Bradford College Celebrates After ‘Global Learning Award’ Wins

Bradford College recently celebrated a successful day at the Leeds Global Learning Awards. The college took home four prizes in recognition of its outstanding commitment to sustainability, skills, and community impact.

The third annual awards recognised educators, young people, and schools and colleges in West Yorkshire that tackle global challenges. The event is hosted annually by Global Learning Leeds at the Leeds Civic Hall. Moreover, the awards highlight work in areas like climate action, intercultural understanding, and human rights.

Bradford College staff and students took home four awards:

• Global Justice Learning: Awarded to the IT Department for their Netbooks4All initiative. Rather than disposing of obsolete devices, the team developed a system that extends the operational life of existing college technology.
  
  The project involves IT students refurbishing, reconfiguring (from Windows 10 to ChromeOS Flex), and redistributing these devices free of charge to students experiencing digital poverty. In particular, learners aged 19+ who often fall outside traditional bursary support are helped.

• Climate Learning: Awarded to Kulvinder Reehal, Rich Jones, and their students in Level 2 Art. The group won the award for using creativity and collaboration to engage with urgent global environmental issues. They achieved this through their ambitious project, Our Changing Planet.
  
  Through a large-scale mural and accompanying sculptural work made from recycled materials, the students explored themes. These included pollution, deforestation, endangered wildlife, and climate responsibility. Meanwhile, students developed artistic, research, and teamwork skills.

• Anti Racism and Intercultural Dialogue:  Awarded to Hayley Brogden, a Hairdressing Lecturer in the Progression to Learning and Work team. Hayley has proactively embedded textured and multicultural hair into her teaching, despite this not being a requirement of the course.
  
  Recognising the lack of representation within the curriculum, Hayley took the initiative to teach the skills and cultural awareness needed to work respectfully and inclusively with people from all backgrounds. As a result, she is actively challenging bias and helping to address inequalities within the hairdressing industry.

• Use Your Voice: Awarded to Mussarat Ali in the Progression to Learning & Work department. Mussarat is a staff governor at Bradford College, a SEND Specialist Assessor, and Biology Lecturer. She is also qualified as a SENCO and has over 17 years’ experience with SEND students.
  
  Mussarat was selected for the award due to her work and after helping to design a sensory garden at Sandale Community Centre for their elderly dementia community. Since she recognised the importance of saving wildlife, trees and wildflowers were planted. In addition, a sensory area was created for the whole community.
  
  

Chelsie Naylor, Sustainability Lead at Bradford College, said:

“It was fantastic to see such a variety of sustainability projects being celebrated from across different departments at Bradford College. These wins highlight our continued success in nurturing talented staff and students, promoting the sustainability agenda, and transforming lives and communities across the Bradford district.”

Hayley Brogden, a Leeds Global Learning Award-winner and Hairdressing Lecturer at Bradford College, added:

“I am so proud I won the Anti-racism & Intercultural Dialogue category at the Leeds Global Learning Awards. It was such a wonderful day celebrating and connecting with like-minded people. I was so grateful for the opportunity and inspired by everyone I met.”

The 2026 event was opened by Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with awards presented by Councillor Asghar Khan. The event is hosted annually by Global Learning Leeds (formerly Leeds DEC) – an education charity specialising in supporting schools and communities by providing education that helps prepare people to live in a rapidly changing and unequal world.

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