Young people facing disadvantage from Lea Hall and the surrounding areas will have a significantly enhanced opportunity to attend higher education, thanks to a new children’s education centre.
The new education facility, which is jointly-funded by education charity IntoUniversity, The University of Warwick and University College Birmingham, celebrated an opening event at its centre at The Pump on Kitt's Green Rd.
Attending the event were students aged 7-18 who are set to benefit from the centre for the next academic year and beyond, with some of them delivering speeches.
Primary school students took part in a variety of activities during the event replicating the type of activities they will be engaging with in the year ahead during after-school academic support sessions. Secondary school students posed questions about future study and careers to survey attending guests.
Professor Helen Poole, Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor, University College Birmingham said: “At University College Birmingham, we are proud to partner with IntoUniversity and the University of Warwick on this vital initiative serving East Birmingham. Our institution has always been committed to making education accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance. This new centre represents our shared vision of a city where every young person can fulfill their potential through education.
“Birmingham's diverse communities are filled with talented, ambitious young people who simply need the right support and guidance to thrive. By providing academic mentoring and aspiration-building activities in the heart of East Birmingham, we're removing obstacles that too often prevent bright minds from progressing to higher education.
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to be an inclusive university that transforms lives through education. We look forward to seeing the centre become a beacon of opportunity that empowers local young people to create their own successful futures”.
This part of Birmingham is an IMD (index of multiple deprivation) decile 1 area, meaning it’s among the 10% most deprived places nationally. The local progression rate into higher education is just 32%, compared to 44% of students nationally, making the area a prime location for an IntoUniversity centre.
The centre employs four full-time members of staff and will be used to offer after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities.
IntoUniversity has a proven track record of improving attainment into higher education for students facing disadvantage, and currently supports over 56,000 young people each year at their 44 centres nationwide.
58% of students who attend IntoUniversity centres go on to progress to university, compared with 29% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.
The centre is a joint venture between IntoUniversity, the University of Warwick and University College Birmingham. The charity already runs a centre in Coventry in partnership with Warwick University, and previously ran a centre in North Birmingham.