Staff at South & City College Birmingham (SCCB) have chosen Birmingham Hospice as their Charity of the Year for its academic year 2025-2026. It becomes the first Further Education college in the region to support the charity in this capacity.
The announcement marks the next stage in the two organisations’ partnership having previously collaborated on a joint project at the hospice’s “Reloved Brum” charity shop in Harborne where college students staged a fashion show of unique designs made entirely from pre-loved clothing.
Choosing the hospice as the college’s charity partner for the year will provide the seven-campus FE institution with a focal point for all its fundraising efforts which in previous years have included student-led initiatives linked to their studies. For example, business students have previously run small business with profits from sales going to the chosen charity. Birmingham Hospice will also be the main beneficiary of the college’s annual ‘apprenticeship awards’, which typically raises funds via on-the-night raffles and auctions.
Commenting on the decision to support Birmingham Hospice, Principal Mike Hopkins MBE said: “As an institution embedded in the Birmingham community, it is important to us that we support organisations which impact the same communities that we encounter every day. Birmingham Hospice certainly meets that brief.
“It is estimated that the hospice’s running costs for the coming year could reach £19m so it’s vital that we all do what we can to contribute to this. This will be not only via our staff and students within the college but also, we hope, amongst our many corporate partners as well. We will do everything possible to support this important part of our community that, sadly, so many of us will encounter at some point.”
John Hurley is the community fundraiser for the education sector at Birmingham Hospice, he added: “We are so grateful to South & City College Birmingham for choosing us as their Charity of the Year – it’s local organisations like them that make a huge difference to our vital fundraising each year.
“We not only support anyone aged over 18 living with a terminal diagnosis but also their families and loved ones who will be going through a tough time as well – this can often be children and young people who are supported by our specialist Children’s Bereavement Team.
“So, through our partnership, the college will be further supporting young people in and across the city by helping to ensure our vital services are able to continue.”
