Published
By Ashley Cox
One of the most rewarding parts of working for CPC is knowing our efforts can ultimately support the realisation of scores of game-changing Giving Back projects. Some of these funded initiatives allow young people to discover a greater version of themselves, improving their time spent at school, college or university. Others particularly serve to help fill notable gaps in existing funding provision. Each funding window, CPC welcomes project ideas that can enhance a student's experience of their education provider, with a number of these designed to last for years, thus supporting years of learners in the process.
The following cluster of projects illustrates some of the worthy causes supported by Giving Back, which, in 2025, has focused its resources on SEND, wellbeing and absenteeism. While each of the specific projects was pitched ahead of the recent shift, they all broadly follow one or more of these paths, with CPC surplus funding put to good use at a range of our member institutions.
Pastoral progress in heart of English county
Celebrating its ten-year anniversary in 2024, Heart of Worcestershire College is the result of a merger between the previous North East Worcestershire (or NEW) College and Worcester College of Technology. With its campuses spanning the towns of Redditch, Malvern and Bromsgrove, as well as the cathedral city of Worcester, the merged college, which has been registered as a CPC member institution for its whole lifespan, provides both full and part-time education courses, plus apprentice training.
As part of our commitment to Giving Back, CPC was able to provide grant funding for a host of student enrichment resources, delivered under the Thrive banner. These online offerings are able to support learners enrolled at HoW College with a variety of important skills for their everyday and future lives, from critical thinking to collaboration and finance to independent living.
The college put together a suite of online courses, covering a number of pastoral subjects, with learners able to complete up to 25 two-hour courses, in all. These courses were intended to both run alongside and then feed into the college's new personal development strategy, with long-term absentees through illness or other issues able to make use of the resources remotely.
"We feel that the project has enhanced the ability for self-guided learning for all learners", commented Matt Beck, the college's Director of Blended and Online Learning. "We decided to do a progressive flow through the courses, so they can cater for all levels. These courses will be optional, but encouraged and showcased by curriculum areas and personal tutors in the areas".
Opening doors to nurture outdoor learning
Playing an important role in ‘Nurturing Young Minds’, Marshbrook First School is a small community institution in the village of Penkridge, Staffordshire, developing pupils from ages 2 to 9. CPC members since 2019 (and another of our members under the Penk Valley Community Trust), Marshbrook defines itself a ‘Visible Learning’ school, considering the research of Professor John Hattie, the esteemed Kiwi education academic, in establishing policy and practice.
Through applying to Giving Back, Marshbrook was able to successfully develop their ‘Forest School’ outside classroom and invest in associated equipment, giving pupils the valuable opportunity to enjoy rewarding learning experiences in the great outdoors. As part of the CPC backed initiative, schoolchildren are able to plant seeds and observe flowers and vegetables as they grow, with the school delivering an enriching education proposition beyond the walls of a traditional classroom setting.
"The Forest School is available to all our children, but plays a significant role in the lives of those children who are not blessed with outdoor space at home", said the Penk Valley Community Trust CFO, Jan Marson. "To put electronic equipment aside and spend time outdoors, learning about the natural world, broadens the children's knowledge, gives new experiences and provides the time and environment to think of other things that can only improve mental health and wellbeing".
Alternative curriculum grows at farm facility
As the educational home to around 800 students and members of CPC since 2012, Norton College of Malton, North Yorkshire combines its mixed secondary school and Sixth Form provision with a specialist humanities college slate. Encouraging students to ‘Be Proud and Work Hard’, the institution centres itself around the core values of kindness, determination and respect, with Ofsted highlighting both its SEND support and extracurricular clubs.
The team at Norton College contacted CPC in search of Giving Back financial support, looking to put any funding towards the development/enhancement of alternative curriculum provision. Following our panel's approval, they were able to exceed what they had initially outlined, improving teaching and learning, making a positive impact on learners' education experience, while supporting economically disadvantaged/minority groups. These were each key aspects the funding round sought to address.
