Posted 13 July 2026

Tahera Mayat, Go Higher West Yorkshire’s (GHWY) Collaborative Outreach Officer, reflects on the achievements of the four under-represented groups Networks she co-ordinates. She focuses on commonalities she’s identified during 2025-26 across the Care Experienced and Estranged Students Network; Disabled Students Network; Race Equity Network; and West Yorkshire Boys’ Impact Hub.  

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) 

The start of this academic year saw GHWY’s Race Equity Network merge with an existing Decolonising the Curriculum Network. The remit of this larger Race Equity Network goes beyond the specific decolonising the curriculum focus to look at broader EDI topics. These include looking at what Higher Education (HE) providers can do to be Muslim friendly following the Muslim Friendly Universities conference.  

Continuing the EDI theme, our Care Experienced and Estranged Students Network celebrated the Care to Go Higher certified-CPD being nominated for a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion award in the Education North Awards. The programme aims to equip the key influencers with the tools to support informed HE choices of care-experienced young people.  

External presentations  

Back in September 2025, members of the West Yorkshire Boys’ Impact Hub gave a presentation about GHWY’s Speak Up, Your Voice Matters programme at the Boys’ Impact Conference. Following this insightful two-day event, Will France (Vice Chair of the Hub) shared his reflections. 

In January 2026, myself and Susan Darlington (GHWY Partnership Assistant) presented on GHWY’s e-learning for HE staff to understand and support disabled students at the World Access to Higher Education Network (WAHEN) global seminar. Our work, with input from the Disabled Students Network, became a case study. 

Evaluation mindset 

The Lads at the Back programme, facilitated by The Youth Association in partnership with GHWY and the West Yorkshire Boys’ Impact Hub, has made great progress. It has seen peer researchers use evaluation tools – such as questionnaires – to help them to understand and answer the vital question: Why are young men more likely to disengage from education? 

In autumn 2025, the Care Experienced and Estranged Network collaborated on a Theory of Change that allows us to consider the short-, medium- and long-term outcomes we expect from our work. This includes increased awareness among staff of how to support care-experienced and estranged students. A Theory of Change is an important tool to foster that evaluation mindset. 

Collaborative resources 

The Race Equity Network was invited by Dr Shames Maskeen (Co-Chair of the Race Equity Network) to input into an annual review of a guide to support Muslim students and staff during Ramadan (month of fasting), which was originally launched in 2025. Produced by Dr Maskeen, the updated guide includes common pitfalls and how to respond; updated day in the life of a Muslim student or staff in Ramadan; and a Ramadan readiness audit tool for HE.  

The Disabled Students Network is currently developing a Transitions Pack for parents, carers, and supporters of disabled students moving into HE. The resource will complement our existing transition pack aimed at disabled learners. 

Final thoughts 

With the end of the academic year approaching, I am proud of what each Network has achieved this year. 

It was great to see all our under-represented groups showcase their work on 10 July at the GHWY Teachers’ and Advisers’ Conference. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the dedication and passion of our Networks. I look forward to continuing to work on outputs in 2026-27.

 

Tahera Mayat, GHWY Collaborative Outreach Officer