Universities of York, Hull, and IntoUniversity Open Access Centres for Youth Opportunities
University of York Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery at the launch of the IntoUniversity centre in Hull.
The new centres build on the work of the partnership in Hull, where an IntoUniversity centre opened in 2022, with many local young people already benefiting from the support of the centre.
The centres are physical spaces embedded in the heart of the communities they serve, providing a range of services to young people between the ages of 7-18 facing disadvantage, who are typically underrepresented in higher education.
Full potential
Through a range of after school academic support, workshops, mentoring and other activities, staff at the centres help these young people raise their academic attainment, develop and nurture their talents, build a love of learning and gain knowledge about potential careers and education pathways, all with a view to enabling them to reach their full potential.
The Bridlington centre will be based in the Key Centre, Christ Church Bridlington, within the East Yorkshire parliamentary constituency, in which around 28.8% of children are living in poverty. Similarly, the new Grimsby centre, which will be located in the Neighbourhood Centre in the East Marsh area of Grimsby, is in a parliamentary constituency in which around 37.7% of children live in poverty, meaning both areas would benefit from the type of support an IntoUniversity centre provides.
Improve educational outcomes
The centres will work closely with local schools and with the universities of York and Hull to improve educational outcomes for young people in these areas. The centres are in a position to open thanks to funding from each of the partners, as well as generous donations from several philanthropists, foundations and corporate donors. But the partnership is still focused on raising crucial further funds to ensure a sustainable future for the centre to support the long-term project of working with young people in the centres across their entire educational journey.
Educational attainment gaps
University of York Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery, said: “We are really proud of this partnership and the development of two further centres in Grimsby and Bridlington. Our collective fundraising efforts are ongoing, and we know these centres will play a key role in driving forward our ambition to reduce gaps in educational attainment for young people across the region and expand access to university.
“As a university dedicated to public good, we want to form partnerships that empower communities across our region, and, building on the success of our existing centre in Hull, these hubs will identify and nurture the next generation of bright minds in Yorkshire and the Humber.
“This is a unique opportunity to transform lives, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact these centres will have on the countless young people who will benefit from their resources and support.”
Building relationships
Dr Rachel Carr, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of IntoUniversity, said: “We are delighted to be adding to our work in Yorkshire and the Humber in such a significant way, in collaboration with the Universities of Hull and York. The young people in this part of the country have so much to offer, but the impact of disadvantage on some of them makes reaching their full potential an uphill struggle.
“We’re excited to begin work with these young people, as well as building relationships with local schools, community groups, parents and carers. We hope to have a really profound impact on the educational outcomes of young people in Bridlington and Grimsby, building on the already great work that we’ve been doing with the wonderful young people in Hull. We’re thankful to our university partners for making this growth in the region possible.”
Fairness and equality
Professor Dave Petley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull, added: “The development of two new centres – in Grimsby and Bridlington – is truly great news. I am delighted that we will be able to reach more young people in our region – and to build on the success of the IntoUniversity centre in Hull.
“There are reminders all around us – and across the world – that fairness and equality aren’t guaranteed. At the University of Hull, we are committed to addressing inequalities – and firmly believe this work starts at home, in Yorkshire.
“As we approach our centenary year, social justice is at the heart of much of our work – in our local community and in our partnership work promoting access and success for all.
“Our University Strategy 2030 inspires us to create a fairer, brighter, carbon neutral future and here on campus we take pride in the fact that the University has inclusivity at its heart. This is reflected in our diverse community – and we work incredibly hard to provide inspiring futures for all our students.
“We are committed to inspiring young people into education by encouraging and giving young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the confidence to take a positive step into higher education.
“Working through our partnership with IntoUniversity, the University of York, and our supporters and generous donors, we will continue to provide support for our local communities – especially those 7-18 year-olds who are facing disadvantage and who are underrepresented in higher education. Together, we can build a love of learning – which can be life-changing – and help students in this region to achieve their full potential.”
The centres
IntoUniversity centres are based in the heart of local communities and support young people from 7 to 18, working closely with schools and families to sow the seeds of aspiration at a young age.
Four full-time members of staff are being recruited to deliver after-school Academic Support sessions to Primary and Secondary school children, aspiration-building workshops in partnership with local schools and a Mentoring programme with current university students and professionals.
Students will be able to access the centre for Academic Support after school Monday to Thursday during term time, and workshops with partner schools will run during the daytime throughout the week.
IntoUniversity has a proven track record of improving access to and attainment in higher education for students facing disadvantage, and currently supports over 50,000 young people each year at their 44 centres nationwide. 61% of students who attend IntoUniversity centres go on to progress to university, compared with 28% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.
Once established, the centres will each benefit over 1,000 local students a year.