Our Giving Back funding helped equip the institution's farm facility, supporting daily workshops that are targeted at around 100 students, including disadvantaged and disenfranchised learners. By funding new resources for the farm facility, CPC was also able to support students following the GCSE Animal Care programme, thus adding to the number of beneficiaries.
Head of School, Sam Stones, said: "Without this grant we would not have been able to prepare the farm facility to be a space where high-quality learning experiences can be delivered. As a result of the very generous grant we received, we’ve been able to take steps to deliver what is needed in the area... a fit-for-purpose, agriculturally-focused farm provision, helping to engage and inspire the next generation of animal and farm enthusiasts. Thank you truly for your support".
Removing barriers for Duke of Edinburgh Awards
One of the more recent additions to our 10,000+ CPC members, St. Teresa of Calcutta Multi-Academy Company is a West Midlands-based MAC, upholding/promoting Catholic education across its ten primary schools, two secondaries and a Sixth Form. With more than 3,000 pupils (including 19% SEND), some 45% of their learners class English as an additional language.
To support the institution, CPC green-lit funding related to the ever-popular Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, with St. Teresa of Calcutta MAC looking to increase its provision of the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. 149 young learners were identified as applicants across the programme's three tiers, with the majority striving for Bronze level and some 56% of this group classified as economically disadvantaged. By providing Giving Back funding, CPC was able to help present the programme as viable and achievable, removing some of the financial hurdles. The procurement of technical equipment for youngsters to borrow for the Expedition phase (including waterproof jackets/trousers and walking boots) likewise reduced any individual financial burdens.
The MAC Senior Business Manager, Adam Hicks, said: "The Skills section has been supported with the purchase of equipment to provide a cake decorating class, a chef’s club and crafts club. This has been particularly beneficial to the younger pupils at Bronze award, who lack some independence. The opportunity to complete their Skills section in school has enabled them to commit to the long term goal of achieving the award, as the section at this level is a minimum commitment of three months".
Empowering SEN and EAL pupils in garrison town
CPC members since 2018, Zouch Academy can be found in Tidworth, a Wiltshire town characterised by its significant military presence. As one might expect, the nearby barracks contribute heavily to an ever-changeable student demographic, with the institution able to accommodate children from military families affected by regular redeployment upheaval. As such, as head Nina Johnson states, "it doesn’t matter when they join, or how long they stay, we will always do our very best for the children".
CPC is proud to have supported no fewer than four successful outcomes at the academy, helping with its goal to develop as a dyslexia-friendly institution. These included buying specialist, ultra-readable Barrington Stoke books, as developed specifically with dyslexic and otherwise hesitant readers in mind. These books ensured students would be able to enjoy a wider choice of reading material with greater confidence. The allocated Giving Back funding also covered a school licence for 'Clicker' writing software, which was seen as particularly useful for the academy's new SEN and EAL (English as an additional language) pupils.
Expanding the impact of CPC's Giving Back efforts, Zouch Academy was able to pay for specialist staff training from EMTAS (the Ethnic Minority & Traveller Achievement Service), ensuring teachers are better equipped to educate EAL learners arriving at their institution following a family military relocation. Finally, our CPC charity funding acquired four new scanning pens for the children, assisting with reading tasks by offering a user-friendly alternative to perusing a more traditional dictionary.
Zouch Academy SENCO, Sarah Pearce, said: "The (CPC Giving Back) funding allowed us to buy books, resources and training, essential to provide the best learning experiences for children from a wide range of EAL and SEN backgrounds, and to help us to ensure that their needs are met. The support from EMTAS training had a significant impact on all staff due to the high level of EAL pupils we already have and the increased number coming in, due to our military location. Staff have used strategies in their classes and have seen an increased engagement from their EAL pupils".
Read on for more about CPC's Giving Back - and watch this space for reports on our latest purchases, projects and events.