Our partnership with The Reading List Foundation: £7,000 to help low-income students pay for uni essentials
The Access Project is thrilled to announce its partnership with The Reading List Foundation to award low-income students with scholarships to assist them on their journey to university.
The Reading List Foundation will award a £275 scholarship to one exceptional Year 13 student in a selection of The Access Project’s partner schools. Every scholarship will help an under-resourced young person kickstart their university adventure by paying for their first-year textbooks.
79% of students from lower income households in England have had to cut back on essentials because of financial pressures. The Reading List Foundation’s scholarship scheme will level the playing field for under-resourced students, easing the financial burden of life at university.
Connor Simpson, Director of Strategy and Impact at The Access Project, said: “In the context of the cost-of-living crisis, we know that many students are struggling with the affordability of university. The real cost of studying extends beyond tuition fees, as students face extra financial challenges buying essential supplies like textbooks.”
“We’re delighted to be partnering with The Reading List Foundation to provide these scholarships for students on The Access Project’s programmes. This extra bit of support will go a long way towards helping our students overcome barriers to higher education.”
92% of students on The Access Project’s programme come from the most under-resourced backgrounds. This means they may qualify for pupil premium, free school meals, or live below the poverty line.
The Access Project has partnerships with 40 schools across London, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North West. The programme helps young people overcome barriers to education by providing expert mentoring and tuition, raising their GCSE and A level grades and preparing them for higher education. In turn, pupils who study with The Access Project are almost twice as likely to attend a top university, giving them the best chance to achieve social mobility.
The Access Project’s new partnership with The Reading List Foundation demonstrates its commitment to making education accessible for all young people.
87% of scholarship winners said the funds made a ‘big difference’ to their first year at university.
Alan Terry, Co-founder at The Reading List Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to partner with The Access Project this year, and reach even more great schools and colleges.
“Our Scholarships help students buy the books they need to succeed rather than just those they can afford, and we’ve no doubt The Access Project students will help make a cohort of over 300 exceptional Scholarship winners this summer”.