What’s coming up for our under-represented groups in 2024-25?
The emphasis of Go Higher West Yorkshire’s (GHWY) work with under-represented groups (URGs) will shift this academic year in line with our overarching Strategy, which has been refreshed for 2024-25 to 2028-29.
Our ethos will remain on connectivity and collaboration, but there will be greater emphasis on access and success in Higher Education (HE). This means that the work of our four URG Networks – which work to support Black Asian and Minoritised ethnic students, Care-experienced and estranged students, Disabled students, and Males on Free School Meals – will become even more important.
The Networks collaborated to input into the 2024 Yorkshire Universities inclusive recruitment guide but they also work towards their own key outputs. We take a look at their key stands of activity in 2024-25.
Black Asian and Minoritised ethnic students Network
The focus of this group will be to complete a collaborative Systematic Review. This will look at the barriers and facilitators for this particular group to access HE, which has involved reflecting on our own background. The review will not only support the evidence base for work with learners from these backgrounds, but contributes towards staff developing their own evidence-informed practices.
Another priority will be reviewing the terminology for this group, with some organisations moving towards ‘racialised minorities’ or ‘race equity’ instead.
Care-experienced and estranged students Network
For 2024-25, a key focus will be to address the gap left by the closure of national estrangement charity Stand Alone. The priority will be to ensure that estranged students remain part of the conversation alongside care-experienced students.
Following the success of our collaborative approach to Estranged Students Solidarity Week in 2023 – a Stand Alone led campaign – we will run our own campaign to raise awareness of estranged students in November.
We will also be updating our collaborative resources: Care Leaver Covenant, Estranged Students Pledge (formerly the Stand Alone Pledge), and e-learning for HE staff on care-experienced and estranged students.
Disabled students Network
A common issue that the Disabled students Network identified last academic year was a lack of understanding and confidence for HE staff to support disabled students in HE. In order to address this, we are currently developing an e-learning course for HE staff to help them support these students. This was piloted with our Outreach Officers in August 2024. We are currently updating the course in response to feedback before officially launching it later this year.
Males on Free School Meals Network
Our Uni Connect project will look to expand its Speak Up Boys programme. This aims to develop self-confidence and self-awareness through a range of activities and interventions that increase understanding of individual skills and values, and encourage reflection and discussion. Project staff are interested in collaborating with this Network to best support this particular URG.
We are also in early conversation about setting up a Boys Impact Hub for the West Yorkshire region, which will involve adopting the Taking Boys Seriously principles. We are looking to ascertain if it is something that is feasible given our capacity and resources.
I am looking forward to working with our member representatives of each Network to see what we achieve. If you or a colleague would be interested in joining any of the Networks, please contact me at T.Mayat@leeds.ac.uk
Tahera Hayat, GHWY Collaborative Outreach Officer
