When some young people enrol on The Access Project, they tell us that Oxford and Cambridge are out of reach for them. Last week, with partner @magdalenoxford.bsky.social, we were able to show some of our students that competitive institutions are within reach.

Social mobility is on the decline in the UK. 📉 We're here to change that. The Access Project's vision is to level the playing field in education, meaning everybody has the means to access university and follow their passions. 🎓 #SocialMobility #HigherEducation

Is university still worth it? Financial challenges can – and do – affect students’ decisions. We believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to decide their future based on their talent and aspirations, not on their socio-economic background. Read our blog 🔗 https://loom.ly/8QEZFbs

A fabulous day out in Cambridge! ☀️ Year 12s taking part in The Access Project visited the University of Cambridge last week for a summertime tour of one of the world's most prestigious institutions. Thank you to Newnham St Catharine's colleges for your showing us around your gorgeous campus!

Uni isn't just about getting a good qualification - it's about finding your community 🤝 Caleb is taking part in The Access Project alongside his A levels. On a trip to @uniofbath.bsky.social, he felt at home amongst his future peers - and could picture himself studying there.

It's #ThankATeacherDay! Our pupils are shouting out the tutors supporting them through their GCSE and A level studies 💚 Huge thanks to all the tutors, skills coaches, and our colleagues working in schools to inspire the next generation and help them achieve in school and beyond 🎓

Two thirds of students take on paid work to cover basic living costs. Young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds face significant disadvantage when accessing university – they shouldn’t be facing even further financial barriers once they’re studying. Read more 👉 https://loom.ly/bzWloUE

#StoriesMatter - and on #SocialMobilityDay, we're shouting our student stories from the rooftops 📢 Fatos was one of the first students to take part in The Access Project. Now, she's one of the Trustees guiding our mission to empower the next generation. Read more 🔗 https://loom.ly/SYrNHzo

"One thing that has remained constant is how much my students inspire me" Eshika Kaypee, University Access Officer at The Access Project, writes about her experience supporting pupils in Colmers School to access top universities. https://loom.ly/9b6_QT4 #SocialMobility #Education #University

As the number of NEET young people continues to rise, we remain committed to helping the next generation build their skills. We are calling on the Government to tackle rising NEET numbers and introduce a Student Premium for 16–19 education. Join the campaign 🔗 https://loom.ly/WSuu9Vg

Wrapping up #VolunteersWeek - we couldn't see out the week without adding to the Canopi shoutout board in our London office! Thanks again to all of our fantastic volunteer skills coaches and tutors. You're helping make education fairer for everybody, and we're so lucky to have you on board ⭐💚

We're on the lookout for volunteers to join our next cohort of skills coaches! You don't need any previous volunteering experience - just a an ambition to help young people to grow, achieve, and thrive in school and beyond ⭐ Sign up today for January 2027! 🔗 https://loom.ly/zy0pSzQ

What better time than #VolunteersWeek to shout out our volunteers? ☀️ Lucia says that volunteering with The Access Project has been "one of the most rewarding things I've done so far" . 💚 Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers making a difference in young peoples' lives 👏

As the inquiry into student loans takes place today, and the BBC reports that a third of British people think that university isn't worth it, we ask the big question about the benefits of going to a top university. Is this still a viable route for our students? Read our blog: https://loom.ly/8QEZFbs

This #VolunteersWeek, we're giving thanks to our wonderful community of volunteer coaches and tutors. We're lucky to have around 1,000 volunteers working to make a difference in young peoples' lives every single day. Please join us in a round of applause for all our volunteers! 👏

We are excited today to launch a new partnership with Kaizen Reporting. Kaizen Reporting and The Access Project will work together to create long-term positive impact for the students in our partner schools and their communities. We look forward to working with team Kaizen! https://loom.ly/2RryrwU

Another great visit to the University of Oxford last week! 💚 Year 10 pupils from the West Midlands enjoyed sampling student life at Keble College, touring the campus and engaging in fascinating subject taster sessions. Thanks to our partners at Keble for making this trip possible 💚

Eid Mubarak! Sending well wishes to all of our Muslim students, colleagues, and followers celebrating Eid al Adha 🌙💚

It's our third year celebrating #LearningAtWorkWeek here at The Access Project. Across two weeks, staff and trustees are delivering sessions on everything from Ancient Egyptian art to women in leadership. There really is something for everyone! Thanks to all those running a session this year 💚.

We're hiring #Alevel tutors! We're on the lookout for experienced Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics tutors to join our tutoring team. Visit our website to apply 👉 https://loom.ly/8F4hgJU#Alevel #Teaching #Education

Quality post-16 education should be accessible for all, yet too many barriers stand in the way for young people from under-resourced backgrounds. Read @sarahjwaite.bsky.social's piece in @feweek.bsky.social on behalf of the Student Premium Coalition, calling for investment in post-16 education.

"I was so proud of the finished piece" 👏 Yan began the school year struggling to get her personal statement started. But with a little help from The Access Project, she's on track to study at a top university next year 🎓 #SocialMobility #WideningParticipation

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, our staff are taking one action for good mental health 💚 . Thanks to the Mental Health Foundation for sharing some simple actions to show that talking about and promoting mental health doesn't have to be daunting. #MHAW #MHAW2026

Our university partners offer so much more than financial support to our partner schools 🎓. Huge thanks to Nuala from @magdalenoxford.bsky.social, who spent the day meeting students at Ashfield School. It's wonderful to see this partnership work in action ✨.

