College campaign shortlisted for national honours

Derby College Group has been nominated for a national award recognising a campaign designed to highlight social mobility and sustainability.

It has been named a finalist in the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in Sustainability category by the Green Gown Awards for its ‘We Are Not Rubbish: A Social Mobility & Sustainability Campaign’.

Led by a group of inspirational students, the campaign used creativity, recycled materials and community engagement to tackle two pressing issues: social mobility and sustainability.

Through sculpture, performance and storytelling, students challenged negative perceptions of individuals with learning difficulties and disabilities, delivering a powerful message that everyone has value, purpose and potential.

The campaign included an acclaimed art exhibition at Erewash Museum, where DCG’s Pathways and Fine Art students collaborated to create stunning works from recycled materials.

Samantha Smith, curriculum manager at Derby College Group, said: “This recognition is a testament to the incredible creativity, courage, and compassion of our students.

“They’ve not only explored how society treats people who are seen as ‘different’, they’ve turned that into a conversation about value, sustainability, and inclusion.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham in November.