Fircroft Wins Second Sustainability Award

At the prestigious EAUC Green Gown Awards on Thursday 6th November held at the suitably iconic Library of Birmingham, Fircroft College of Adult Education won its second Green Gown Award. Nestling in the ‘Digital Futures’ category and sponsored by JISC, the college’s new and revolutionary Green Changemakers’ Hub was co-developed by myself, Green Changemakers and the wonderful designers of Metaverse Learning. Visitors can immerse themselves in this new experience, walking (accompanied by bird song) through a mini college consisting of a library, cafe, deck chair space and cinema. It even has its own potting shed!

This project has been such a delight, not least the co-production element of it. For one lovely summer I even got to work on the Hub with my son, Fraser, an experience I will treasure. 

The innovative walk-through contains resources for everyone in education, carefully and thoroughly curated by the college’s Green Changemakers – a collective of like-valued AFE staff who attended Fircroft’s Green Changemakers course.  The programme was funded by West Midlands and Warwickshire LSIF in 2024. The Changemakers continue to contribute nationally to promoting how people can take climate action, in their work and their everyday lives. 

We all appreciate the insight of the judging panel and their recognition of the values underpinning the Green Changemakers Hub. Clare Casey, head of environmental sustainability and governance at JISC, said:

 “The Green Changemakers Hub project highlighted a strong commitment to sustainability, diversity, and future skills, with these priorities embedded from the design stage. The team’s passion and depth of research were evident, and it was great to see a balance between key metrics and personal stories to show the Hub’s impact.

“The potential for international impact is clear and collaboration with partners such as Meta suggests valuable knowledge exchange and collective learning. Adopting an inherited technology was commendable, and the emphasis on innovation, inclusivity, and shared action strengthens the project’s relevance and reach across the sector. A fantastic achievement.”

Fircroft College works hard to promote the need for individuals and organisations to recognise the damage to the planet caused by environmental inaction and complacency, by simplifying, but not changing, the message.  The award-winning Hub is free for people to dip in and out, collaborate and explore a wide variety of green resources.

Mel Lenehan, Principal and CEO of Fircroft College says:

“At the core of our college mission is social, climate and environmental justice. We adopt a whole college approach to delivering our mission through our curriculum offer, our culture and our operations. We believe that the social and environmental challenges of our times require a collective response and both the development of the Hub and the education staff in colleges across the West Midlands and beyond, that will use it, have shown how effective this approach can be.”

Fircroft College of Adult Education was also awarded a Highly Commended award in the “Creating Impact” category, for their Fircroft Green Lifecycle accumulation of small initiatives, including the innovative ‘Fircroft Plantry’. You can explore the Green Changemakers Hub here.