A new learning centre has opened in Newcastle to help thousands of young people into university or higher education.
The centre in Walker is a collaboration between Newcastle and Northumbria Universities and national education charity IntoUniversity, providing support to children aged seven to 18. It will connect young people, who may never have dreamed of going to university, with the two higher education institutions.
IntoUniversity Newcastle East is the first such centre to open in the region and is based at the Monkchester Community Centre in Walker. Working closely with schools in the area, the centre offers long-term support to young people, including after-school academic sessions, mentoring with university students and professionals, in-school workshops and work experience opportunities.
Once established, the centre will support over 1,000 students per year. According to latest figures, 66% of school leavers who attended IntoUniversity centres in 2021 went on to progress to university, compared with 26.6% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.
Prof Chris Day, vice-chancellor and president of Newcastle University, said: "IntoUniversity Newcastle East is set to be a genuinely life-changing experience for up to a thousand young people every year. In common with IntoUniversity, Newcastle University has an outstanding record of raising aspiration and providing vital support and learning for children and young people who might not otherwise have access to the opportunities they need to enable them to fulfil their potential.
"Through our involvement in this new centre, we will be able to enhance our essential outreach activity by delivering aspiration-raising workshops and mentoring to children and young people in their heart of their own community."
Prof Andrew Wathey, vice-chancellor of Northumbria University, added: "Northumbria University has a strong and long-standing commitment to widening access and engaging with our local communities. We recognise our role in broadening routes into higher education for children and young people in our city.
"We are proud to be working jointly with our partners IntoUniversity and Newcastle University to provide this new learning centre, where academic support, mentoring and careers advice will help young people to realise their potential and achieve their ambitions."
