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Uni Connect (NCOP) - Linking London Update

In less than three weeks at the end of the Autumn term, our colleagues based in colleges signed up yet more students to the Uni Connect programme and brought the total number of activities delivered to an impressive 535. We have now worked with 436 learners, of which 250 live in one of our target wards

We now have three colleagues in Hub 1 working in Havering Sixth Form College, Havering College of Further and Higher Education, and Barking and Dagenham College, but of course all three are working from home. Where learners are already signed up and have an established relationship with the team, they are continuing to receive one-to-one support with IAG, personal statements and general UCAS advice. Over 60 ward learners have applied through UCAS at Havering Sixth Form, with many expressing their gratitude and excitement via email. Creative Residents, UAL’s e-mentoring project continues, with a drive to expand the number of mentees in the next few weeks.

Over in Hub 2, Coulsdon College learners remain involved in Creative Residents too, and UCAS support is still very much in demand. The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama had fantastic attendance for their virtual workshops at London South East Colleges (LSEC); one session had over 50 learners. Work with Level 2 ward learners is underway, and as well as UCAS support our Engagement Officer and HEI partners have been responding to the need for resources related to remote learning, motivation techniques and time management.

In Hub 3, St Mary’s University, Twickenham are preparing to launch a new e-mentoring scheme which will provide learners at Richmond-upon-Thames College with high quality, sustained, one-to-one IAG as well as a friendly listening ear when needed. This is through Brightside, with whom we have previously delivered a similar project in last summer and we have several ongoing projects.

Moving into the Spring term, whilst recognising the challenges of signing up new target students remotely, we are focusing on engaging new Level 3 Year 1 and Level 2 learners on our Uni Connect programme and looking at new ways to engage and support them. We will also continue to work with students already on the programme to ensure we offer a sustained programme of activity in line with our Progression Framework. We continue to have monthly meetings that bring together our college engagement staff with our partner universities to ensure that our programme is flexible and adapting to the needs of our target students in this particularly challenging context.

Linking London NCOP – Outreach Hub Update

We currently have four mentoring projects in their early stages so much of our time this month has been focused on setting these up. We have, however, produced a few more resources: a Health & Social Care mini guide for students, five more Curriculum to Careers posters, and a resource for Level 2 students studying carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. You can find all our resources here. Our bulletin continues to highlight online outreach activities, you can see past issues here and subscribe here. As always, if you have any questions or requests for support, do get in touch with Jess and Melanie.