Make Happen have been working closely with Bridgeway Mission for three years to support refugee students in raising their aspirations and confidence levels. Following past projects, we returned to Bridgeway’s Colchester City Centre hub in Spring 2026. Over the space of 7 weeks, we hosted Maths Tuition sessions delivered by Stuart Woodward of Capricorn14 Tuition. Focused on raising attainment, the students were tasked with developing their maths skills in a small group environment.
Each week, we focused on a different topic to help students develop their confidence in maths. Whether it was decimals or fractions, the students threw themselves into the content. In particular, the students enjoyed working with a team of Student Ambassadors from the University of Essex. These ambassadors all currently study mathematical based subjects at the university and helped guide the students through the content. They were also brilliant role models for the young people to demonstrate what being a university student involves.
Students taking part in the project also commented that they found it useful to focus on maths in a small group environment. One student commented that they enjoyed meeting other people in the sessions whilst getting expert help with their maths. After a few weeks, the students even started to help each other which was lovely to witness.
In the final session of the project, we invited the student’s and their families to a celebration evening. This was the perfect way to showcase what the students had been working on. At the end of the session, Colchester City Councillors were on hand to offer the students certificates to mark the end of the programme.
This project is a great example of Make Happen engaging with local partners to improve the outcomes for young people in Essex. If you would like to find out more about our offering, please contact us on info@makehappen.org.
By Perry James, Outreach Officer at Make Happen