Fit For Purpose: Issue 2

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MAKE HAPPEN SPOTLIGHT ON LUCY MURRAY AND MAKE HAPPEN

Overcoming the barriers to higher education MAKE HAPPEN IS TARGETING HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE MORE CHILDREN INTO HIGHER EDUC ATION IN ESSEX, AS WE REPORT HERE. Make Happen is the Essex partnership of the Uni Connect programme, funded through the Office for Students. Based at the University of Essex, the programme works in partnership to reach areas where higher education (HE) participation is lower than might be expected given the GCSE results of children who live there. The programme works to open up opportunities for young people in Essex and raise awareness of the opportunities HE can provide. There are 29 Uni Connect partnerships of differing sizes across the UK. Make Happen receives one of the largest funding allocations

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due to a high number of areas being identified through the Uni Connect programme. The county has a diverse demographic with rural, urban and coastal areas, as well as London borders. Essex is also home to some areas of high deprivation and low progression to HE including towns such as Southend, Thurrock and Clacton. The programme works on a school-led model with all target schools being linked to a Collaborative Outreach Officer. Each school is unique and therefore activity is different depending on the specific barriers and needs of the students. Make Happen also has strong relationships with further education (FE) colleges, recognising the fact that progression is lower from FE than it is from sixth form colleges. Make Happen works in partnership with a number of higher education institutions, including University of Essex, Anglia Ruskin University, Writtle University College and the University


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Fit For Purpose: Issue 2 by The Purpose Coalition - Issuu