental health issues is now thriving in her job, owing to the support she received from HCC.
She said: “The College has given me unbelievable support and has helped change my life. I can now walk around with my head held high. It’s a whole different world to me now. If there are people like you in this world then it’s better to live than to die.”
Earlier this year, HCC’s outstanding Mental Health team helped the College pick up an Association of Colleges Beacon Award for Widening Participation in Education, for the excellent service it delivers to individuals with mental health support needs, plus its significant outreach partnership work with other community organisations.
John McClean, Mental Health Adviser added: “Having this support service is extremely valuable to our learners with mental health issues. Seeing them progress into confident individuals, who go on to further study, or into jobs is very rewarding. To be acknowledged with this fantastic award really does mean an awful lot and we are extremely proud of our achievements.”
What makes this achievement all the more poignant, is the fact that it is the second time HCC has been awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize.
In 1996, the College was awarded the prize for successfully encouraging more young women to excel in science through its innovative and engaging course programme.
For more information about the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes click here
