Celebrating a new collaboration with Blackburn College

Two of East Lancashire’s best known establishments have joined forces in a bid to provide greater employment opportunities for students.

Blackburn College and East Lancashire Hospice have teamed up to help engage students in volunteer activities, provide them with the opportunity to take part in work placements and share industry expertise.

Principal and Chief Executive of Blackburn College, Dr Thomas Moore and Chief Executive Officer of East Lancashire Hospice Lyn Stevenson signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalise the partnership at the Park Lee Road hospice on Tuesday.

The partnership is hoped to help students develop and gain employment skills, with members of East Lancashire Hospice on hand to help the college to develop their curriculum.

The college and East Lancashire Hospice have previously undertaken a number of successful projects together including a highly successful conference held at the hospice run by the college’s Complementary Therapies students. And this year the college has chosen the hospice as their chosen charity.

Nick Hall, Business Engagement Manager at Blackburn College who was involved in setting up the MOU said: “We have had a long-standing relationship with the East Lancashire Hospice and we are delighted to have signed a formal agreement showing our commitment to working together.

“The partnership will see our students taking part in more fundraising and volunteer activities with the hospice, while the hospice will be working to help broaden our industry knowledge.”

The college says that it is collaborations such as these which have led to 9 out of 10 students being in work or further study within six months of leaving for the third year in a row.

The college has also been praised from the Quality Assurance Agency for its work with employers, naming it as a key strength of the college.

Lyn Stevenson Chief Executive Officer of East Lancashire Hospice said: “We are very excited about the prospect of strengthening our collaboration with the college.

“We feel that by linking up with the college in this way it will have mutual benefits for both organisations, especially in terms of education and volunteering opportunities expanding the skills of both staff and students.”