Association of Colleges

Mission Statement

To advance the education of members of the public over the age of 16 years.

History

The AoC Charitable Trust was set up in 1994. Since its establishment, it has supported several successful programmes: 

1993-1996 – Esmée Fairbairn Charitable Trust project – Creating Connections
1996-2007 – Work Shadowing Scheme
2001-2002 – International Churchill Society Award for Fine Art Painting

Current programmes

The Trust currently administers:

1994 to date – AoC Beacon Awards Programme
1996, 2000 to date – AoC Gold Awards

Today the AoC Beacon Awards and AoC Gold Awards are as strong as ever, attracting support from sponsors and Colleges alike. The AoC Charitable Trust has recently completed research into the capabilities evidenced in the winning and highly commended Colleges of the AoC Beacon Awards, the outcome of which can be found in the "Celebrating Colleges" section of this site.

Open to all Colleges in the UK

The AoC Charitable Trust programmes are open to all Colleges in the UK. Membership of AoC is not necessary to apply for either of these programmes. We therefore welcome applications from all Colleges in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Trustees and representatives

The AoC Charitable Trust is overseen by a group of Trust representatives who are listed below:

• John Bingham, Chair of the AoC – Trustee
• Peter Brophy, AoC Director of Finance – Trustee
• Martin Doel, AoC Chief Executive - Trustee
• Richard Eve, Vice Chair and Company Secretary of the Helena Kennedy Foundation - Trustee 
• David Forrester, Governor of City & Islington College – Trustee
• Debra Stych, AoC HR Director and Company Secretary 
• Alice Thiagaraj, Manager of AoC Charitable Trust – Trustee
• Dame Patricia Morgan-Webb, Chair of AoC Beacon Awards

Contact us

To contact the AoC Charitable Trust Team with a general enquiry, please email us.

If you have a specific enquiry, please contact:

Alice Thiagaraj regarding the AoC Beacon Awards
Louise Duffy regarding the AoC Gold Awards

Alternatively, please phone 020 7034 9900.

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The AoC Charitable Trust is a Registered Charity in England and Wales (charity number 1040631) and in Scotland (charity number SC039064).