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Cadbury Sixth Form College’s SafeHaven project recognised at the National Association for Managers of Student Services Awards
Cadbury Sixth Form College, part of The Sandwell Colleges, has been recognised on a national stage, securing Runner-Up in the Inspirational Project of the Year category at the prestigious National Association of Managers for Student Services (NAMSS) Awards 2025.
The recognition celebrates SafeHaven, a transformative project delivered in partnership with West Midlands Police, which provides a vital safe space for young people in the community. Designed to support local primary and secondary school students, SafeHaven offers a welcoming environment where young people can access guidance, support, and positive role models outside of school hours.
Reflecting on the impact of the initiative, Emma Brannen, Senior Vice Principal, said:
“SafeHaven is a fantastic example of how collaboration can create real change. We know that young people face a variety of pressures, both inside and outside of school, and having a safe and welcoming space where they feel heard, supported, and empowered makes a significant difference. This project is not just about safeguarding—it’s about creating a community where young people can grow in confidence, build positive relationships, and develop the skills they need for a brighter future. We’re proud to work alongside West Midlands Police to provide this invaluable support network for the young people in our region.”
PC Matt Shakespeare of West Midlands Police also praised the initiative, highlighting its role in strengthening community ties:
“SafeHaven is a wonderful initiative that gives young people positive outlets for self-expression and growth. Our collaboration with Cadbury Sixth Form College on this project reinforces our commitment to supporting Birmingham’s youth and fostering a safer, more connected community.”
The award ceremony, which celebrated outstanding student support initiatives across the UK, recognised the project’s commitment to safeguarding and community engagement, reinforcing the college’s role as a trusted pillar of support for young people in the region.
In attendance at the event were Campus Principal Lydia Maher, Project Lead and Director of Student Services Amie Banford, and Madison Shanahan, Senior Student Support and Community Liaison Officer, who have all played a pivotal role in the development and success of SafeHaven.
This recognition highlights Cadbury Sixth Form College’s dedication to fostering safe and inclusive spaces, empowering young people with the resources and support they need to thrive.
Choose STEM For Your Career Path at Cadbury
So why choose STEM as a career path?
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is one of the fastest-growing areas with an-ever increasing demand for graduates.
The UK is currently short of STEM graduates, so if you have a STEM background, you’ll be in a great position to start a successful career which is personally and financially rewarding.
With STEM qualifications you’ll increase your employment prospects and make a difference to society. You’ll be valued by employers and governments as you’ll be helping to drive economic prosperity in diverse industries such as information technology, robotics, cybersecurity, biotechnology and engineering.
Due to our greater use of technology and the complex challenges of today’s world including climate change, healthcare, and energy sustainability, STEM careers are some of the most exciting that you can imagine. As a college student, it’s entirely possible that by the time you come to graduate from university, there will be new jobs that don’t even exist at the moment.
STEM related job sectors cover artificial intelligence, software development and data analysis, and example STEM careers could include:
Science
Chemist/Astrophysicist/Environmental Scientist
Technology
Software Developer/Network Administrator/Systems Analyst/IT Manager
Engineering
Civil Engineer/Mechanical Engineer/Electrical Engineer/Aerospace Engineer
Mathematics
Mathematician/Actuary/Data Scientist
STEM Success
Shannon is one of Cadbury’s committed and driven alumni with a keen interest in the environment and passion for physical geography. After studying BSc Geography at Sheffield Hallam University Shannon graduated in 2019 with a First Class Honours Degree, and she is now a Hydraulic Modeller at RES Environmental Ltd.
Winning prizes for graduating top of her class and for her outstanding contribution, Shannon continued her study with an MSc (Res) in Polar and Alpine Change at the University of Sheffield where she was awarded a Distinction. Shannon is comfortable using a range of different GIS software including ArcPro, Mapinfo and QGIS.
On her recent return to Cadbury as a guest speaker, Shannon reflected: “Being the first in my family to go to university, I know how important it is for students to have role models from similar backgrounds and it meant a lot that I can be that for students at Cadbury.”
Which STEM subjects can I study with you?
Cadbury Sixth Form College offers you any of these subjects that fall within the STEM categories:
Applied Science │ Physics A Level │ Chemistry A Level │ Biology A Level │ Mathematics A Level │ IT Data Analytics │ Engineering │ Further Maths A Level │ 3D Design A Level │ Computer Science A Level │ Electronics A Level │ Economics A Level │ Applied Human Biology │ Psychology A Level │ Applied Psychology │ Environmental Science A Level │ Core Maths │ Laboratory Sciences T Level
Next STEM Steps
Research all our entry requirements or ask our knowledgeable STEM careers team at one of our next open days.
Creating Safer Communities: Colleges Week 2025
Cadbury Sixth Form College students took part in a powerful workshop with West Midlands Police – gaining real-world insights into the impact of crime and the importance of making positive choices.
For Cadbury – part of The Sandwell Colleges – safety, like always, remains a top priority. Today’s theme, ‘Taking Back Our Streets’, highlights the vital role colleges play in ensuring students feel safe, supported, and empowered every day.
Meanwhile, our Student Support Officers led the inspiring ‘Hear Our Voices’ brick mural, a lasting symbol of unity, strength, and student voice, reinforcing our commitment to creating safe and supportive spaces.
