A COLLEGE has earned a national accolade for a ‘forward-thinking’ community project.

Abingdon & Witney College beat competitors to win an award for a social action scheme, which staff worked ‘tirelessly’ on.

A college initiative called Action Tap, which encourages students to help causes within the community, won a category at the Association of Colleges Beacon Awards.

Abingdon & Witney principal Di Batchelor said it was a ‘fantastic privilege’ to win the Edge Award for Practical Teaching and Learning.

She said: “We are immensely pleased to have continued our proud tradition of being recognised in multiple categories at the awards.

“To have one of our amazing and forward-thinking social projects recognised on the national stage in further education is brilliant.

“The students and local community have fully engaged with this initiative, and the staff have worked tirelessly to get it to where it is today.”

The college, which has campuses in Abingdon, Witney and Common Leys, set up Action Tap in 2015.

It involves students across business, accounting, sport, public services and events and tourism, who unite to work collaboratively on social action projects.

Past examples include sports coaching at schools, running charity events, visiting hospitals and attending business events.

Carole Stott, chair of the Association of College’s charitable trust, said: “All the entries demonstrated the commitment of colleges to create the best possible experience for their students.”

The college was announced a winner at a ceremony in Birmingham on Tuesday evening.

It was a runner-up in the mental health and wellbeing category, and alumnus Kirsty Newman was named runner-up for student of the year.