A new lntoUniversity learning centre, designed to support young people to fulfil their potential and achieve a place at university is now open in Newcastle.
The IntoUniversity Centre, located in the East End of the City at Monkchester Community Centre, is a partnership between Northumbria and Newcastle Universities and IntoUniversity - the UK’s largest university-access charity.
IntoUniversity centres are based in the heart of local communities and support up to 1,000 young people aged 7 to 18 each year. Like the other centres across the country, the Newcastle Centre works closely with schools and families to raise young peoples’ aspirations by providing academic support, soft-skill development, and experience of the world of work.
Funded by supporters of the two universities, together with the Buffini Chao Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation and other philanthropic backers, the new Centre is delivering free after school academic support sessions to primary and secondary school children, providing aspiration building workshops and a mentoring programme, which is supported by university students and volunteers from the North East business community. The Centre is run by five full-time members of staff and, since it opened in October 2021 has supported over 300 young people.
“This centre is an important contribution to our aim of raising participation in higher education in our community. Fundraising for the Centre is underway. The Centre has proved so popular that more help is needed, and we are looking to develop further philanthropic partnerships both to sustain the East End Centre and expand our reach to other communities. We also want to hear from volunteers who can help mentor the young people taking part.”
Dan Monnery, Director of Strategic Planning, Northumbria University
IntoUniversity is one of the projects being delivered with money raised by Northumbria University’s fundraising campaign, Higher Education Without Barriers. Northumbria is partnering with alumni, businesses, and other supporters to establish a fund that will provide a range of financial initiatives, mental health and wellbeing services, and community-based projects to make participation and progression in higher education more achievable for academically talented students, regardless of their social or economic circumstances.
“Interest and take-up from schools and the local community has been phenomenal and feedback from participants has been excellent. The team are looking forward to working with more students and their families and we expect to support over 550 young people in our first year.”
Kirsty Wadsley, Head of Operations (Scotland and North East England) at IntoUniversity
‘I attend the centre twice a week to help with my learning and to be able to concentrate in a quiet space. I can use resources and laptops to help study for my homework and I am encouraged to start doing revision towards my GCSE’s. The adults in the room help explain things if I get stuck and I am also gaining skills through completing different Future Readiness Projects and now I’m practising my oracy skills by creating a speech. I have also had a chance to look into different careers I might like to do when I’m older and what pathway I need to take to do that.’
Adil, Year 10 student Newcastle
To find out how your business can get involved, contact James Wilkinson at: james.wilkinson@northumbria.ac.uk
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