Green Gown Awards 2019 - Coleg Gwent - Highly Commended

Cash4Change (C4C) is a project where students can bid for money to make sustainable changes at their campus. This scheme was set up by the college and Coleg Gwent Student’s Union CGSU to support projects, clubs, events and ideas that make life at Coleg Gwent more enriching, benefit the college and local community and improve the environment.  

The learners’ objectives mean that any projects submitted have to provide a focus on local amenities, local groups, local projects, the wider community, nature, the environment, citizenship or raising awareness or any other area which is relevant to the learner’s course. This approach also helps to develop vital skills such as innovation and creativity, problem solving, personal effectiveness and digital literacy. As well as supporting the development of personal skills and underpinning the Welsh Baccalaureate challenges.  

C4C has really supported and impacted future membership from an employer, organisation, charity perspective, staff and learners because it has brought significant benefits to all parties involved. Because of its huge success the project will continue for the foreseeable future.

Top 3 learnings:

• We believe the project helped to develop vital employability skills. 
• Our campaign teams achieved a good understanding of the impact of their projects on students, staff, and local communities. 
• Our leaners gained a greater understanding of the local and wider community, raising an awareness of the sustainable issues relevant to the learner’s courses.