“Ask for Clive” campaign launches at Bournemouth & Poole College

Bournemouth & Poole College is pleased to announce the launch of the national anti-homophobia campaign “Ask for Clive”.

Zachary, Gabriel, Alan and Diane at AfC launch at the Lansdowne Campus

Launching across its sites at North Road and Fulcrum in Poole and Lansdowne in Bournemouth, the campaign shows solidarity against discrimination in the fight against homophobia and transphobia.

The College has a proud record of working with the LGBTQ+ community through initiatives such as the Space Youth Project (spaceyouthproject.co.uk/) and the LGB&T Dorset Equality Network (lgbtdorsetequality.network/, work which was initiated through the Olympics Legacy anti-homophobia in sport project and whose artwork and exhibition pull up panels were created by the College’s Art and Design students). 

“Ask for Clive” takes and shows evidence of the College’s commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion as part of its broader stand against all forms of prejudice, including racism and dis-phobia. Going further than simply complying with legal obligations, the College celebrates diversity and inclusion in the learning environment and supports the good mental health and wellbeing of its staff and students.

Over the coming weeks, information about “Ask for Clive” will be provided to students. Posters and badges will also be displayed across all of its sites, reminding people of the College’s position on intolerance and prejudice and how incidents can be reported discreetly and safely.

Diane Grannell, Principal and CEO of Bournemouth & Poole College said:

“We are really pleased to be launching this national campaign at our College. “Ask for Clive” will provide assurance to all of our students and staff that intolerance and prejudice have no place at our College, and gives a mechanism to report any anti-LGBTQ+ incidents.

“We thank the LGB&T Dorset Equality Network for both introducing “Ask for Clive” and providing support to us on its delivery. Such independent and direct LGBTQ+ community support provides an all-important affirmation of our commitment against prejudice.”

Zachary Rumble, Vice President for Equality and Welfare for the College’s Students’ Union said:

“We are really happy the College is launching this campaign. Equality is important across the college and especially to us in the Students’ Union. We’re really looking forward to seeing what this partnership brings.”

From the Network:

It was really good to be at the Lansdowne Campus of Bournemouth & Poole College today for the launch of the Ask for Clive initiative, with college Principal Diane Grannell, Lloyd Perry, Head of Student Support at BPC and Zac and Gabriel of the college Students Union.  I am really Proud of the college for the enthusiasm it has shown to back and comprehensively implement Ask for Clive coming to the students and staff of its two great campuses, having worked with BPC now for a number of years on some major projects that have gone on to achieve national importance and success. 

Ask for Clive is unique in taking to a whole new level the College’s commitment to equality, anti-discrimination and to support for and respect concerning its diverse communities (LGB&T, ethnicities, global cultures, disabilities) in terms of safety and welcome!  Bournemouth & Poole College joining Ask for Clive sends out a very clear message across the whole of Dorset & South West England, that on its premises anti-LGBT ‘banter’ and other forms of prejudice ASB are not welcome and only harm the teaching & learning environment!  The LGB&T Dorset Equality Network & broader LGB&T community & LGBT ‘Allies’ salute the College’s participation in the Ask for Clive campaign initiative.

Alan Mercel-Sanca. Initiator & Lead Officer, LGB&T Dorset Equality Network