Upcoming GHWY activities for 2025-26
A new project to support young men across the region and the roll-out of evaluation training to staff across our partnership are just some of the exciting activities that Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY) will undertake in 2025-26.
We take a look below at key pieces of work that are coming up this academic year.
Peer research pilot
Following a successful collaborative bid that we submitted to the Northern Consortium Charity, led by The Youth Association, we are excited to be involved with a small-scale pilot to train young men from underserved communities as peer researchers. They will then themselves undertake research with other young men. The pilot fits in with the West Yorkshire Boys’ Impact Hub that we co-ordinate to bring together interested organisations to collaborate in this area.
Teachers’ and advisers’ conference
Our flagship Teachers’ and Advisers’ conference will return in July 2026. This follows the success of this year’s conference, which was attended by around 60 people and received excellent feedback. Planning is already underway for the 2026 conference. We will be announcing the date and host venue soon so keep visiting our website for updates.
Evaluation training
We are taking our successful evaluation training in-house for 2025-26. The four-part programme is designed to help staff who work across our membership to strengthen how they measure and understand impact. It will equip attendees with practical tools, skills, and confidence to plan, deliver, and report on evaluation. If you work at one of our member institutions and are interested in registering, please complete this short form by Friday, 5 October.
Underrepresented group (URG) networks
Our four URG networks will continue to share and transfer good practice while working towards key outputs. These include:
- A bespoke Theory of Change workshop for our Care-Experienced and Estranged Students Network.
- On behalf of the Disabled Students Network, GHWY staff will present at the upcoming World Access to Higher Education Day (WAHED) conference about the disabled students e-learning for HE staff.
- Our Race Equity Network will merge with the GHWY Decolonising the Curriculum Network in order to broaden the focus for both groups.
- Our Boys’ Impact Hub will be involved in the peer research pilot detailed above.
New schools and colleges newsletter
Our Uni Connect programme is launching a new e-newsletter for individuals who support learners in schools and colleges. ‘How to Go Higher’ will share information that will benefit schools and college staff about the Higher Education (HE) sector in order to support their learners to make informed choices. Anyone who works in the sector in West Yorkshire can subscribe to ‘How to Go Higher‘ to receive issues straight into their inbox every half term.
Conclusion
We look forward to continue working with our members on these activities, and much more besides, over the coming academic year.
