British School of Osteopathy and LSBU win higher education awards

The British School of Osteopathy – which has its teaching centre in Borough High Street and its community clinic in Southwark Bridge Road – won the award for contribution to the local community, whilst London South Bank University won the widening participation category.

More than 1,000 people attended the black-tie awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel hosted by David Walliams.

The BSO won its award for a scheme that has offered thousands of free and subsidised treatments to local residents.

Charles Hunt, BSO principal and chief executive, said: "We were so pleased to be nominated and shortlisted. Looking at the high profile universities shortlisted for the awards, we were proud to represent the work of smaller, specialist institutions.

"I was delighted that the judging panel wanted to recognise that although small, the BSO's work within our community makes a real difference to people's lives.

"Our commitment to making osteopathic treatment available within the community is long standing, for people who could benefit but who cannot afford to pay – and this is reinforced to our graduating students, encouraging them to continue to deliver osteopathy to those who need it most throughout their careers."

Simeon London, head of clinical practice, added: "This award is strongly related to our community clinic portfolio and the range of people who gain support there. However, our clinical centre in Southwark also sees thousands of patients every year who receive low-cost, great value care from our students.

"Even full price treatments at our clinic are only £22 – and more than 60 per cent of our appointments are at a reduced price, with our concessionary rate only £10 per appointment.

"We know, because our patients tell us, how important it has been – how life-changing in some instances – to have the BSO clinic within this community."

LSBU won its award for the 'City Opportunities' programme, a scheme for young adults who have spent their childhood in care.

Through this week-long programme, which was developed in collaboration with the City of London Economic Development Office, care leavers between the ages 16 to 24 attend a number of workshops, including mentoring, careers advice, problem solving and decision making challenges, goal setting sessions, and CV and interview skills.

LSBU's Mark Ellis said: "I'm delighted that the panel acknowledged the importance of a project that focuses on tackling the continuing serious underrepresentation in higher education of young people who have experienced local authority care. The City of London is a major provider of graduate jobs and we wanted to ensure that care leavers who have grown up nearby get a share in the opportunities that it provides.

"We have had fantastic response from the young people who have taken part in the scheme since 2010, and it is an honour for it to now be recognised as representative of the best in the higher education sector."