THE Bradford College Welcome Café and Adult Skills team were victorious at this year’s Leeds Global Learning Awards after winning in two categories.
Organised by the educational charity LeedsDEC, the awards recognise the achievements of educators and young people tackling global challenges.
Ten awards were announced at a special ceremony in the Banqueting Suite at Leeds Civic Hall in front of guests, nominees, Leeds Youth Mayor, senior politicians, and the new Leeds Lady Mayoress.
Bradford College won the Intercultural Dialogue Award for the ESOL Global Learning project led by staff Monika Worthington and Seima Mahmood. The award celebrates initiatives where connections are made across diverse cultures on an issue relating to global justice and sustainability.
This year, the ESOL Global Learning Project involved four colleges from across the globe, working together on a blended learning project around Life Skills topics.
Bradford College Lecturer Monika Worthington said: “It’s incredible to see how technology can bring classrooms together across continents, creating a truly multicultural learning experience. By connecting students from diverse backgrounds, we’ve seen remarkable growth in cultural understanding and empathy.”
Colleague Seima Mahmood added, “This project has shown that when we break down barriers and encourage open communication, we can create a more inclusive and sustainable world for all.”
The Community Collaboration Award also went to the Bradford College Welcome Café, a project funded by Bradford Council and run in partnership with Millside Community Centre and SkillsHouse.
Participants are often refugees, asylum seekers, or face barriers to learning or work. Students are taught to cook delicious plant-based meals for the community from food donations going to waste.
Bradford College Sustainability Lead and awards nominator, Chelsie Naylor, said: “What a great result for Bradford College!! Well done to everyone involved. Projects such as Welcome Café support displaced learners in becoming part of a team, creating a sense of purpose and belonging again while also targeting zero-waste objectives.”
In recognition of the zero-waste ethos of the project, the Welcome Café has been invited to cater for the upcoming Eco Fest taking place this summer in the grounds of Cliffe Castle in Keighley.
