Hedley’s College Police Cadets Win 2 Awards

The Natspec Innovation Awards recognise and celebrate innovative practice in the specialist further education sector. They shine a light on initiatives that have clearly resulted in improved outcomes for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

Natspec award a number of colleges each year with their Natspec Awards. We knew a couple of weeks ago in an online awards ceremony that the Police Cadet Programme had won the “Curriculum Innovation Award”. However, when Deputy Principal, Wendy, attended the conference, we were surprised with a 2nd additional award. Our Police Cadets Programme had won not only the Natspec Curriculum Innovation Award, but they were also announced as the winner of the Innovator of the Year Award as well.

Hedley’s College teamed up with Northumbria Police to launch the UK’s first of it’s kind, Volunteer Police Cadet scheme for students with disabilities, which has taken the North East by storm over the last year. Being part of the scheme means students will take part and learn about important topics like the phonetic alphabet, hate crime, anti-social behaviour, knife crime, crime prevention, internet safety, dog handling, wellbeing and mental health, theft, road safety/drink driving and anti-bullying.

From featuring on the news, to attending the British Diversity Awards in London and meeting celebrities, the cadets have certainly had a phenomenal year.

Having these achievements acknowledges with these awards from Natspec fills the Foundation, and College, with pride and we can’t wait to see what more our Hedley’s College Police Cadets get up to!