In a prestigious ceremony held at Accrington and Rossendale College on February 22nd 2023, the Nelson and Colne College Group (NCCG) signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
The signing was attended by Major SJ Tickle of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment along with a plethora of other Armed Forces officials, veterans and community leaders.
By signing the Covenant, NCCG has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community, ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, along with their families, are treated fairly.
The College Group has pledged to utilise its state-of-the-art resources, facilities and technology towards the education and rehabilitation of current and ex-forces members.
“We are proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and commit to supporting the Armed Forces community,” said Lisa O’Loughlin, Principal and CEO of NCCG.
“We recognise the significant contributions made by the Armed Forces, and we want to do our part in helping members of the Armed Forces transition to civilian life and pursue their education and career goals.”
Additionally, as part of this commitment, NCCG has been approved as an official education provider within the Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) scheme, which helps eligible service personnel or armed forces leavers with funding to support retraining and upskilling or transition into new careers in civilian life.
As an approved provider, NCCG and it’s college sites, Nelson and Colne, Accrington and Rossendale College and Lancashire Adult Learning will now be able to provide relevant education to service leavers as part of this important scheme.
NCCG, which already has a long-standing commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community through Lancashire Adult Learning, offers a range of courses and skills training tailored to meet the needs of ex-forces personnel & their families. The College Group also provides specialised support services to help veterans overcome any barriers to education and employment.
“With the signing of the Covenant, Nelson and Colne College Group has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community and helping veterans achieve their full potential.” Said Nicola Hall, Director of Curriculum Innovation & Partnerships with NCCG.
When asked for comment, Major SJ Tickle of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment stated; “We are delighted to welcome Nelson and Colne College Group as a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant,
“Their commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community through education and training will make a real difference to the lives of veterans in the local area and beyond.”
Speaking on the Covenant’s importance, the Regional Employer Engagement Director with the Armed Forces, Gary Oakford said:
“The team have done a sterling job and if we can carry on getting this right, we will not only be supporting veterans but also their spouses and partners, current serving personnel looking to transition into employment, reservists who are maintaining a civilian career and the three thousand cadets currently in the North West, five per cent of whom will likely end up in the forces but also supporting the others through apprenticeships and further education.”
For more information about Nelson and Colne College Group and its support for the Armed Forces community, please visit www.nelson.ac.uk.