Joined by Councillor Carmel Corrigan, we are proud to be working with our community partners to build a safer, stronger future for our students.
Older News & Event Articles
A new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) Centre has opened to its very first students at Cadbury Sixth Form College.
Due to the overwhelming demand for places at Cadbury Sixth Form College, the £6.6 million centre is focused on delivering a new technical curriculum, responding to a growing demand for specialist teaching facilities and learning for students. The centre aims to ensure that Cadbury Sixth Form College can offer students the broadest choice of advanced courses, including A levels, T Levels and vocational qualifications, across Birmingham.
The 1,000 sqm, two storey STEM Centre supports the education of young people looking to enter careers in advanced manufacturing, life sciences and other critical sectors of the economy. It houses dedicated suites for Digital Media, Health, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Employee Engagement. Digital learning labs and VR suites will offer robotics and coding opportunities for new T Level and A Level courses, alongside a media suite, a practical healthcare learning space, extended classrooms and flexible study and social spaces.
The project marks Phase 2 of Cadbury College’s ambition to position itself to support as many young people as possible who aspire to advanced learning and university; and continues the multi-year investment following the opening of its £3.5 million Science City facilities in 2021. This new facility will support the growing need for new skills and jobs across Birmingham and the West Midlands for both universities and employers.
Julia Stevens, Principal of Cadbury Sixth Form College, commented: “We’re so excited to open the doors to our new STEM Centre, providing local students with even more opportunities to study in state-of-the-art facilities.
“The new building allows students to get hands on and see what their industry looks like, preparing them for life after college – whether that be for university or straight into employment. By providing specialist teaching facilities in growth areas such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences, the new STEM Centre will be a huge benefit to the wider community and the regional economy.”
To find out more about the new STEM Centre at Cadbury College, sign up now for one of our next open days.
Images © Speller Metcalfe
One of Cadbury’s successful alumni, Hamza Ali, has won a competition to create a new Reddit icon for social media superstar KSI. Hamza, who is set to graduate from Birmingham City University as a Graphic Designer in the summer, has been praised for his “passion, imagination and huge flair” by the famous YouTube influencer.
Hamza saw off thousands of rivals from around the world with his entry, which will now be viewed by KSI’s army of 2.9m followers. KSI, who also has more than 20 million subscribers on YouTube, added: “I’ve seen Hamza’s work all over Reddit. I love his passion, imagination and huge flair for artistic design. I know his work is in hot demand by other YouTube influencers. He is very talented. Hamza managed to whip up a madness of colours and energy, combining all the things I love in this icon. The design is super awesome and sick.”
Hamza, who goes by the name Ballpoint Papi on social media and has more than 40,000 followers across TikTok, X and Instagram, said: “It’s pretty amazing and it’s hard to put into words what this means. KSI rarely changes his icon for Reddit, so it’s really massive. It means the entire KSI community will know my work. KSI is very into Dragon Ball Z, so the icon was inspired by this and the Reddit logo.”
Hamza hopes this competition win will improve his chances of impressing leading design agencies in the USA when he heads to New York later this year with a group of fellow creatives from the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media at BCU. He also plans on travelling to Japan to publicise his work next summer with a series of exhibitions.
He added: “Apart from my academic pursuits, I have arranged studio visits in New York City. During my visit, I will be exploring ‘SlangInc’ and Design Bridge to broaden my knowledge and gain real-time exposure to the professional world of graphic design. This opportunity follows a similar experience I had last year when I met with esteemed designers such as Michael Beirut at Pentagram and Georgia Stout at 2×4. These visits have shaped my approach to design and have inspired me to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity.”
Hamza credited his experience and lecturers at Cadbury for paving the way to his growing success. “The A Levels I chose have played a significant role in shaping me into the designer I am today. Stuart, my former graphic design tutor at Cadbury, challenged me creatively, and I am incredibly grateful for him pushing me beyond the boundaries of what is considered ‘normal’ for a graphics designer. He encouraged me to pursue a career in graphic design, and I attribute my success in this field to his guidance and unwavering support.”
You can view Hamza’s winning icon here
Our tireless Careers Team have worked round the clock to process record numbers of university applications ahead of the cut off time.
Numbers of Cadbury Sixth Form College students applying for higher education places has now brought the total for all Sandwell College group sites to more than 1,300.
Careers Coordinator and Adviser, Andrew Farthing, said: “Ahead of the 6pm UCAS deadline on 31st January, the Careers Team worked tirelessly to advise students and tutors, check all student applications and send completed applications with references to UCAS.
“This huge task will help our students to secure offers for places at university. We are on track for record numbers of applications this year.”
Last year 1,035 students across the group were placed at university destinations. Russell Group Universities attracting our students included Oxford, Birmingham, Nottingham, Warwick, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Southampton and York.
The top 5 most popular choices emerged as Birmingham City University, University of Wolverhampton, Aston University, Coventry University, plus De Montfort and Birmingham Newman University in joint fifth place for popularity.
Course sectors which attracted the most students were Criminology and Law, Business/Finance/Accounting/Economics, Nursing and Midwifery, Computing, Psychology and Engineering.
To be part of our next year of success at Cadbury, apply now!
