Learning to become a better world
We are a “social justice” college, acknowledging people as individuals, embracing diversity and empowering our students to move forward with their lives.
Read more about our social justice ethos here
Our Mission
‘To promote social and climate/environmental justice by providing adults with an excellent learning environment for personal, professional and political development’
Our Values
- Supportive
- Collaborative
- Anti-Racist
- Brave
- Empowering
- Authentic
Our Social Justice Themes
Sustainability and climate change
Our actions include:
We have a sustainability strategy that includes the whole college with each member of staff having a sustainable objective every year. We are developing our 6 acres of grounds to grow our own ingredients for the food we provide to students and staff; we are working with local community organisations and their volunteers to assist with garden development and we have courses that help people to not only have more awareness of how they can grow their own food, but also how they can help others. Other courses promote how engaging with the outdoors can promote good mental health.
In 2022 we won the Green Gown Awards “Campus Health, Food and Drink” category. A fantastic achievement considering we were the only college shortlisted, amongst a number of universities. Take a look at our video below to find out more about how we are helping our local community become more sustainable:
Anti-Racism
Our actions include:
Our Student Services and Curriculum teams work with students constantly to ensure they are aware of equality and diversity, tackle any issues that may arise and promote the need for equity and inclusion.
We are active members of the Black Leadership Group and have a staff group that promotes equality and diversity and raising awareness amongst staff.
We have extensive mandatory training for all staff around equality and diversity
Digital Poverty
In 2020 35% of our students were not working with technology. This was due to a number of issues such as not being able to afford technology and the internet; not wanting to engage with technology for some reason or unawareness of how to engage with technology or the increasing need to work with technology in everyday life.
Since then we have:
- increased our beginners IT courses and worked with local community organisations to deliver one day basic IT courses to their service users
- ensured students have access to computers and the knowledge of how to use them, on many of our courses
- have introduced easy-to-use systems such as ordering lunch online to encourage our students to engage with technology and see the benefits
Mental Health
We have always seen the promotion of good mental health as a priority and we are fully aware that since the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased need for understanding, compassion and support. We deliver many courses that include awareness of mental health and we also offer certificates and awards designed to help people with their own wellbeing but also to help them work in the mental health sector if they wish. The college itself is a calm, aesthetic and welcoming environment that as part of our transformational residential learning, encourages students to take some “down time”, reflect on themselves, their lives and focus on their studies.
Many members of staff are qualified in Mental Health First Aid which equips them to be able to identify a colleague or student who may need help, how to help them and promote good mental health through different activities around the college.
“Fircroft has been a lifeline to me in a sense. Fircroft has given me the space and guidance to learn, re-evaluate where I am and where I want to be. Fircroft has provided the perfect environment to gain clarity. Fircroft gives me a feeling of hope and belief in people. Equality, social justice and giving opportunities to all. I am very grateful to George Cadbury Jnr. for the legacy he left behind and opportunities he continues to give people through Fircroft”
Fircroft College student (from the Fircroft College Impact Survey 2021/2022)
