Meet the Bristol women working to eradicate inequality in education one student at a time

A small South Bristol start-up is taking on the big challenge of tackling the "inherent" inequalities in higher education.

Inclusive Futures is working to reduce the rift between underrepresented learners and university, by providing targeted and specialist coaching to support and empower them throughout their studies.

The community interest company was founded just as the coronavirus pandemic hit last year, when school closures were only just starting to impact on children's education.

Their work is funded by universities and colleges as part of their commitment to increase access, meaning the support is free for students to access themselves.

They work with a diverse range of students, including those from low-income households, students with disabilities, students from ethnic minority groups and those with experience of the care system.

Explaining more about how the community interest company works, Jess said: "We work with a framework to deliver students support but we'll respond to whatever they need, however we can serve them best in the moment.

"We work across the student life-cycle, from prospective students who are thinking about applying to higher education and students in transition, to preparing them for graduation.

"We are also working with students at greater risk of disengaging from their studies - data suggests that for students who are underrepresented, there are barriers not only to entering higher education, but once there they are more likely to drop out of courses and less likely to go into meaningful higher education or employment.”

"Our programme can have an amazing impact, but to level the playing field when it comes to opportunity - that's not something we can do on our own."

Source: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/meet-bristol-women-working-eradicate-5492729

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