Kent and Medway Progression Federation (KMPF) has announced the successful applicants from the latest round of its Strategic Outreach Development Fund.
Six projects are sharing the £32,000 fund, which aims to address IAG (information, advice and guidance) and outreach ‘cold spots’ for underrepresented groups in Kent and Medway.
Among the latest Fund recipients are a range of targeted collaborative outreach initiatives, led by KMPF partners including the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University and Switch Youth Services.
Applications were reviewed by an independent grant panel, including Melanie Phelps, from Medway Council, Cat Jamieson from the British Youth Council and Clare O’Neill from the Southern Universities Network.
Gavin Delf, KMPF Hub Manager, said, “I am once again delighted that we can support collaborative outreach activities by providing funding to enable some extremely worthwhile work to be completed.
“The Strategic Outreach Development Fund supports the values of KMPF, showing our commitment to bringing partners together.”
Strategic Outreach Development Fund collaborative interventions must support those currently underrepresented in higher education including:
- Children in Care / Care Leavers
- Refugees / Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children
- Disabled Students
- Young People from Lower Socio-economic Areas
- GTRSB (Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen & Boater)
The funded interventions should deliver one or more of the aims below:
- Help recipients make well-informed decisions about their options in relation to the full range of routes into and through higher education and minimise the barriers they may face.
- Contribute to reducing gaps in HE participation for the least represented groups
- Contribute to a stronger evidence base around ‘what works’ in HE outreach and strengthen evaluation practice across the sector.
The successful applicants from the latest round of funding are:
The University of Kent & Turner Schools (Folkestone Academy & Turner Free School) – to deliver a programme for year 7 boys from lower socio-economic areas, designed to strengthen attachment to education. The project will enable students to explore a variety of different potential identities through the exploration of subjects which extend past the curriculum and link into potential future careers.
KMPF & CXK – to develop a student ambassador-led campaign designed to inform disabled students of the opportunities and support available in higher education.
The University of Kent & Discovery Planet/KRAN/Pie Factory Youth Centre – to deliver a programme for a group of refugee, asylum-seeking and displaced young people, either unaccompanied or from the Afghan and Ukraine resettlement schemes to engage them through STEM – increasing their knowledge, confidence and general wellbeing.
Canterbury Christ Church University & Willowbank Education/Dover Christ Church Academy/The Sittingbourne School/St Edmund’s School – to deliver a 6-week programme for students from underrepresented backgrounds including children in care, disabled students and young people from lower socio-economic areas offering engaging educational experiences to students in an outdoor setting. This project aims to provide students with the foundations for future work, reducing perceived barriers to HE study, while also increasing wellbeing, engagement in learning, a sense of self and a more positive view of education.
Canterbury Christ Church University & St John’s Catholic Comprehensive/Dover Christ Church Academy/The Holmesdale School – to run the Inspiring Minds programme with students from lower socio-economic areas, to help narrow the gender and social participation gap in science and engineering and empower students with new ways to think about themselves, their school subjects and their future choices.
Switch Youth Services & Catch-22 – to gather, analyse and share findings on the opinions of young people from the GTRSB community on what barriers they face regarding participating in higher education.