Join our team! 📢 We're #hiring University Access Officer roles in London and the West Midlands. Applications close at midday on Thursday 21 May. View the full job description and apply today 🔗 https://loom.ly/jWYPItQ

Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington and Minister for Children and Families, visited The Whitehaven Academy last week to meet The Access Project students aiming for university success. Read more 🔗 https://loom.ly/s5qVur4

🚨 We're hiring #tutors! 🚨 As a tutor with The Access Project, you'll work with small groups of A level students to help them raise their grades and give them the best chances of placing at university. Apply on our website today 🔗 https://loom.ly/r6m1An8

Another great World of Work day with our year 12 pupils and our partners at Pacific Life Re. The students worked on collaboration skills, designed engagement events, and asked thoughtful questions to a panel of colleagues. Thanks to Pacific Life Re for giving our pupils an insight into working life.

Isabel is just one of 1,000s of young people who have experienced the impact of our programme. Yet, too often, colleges and sixth forms struggle to offer interventions like ours due to a lack of ringfenced funding. Last week, we launched a campaign alongside 13 other organisations to change that.

The sun was shining for another brilliant visit to @qmul.bsky.social this week! Thanks to our friends at Queen Mary University of London for letting our year 10 pupils explore your beautiful campus ☀️

180,000 young people from under-resourced backgrounds are about to hit a funding cliff edge. After their GCSEs, Pupil Premium funding to support their educational outcomes will stop. We’re calling on the Government to introduce a Student Premium for 16–19 education 🔗 https://loom.ly/WSuu9Vg

Two brilliant trips out last week! ☀️ Our year 12s embarked on educational visits to Loughborough University and the University of Leeds, enjoying campus tours, chats with student ambassadors, and taster sessions in a variety of subjects 💚 #SocialMobility #HigherEducation

Today, The Access Project is proud to join a coalition of 14 leading social mobility and education organisations calling for a Student Premium to end the funding cliff edge faced by young people from under-resourced backgrounds at age 16. 📖 Full story in The Guardian: https://loom.ly/7kol7ns

Young people from low income families are three times less likely than their wealthier peers to attend top universities. A donation to The Access Project provides a young person with mentoring and coaching to help them find pathways to brighter futures. Make a donation 👉 https://loom.ly/kflPMcE

Last Thursday we were delighted to host our corporate partners, ICG, at Central Foundation Girls' School. It was a brilliant morning and a chance for us to showcase our programme and wonderful students to our long-standing partners. Thank you ICG and CFGS for making this event possible 💚.

The Access Project makes a real difference. Young people on our programme are 50% more likely to progress to top universities, giving them the best chance of achieving social mobility. Explore our impact 👉 https://loom.ly/SYrNHzo

Exploring Bath with our year 12 pupils! 🎓💚 Another great visit organised by @uniofbath.bsky.social. Thanks for showing our students around your beautiful campus - and for some fantastic subject taster sessions ☀️ #SocialMobility #WideningParticipation

Social mobility is on the decline in the UK. 📉 We're here to change that. The Access Project's vision is to level the playing field in education, meaning everybody has the means to access university and follow their passions. 🎓 #SocialMobility #HigherEducation

Sending joy to all of our students, colleagues, and followers celebrating #Vaisakhi today 🧡

Alongside Ray's A level studies, he takes part in one-to-one skills coaching sessions with a volunteer at The Access Project. Ray says that coaching is helping him work towards achieving his dreams of studying history at a top university 🎓 Read Ray's story 👉 https://loom.ly/Fc344lw

A third of British university students now come from the wealthiest backgrounds, with 31% of undergraduates now coming from the highest socio‑economic group. https://loom.ly/oDqGkEM

Aaliyah is on track to become the first person in her family to go to university - and she's got an offer to study at the University of Oxford 👏 "The Access Project has given me the support and guidance needed to achieve things I did not think were possible."

Happy Easter to all of our followers celebrating! 🐣

We're taking a short break for the bank holiday weekend. Social activity will be paused and The Access Project staff will be uncontactable during this time. We'll be back on Tuesday 7 April. Best wishes to all of our followers recognising Good Friday and the Easter weekend.

Courtney has big dreams of studying history at Oxford - and her trip to The Queen's College is getting her one step closer. 💬 "I really enjoyed the lecture because I got to have a taste of what I actually want to do." Read Courtney's story 👉 https://loom.ly/U9R0RAI

Chag pesach sameach to everybody observing Passover this week 💚

Another brilliant residential at The Queen's College, Oxford 💚 Thanks to our partners at The Queen's College for hosting us and supporting our work in the North West. Our pupils were immensely grateful for the experience - and some of them are already thinking about applying! 🎓

This month, we've been gathering staff photos of moments that have brought us joy in our working day 💚. From colourful commutes to tidy shelves, generous gestures, and small snapshots of calm, it’s been so uplifting to see the joy in all its different forms across our staff team 🌷🌈.

Your donations make a huge impact. When you give to The Access Project, your gift provides a young person with mentoring, skills coaching, and tutoring, to help them find pathways to brighter futures. Set up a regular donation today 👉 https://loom.ly/kflPMcE

Data from HESA demonstrates that the UK is taking a backwards step for social mobility. A third of British university students now come from the wealthiest backgrounds. We're committed to supporting young people from under-resourced backgrounds to break down educational barriers.