Education Partnership North East celebrates double award win

Education Partnership North East (EPNE) is celebrating a double win at the prestigious 2025 Educate North Awards.

More than 400 guests from across the business and education sectors attended a glittering awards ceremony at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel which saw EPNE and Northumbria Police’s Trainee Detective Programme – a pioneering project which helps young people learn about the dangers of knife crime – triumph in the Community Engagement category.

Later in the evening, the group’s Sunderland College picked up the Heart Creative Arts Award for Thread of Life, a community cohesion event hosted by students in response to the August 2024 riots in Sunderland.

Ellen Thinnesen, CEO at EPNE, said: “We are delighted to win two Educate North Awards, both are linked to our work for community and cohesion.

“Winning these are awards are a testament to the hard work of our students, staff and partners. They are deserved recognition of the changemaking role we play in and for our local communities, along with the power of creative arts to inspire, heal and transform individuals and society.”

The Community Engagement award- winning Trainee Detective Programme is an inspiring, first of its kind project which highlights the devastation and consequences of knife crime.

Delivered by Sunderland College and Northumbria Police, with the support of the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit and the Connor Brown Trust, local school pupils aged 11-14 took part in a week-long event at Bede Campus where they used the latest immersive technology to evaluate evidence from the investigation into Connor’s tragic murder while virtually walking through the crime scene.

Vikkie Morton, Vice Principal for Student Life and Stronger Communities, said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive the Educate North Award for Community Engagement. This recognition reflects the strength of our collaboration with Northumbria Police, the Connor Brown Trust, and North East Regional Crime Unit through the Young Trainee Detective Programme.

“By working together to address the serious societal issue of knife crime, we are driving meaningful, lasting change and helping to build safer, more resilient communities.”

In the wake of the riots that took place across the country in August 2024, Sunderland College’s Creative Arts Department responded with a powerful and moving act of unity and creativity known as “The Contemporary Sunderland Thread of Life,” an immersive arts experience that celebrated the city’s rich cultural tapestry.

Photography, media, visual and digital art, music, and performance students collaborated to create a powerful and inspiring celebration of Sunderland’s rich and intricate history.

At the heart of this initiative was a powerful poem penned by two Drama staff members, inspired by the events of the riots. This powerful piece – named ‘Open Yer Eyes’ – was captured on film at the historic Sheepfolds in Sunderland, serving as a poignant reminder of the city’s resilience and its unwavering spirit.

Sheree Rymer, Associate Principal for Enhanced Curriculum, said: “We are deeply honoured to receive the Heart Creative Arts Award for our ‘Thread of Life’ creative response to the 2024 riots.

“This recognition is a tribute not only to the vision, courage, and collaboration of our incredible staff and students, but to the spirit of Sunderland itself. Our city’s resilience and unity inspired every frame, every word, and every note of this work.

“Thank you to our community, our partners, and the judges for seeing the heart behind the art. This award belongs to all of us—it’s not just a win for Creative Arts, but a win for Sunderland.”

Winning at the Educate North Awards is the latest accolade in an incredible year, which also saw EPNE rated Outstanding in every area by Ofsted and retain its place as the region’s top performing in the latest Department for Education’s 16-18 achievement rate table.

Now in their eleventh year, the Educate North Awards celebrate excellence, world class achievement and improvement across the University, Higher Education (HE), Further Education (FE), and Sixth Form sectors in the North of England.

Phil Harris, Emeritus Professor and Chair of the ENA judges, said of the Trainee Detective Programme: “This winning entry stands out for its innovative and impactful approach to tackling knife crime, delivering measurable and impressive outcomes beyond traditional education methods. In a highly competitive category, it excels as a scalable and sustainable initiative with the potential for lasting change.’

Judges also praised the ‘Thread of Life’ project, with Professor Harris adding: “It’s bold and creative approach to tackling a topical subject, showcased strong reasoning and exceptional collaboration across multiple art forms.

“With widespread community and business engagement, it demonstrates outstanding impact, making it the highest-scoring entry in not only a highly competitive category, but the entire competition.”