First Minister Supports Collaborative ESDGC Event

On Thursday 28 June 2012, Pencoed Campus welcomed over 800 guests to an ESDGC event delivered in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC).

Teachers, primary school pupils, supporting organisations such as Groundwork, Oxfam , Theatre Nan'Og and the Marine Conservation Society along with distinguished guests came together under the theme of ‘field to fork’ to look at issues of local food and farming and to share best practice. The event provided fun and informative learning opportunities through workshops, theatre, competitions, nature trails, seed planting, video and song. 

The event was opened by Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, who reinforced the importance of sustainability in Wales and presented Bridgend College and BCBC with their Level 5 Green Dragon Environmental Standard certificates, the highest level achievable.

Carwyn then took the time to meet with pupils from Nantymoel Primary School as they enjoyed getting their hands dirty planting seeds with Anthony Davies, Horticulture Lecturer.

The event was also an opportunity to celebrate sustainability in action at Bridgend College with the showcasing of videos to promote local food and farming, the launch of a song and a T-shirt competition. A match-funded cheque for £200, raised from the sales of the ‘Bee Power’ song, was also presented to The Size of Wales project and £600 to Ty Hafan from the One Cwtch project. These projects were overseen by Claire George, IT Lecturer & Enterprise Coordinator as part of SMILE - Students Motivate Innovation through Learning and Enterprise.

Bridgend College was the first college to sign the Sustainable Development Charter in August 2010 and to have a vision that makes clear our ambition to be an exemplar organisation, an eco-college, a centre of excellence and strong leader in sustainable development performance. The College is currently moving towards the internationally recognised Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the Platinum Level of the Corporate Health Standard.