Published
By Ashley Cox
The 2026 Giving Back window is now closed and we will shortly be assessing applications, as we prepare to reinvest up to £500,000 in UK education via the funding of worthy purchases, projects and events. In the meantime, here's a look at one of the successful projects from 2025, as our charity continues making a real difference to learners and their environments.
Ah, Preston, Lancashire. England's 50th city. The birthplace of the Temperance Movement. Home to English football's inaugural league champions, Preston North End and, once upon a time, the trailblazing Dick, Kerr Ladies side. Preston was a key location in the Industrial Revolution, where it played a major role within the cotton and textile industries, while the Vikings and Romans also popped by, in days of yore. With attractions from the River Ribble to the 309-foot spire of St. Walburge's Church, Preston even welcomed the stars in 2024, as Pet Shop Boys, Sister Sledge and others braved the downpours of Radio 2 in the Park. ☔
Today, education sits at the heart of Preston - from the University of Lancashire to recent Giving Back grant recipients, Cardinal Newman College. In total, approximately 30 different institutions across the city area are registered as CPC members, including our institution of focus, Preston College, who will celebrate a full 20 years as part of Crescent Purchasing Consortium, this June.
In 2025, Preston College successfully applied for Giving Back funding, pitching in line with the initiative's new focuses on SEND and student wellbeing. With CPC's help, the college was able to turn an underused area into a vibrant, inclusive social Hub. ⬇️
Meeting the expense of procuring seven round tables (including two which are height-adjustable), 14 stools and 36 chairs, plus sofas, armchairs and much more, Giving Back also funded delivery/installation, as what was once a disused part of the college quickly transformed into a warm, welcoming social space, with a café-style atmosphere, for students and relax and connect in.
Providing an attractive base for the students, as they continue with their SEND debate club and communications workshops, CPC was able to facilitate the purchase of LEGO and craft resources, as well as covering more than £2,000 in interactive light and sound panels. Furthermore, CPC's Giving Back grant allowed Preston College to acquire a variety of traditional games (such as Jenga, UNO and Connect 4), plus a Nintendo Switch console with accessories, ensuring no lack of entertainment.
"Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive", commented Kat Fawcett, Director of Learner Support at Preston College. 💬
"Students not only appreciate the welcoming environment that the Hub provides, they are also developing key skills that align with their individual goals and EHCP targets. Over 60 students access the space every day, many of whom are among our most vulnerable. These students have shown noticeably improved engagement in their college programmes, increased participation in wider college activities and stronger ability to manage social and academic expectations.
"Students consistently report that spending time in the Hub has given them a greater sense of belonging at college, helping them feel more connected, supported and confident in their day-to-day routines. It is already proving a powerful catalyst for growth; building social skills, strengthening independence and fostering a more inclusive college community".
Read on for more on Preston College's new Hub, one of the many projects around the UK powered by CPC's Giving Back.