The FE Week 2015 annual charity auction and raffle raised a record-breaking £14,000 for the Helena Kennedy Foundation.
Leaders from across the world of FE were at Birmingham’s Hyatt Hotel on the first evening (November 17) of the Association of Colleges (AoC) conference for a three-course meal before the auction and raffle took place.
The £14,000 raised overall was a record for the event that FE Week hosts at the conference every year, in aid of the foundation that provides financial support and mentoring to disadvantaged FE learners.
Shane Mann, managing director of FE Week publisher Lsect, said: “It was wonderful to see the great and good from the sector being so generous through the auction in support of a wonderful cause.”
Items under the hammer included a helicopter flight, champagne afternoon tea at the Ritz, and a supercar driving experience.
Entertainment was provided by singer, guitarist and former FE Week designer Daniel Duke, who reached the latter stages of BBC talent show The Voice this year.
FE Commissioner Dr David Collins, who was the main speaker for the evening, took the opportunity to tell guests his view of how post-16 education area reviews would secure a long-term future for colleges.
“I love this sector and really what I want to do [through leading the area reviews] is to make sure that it doesn’t get damaged by civil servants who have never been in a college in their lives,” he said.
“I actually think this is a real opportunity. We want the areas to come up with their own solutions that work.”
Al Coates and Sandra Furby, business development director and director of learning and development at Tribal, were also presented with the HKF Ambassador’s Award for special service to the sector.
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