SERC Wins National Award for CARE Project in Murlough

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) has recently won a national Smarter Working Live Award for their CARE Project in the Murlough area of Newcastle.

The Smarter Working Live Awards, celebrates innovation, collaboration and excellence in the public sector. The CARE Project was recognised for the prestigious award, under the Creating Communities category for its aims to enhance economic activity in the Murlough Ward area of Newcastle, County Down by providing support for adults with low, or no qualifications, to access education.

Heather McKee, Director of Strategic Planning, Quality and Support at SERC said, “We are thrilled to have won this award, which recognises our efforts to put education at the heart of the local community.  Through a dedicated and passionate team who have initiated a dynamic set of engagement and strategic interventions, education has been made more attractive to adult returners. The team has worked closely with local schools, organisations and government agencies to remove barriers to participation in education to support and encourage adult returners, and secured the opening of Little SERC, a creche at our Newcastle Campus for children of students returning to education.”

She added, “In 2015 there were no adult ‘return to education’ students attending the SERC Newcastle Campus. In 2016/17 there were 15; 10 of which are currently studying at university, after completing the College’s Restart Light and Restart and Access courses.  We anticipate comparable levels of success for subsequent students, the number of which increased to more than 50 by 2020."

Find out more about Adult Education at SERC.

Pictured above - Award Win for Supporting Adult Returners: SERC’s The CARE Project has been recognised with a national Smarter Working Live Award in the Creating Communities category for enhancing economic activity in the Murlough Ward area of Newcastle, County Down, by providing support for adults to access education. SERC’s Paul Walsh, (Newcastle) Downpatrick Campus Manager (Learning & Support Pastoral Care) and Ellie Bradley, (Crossgar) Deputy Head of School Adult Education were presented with the Award at the Imperial Ward Museum North, Media City Manchester on 25 November.