Green Gown Awards 2012 - Learning and Skills - Lewisham College - Winner

Eco-skills to influence communities

Two years ago Lewisham College Trade Union Studies Department and the construction union UCATT were founding members of the Green Skills Partnership for London (GSPL). It is a London consortium of employers, Councils, Unionlearn, community organisations and education providers. Its success is based on a joined up approach between groups enabling:

• sharing of resources and expertise – venues, staff, learner support
• funding bids,
• training opportunities,
• apprenticeships, job and work placement opportunities.

It has enabled Lewisham College and UCATT to achieve successful joint bids for funding from Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and recently won the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) Green Gown Award for Learning and Skills. This innovative programmer learning included highly visual and ‘hands on’ activities including a DIY solar panels course using re-cycled materials.