Category: Uncategorized
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The hidden deficit: why the university funding crisis is a social mobility crisis
by Eve Jacobs Here at The Access Project, we have been keeping a close eye on what is happening within the higher education sector. The landscape is changing, but what does this mean for our students? There is a squeeze across the whole UK university sector, driven by financial pressures and a shift within the… Read more
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“This trip has opened my eyes to the different pathways I can take”
The grounds of Magdalen College, University of Oxford, are beautiful on any given day, but on a sunny Monday in June they could not have looked better. Students from five of our London partner schools had the opportunity to experience a day at Magdalen. These high potential students are all enrolled on our Oxbridge Pathways… Read more
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Is university worth it? Higher education and social mobility
According to the British Social Attitudes Survey, a third of British people now think that university isn’t worth it, as reported by the BBC today. Here at The Access Project, our mission is to support young people to access top universities in order to achieve social mobility. This has always been our core focus as we strive for a fairer society where every young person,… Read more
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New partnership announced with Kaizen Reporting
The Access Project today announced a new partnership with Kaizen Reporting, a leading provider of regulatory compliance solutions for global financial institutions, to launch an employee volunteering programme focused on coaching young people from under-resourced backgrounds. The partnership will provide Kaizen employees with opportunities to volunteer as skills coaches, supporting students to build confidence, develop… Read more
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From Ancient Egyptian art to women in leadership: Learning at Work Week
As an education charity, learning plays a pivotal role in our programmes. Students learn about the university experience, how to submit a quality application, they develop key transferable skills, and they are supported to raise their academic attainment. But learning is not just for our students! Alongside a formal Learning & Development programme, we’re celebrating… Read more
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“I enjoy talking to my coach” – Ray is building skills for the future
Ray is a year 12 student from Lancashire. When he started studying his A levels, Ray also joined The Access Project — for mentoring, skills coaching, and an extra boost to help his university applications. A keen historian, Ray has ambitions of studying history at a top university. He aspires to work in a museum… Read more
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Third of university students come from the wealthiest backgrounds
Latest data from HESA shows that a third of British university students now come from the wealthiest backgrounds, suggesting a backwards step for social mobility. 31% of undergraduates now come from the highest socio‑economic group, up from 25% in 2021/22. Despite widening participation initiatives, of most concern is the sharp drop in the intake of students with parents working in semi-routine jobs, falling from 13%… Read more
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Impact report : Our year in voices
Introducing our impact report for 2024/25. ‘Our year in voices’ details our impact over the last academic year. Here we celebrate our successes and, more importantly, the successes of our students. Once again, we demonstrate that our intervention has a benchmark-beating impact on the young people we work with. And what is the difference we… Read more
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Sam Davies joins The Access Project as Interim Director
We are delighted to welcome Sam Davies to The Access Project as Interim Director of Fundraising and Communications. Sam joins us with 25 years of experience in business development and fundraising. Sam has held senior fundraising leadership roles at Plan International UK, WWF, and Shelter, and prior to his fundraising career, served as a director… Read more
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In memoriam: Neil McIntosh, former Chair of the Board
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Neil McIntosh CBE, former Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Access Project. Neil served with our board from 2013 until 2021. In his time, Neil helped drive The Access Project’s mission, supporting growth in London and our expansion into the West Midlands. Neil had… Read more