Make Happen is working with the online mentoring charity Brightside to offer year 13 students from disadvantaged backgrounds a new programme to support their transition to university this autumn, in response to challenges faced by the covid-19 pandemic.
This national programme brings together a coalition of nine higher education institutions and Uni Connect consortia including Make Happen to support 1,500 year 13 students and other university offer-holders in its first phase, as they navigate the current unique and complex series of challenges, following the cancellation of exams and the subsequent implications of moving onto university.
Launching on 1 June the 16-week mentoring programme will support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to transition successfully to university through motivational and support sessions. The overall aim is to help students develop skills to help them deal with setbacks, overcome challenges, and become well-prepared for the changes in learning styles as a university student.
Stephen Pomfret, Head of Collaborative Outreach at Make Happen, said: “We are pleased that schools and colleges we work with have signed-up students to take part in this national mentoring programme at this time. It’s so important that these students get the appropriate mentoring and support they need to help them prepare for transition into university education, but especially now, as we face a very different start to the autumn university term.”
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Brightside
UniConnect
More about Brightside
Brightside is the UK’s leading online mentoring provider and works with over 65 organisations across the UK to provide online support to over 10,000 students every year. Brightside provides access to positive role models and gives students tailored information, advice and guidance helping to build self-esteem and supporting young people to plan for their futures.
Based on an analysis of 9,000 students between 2009 and 2017, the Brightside 2020 report, Brightside long-term outcomes, shows that students with the lowest levels of higher education participation were three times more likely to enter higher education if they received mentoring support from Brightside.
Brightside: Prepare for HE is the organisation’s national programme supported by university institutions and Uni Connect consortia including University of Chester, University of Surrey, Future HY (York and North Yorkshire), Greater Manchester Higher, GROWS (Gloucestershire), Higher Education Outreach Network (Surrey and North East Hampshire), HePPSY (Sheffield), Make Happen (Essex), and Study Higher (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Reading).