Merry Christmas from everybody at The Access Project! 🎄❄️💚

We're taking a short break for the winter holidays ❄️ Our offices will be closed from 23 December - 1 January. Sending festive wishes to all of our followers and supporters - and enormous thanks for championing our mission all year round. We'll see you in 2026! 💚

Karim* joined The Access Project in Year 12 with big dreams of going to university. After struggling with his first personal statement, he's now developing skills to enhance his university application - and is ready to take his next steps into higher education. #SocialMobility #HigherEducation

Real people, real impact. Tahmid was one of the first students to join The Access Project. Now, he's one of our Trustees - guiding the organisation as we aspire to help more under-resourced young people reach their potential. 💬 "There's no way I'd be where I am today without The Access Project"

Chag sameach to all of our Jewish students celebrating Hanukkah! 🕯️✨ #HappyHanukkah #Hanukkah

Staff from across the organisation got together last week for our first full meeting of the academic year. Trustee Mike Crowhurst joined us to discuss higher education, and CEO Anna Searle encouraged staff to reflect on our achievements. Thanks to everyone for taking part and providing the bakes!

Huge thanks to the Knowledge Exchange Group and Westminster Insights for hosting us at the Rethinking Social Mobility Conference earlier this month. It was wonderful to connect with colleagues passionate about social change - we look forward to working with you in 2026! #SocialMobility

The total is in... 🥁 You raised £11,808 for our #BigGiveChristmasChallenge! 🥳 All of your donations will support young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to grow their skills, access high quality education, and build brighter futures. Thank you for your support! 💚✨💚

🚨 24 HOURS LEFT for the #BigGiveChristmasChallenge! 🚨 Last chance to DOUBLE your impact - at no extra cost to you. Donate before 12pm tomorrow and you'll help us give even more young people access to the quality education they deserve. Make a donation 🔗 https://loom.ly/DG0NakI

📢 EXCITING NEWS for our #BigGiveChristmasChallenge! 📢 Double donations are BACK! Donate before 12pm on 9 December to boost your gift - and you'll help us give even more young people access to the quality education they deserve. Make a donation 🔗 https://loom.ly/DG0NakI#BigGiveChristmasChallenge

In 2024, 81% of students taking part in our #WideningParticipation programme received an offer from a top university, compared to just 49% of statistically similar students. When you support The Access Project, you're helping young people facing disadvantage to overcome beat the odds ✨

👏 YOU DID IT! 👏 Three days in and we've already smashed our target for the #BigGivingChristmasChallenge! A massive thank you to everybody who has donated so far 💚 You can still make a difference - keep the donations going to support even more young people in education 🔗 https://loom.ly/DG0NakI

🚨 BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE! 🎁 From 12pm today until 9 December, all donations to our Christmas campaign will be doubled by our match-funders - which means every penny you give will have twice the impact for the young people we work with. Please give generously 💚 #GivingTuesday #BigGive

By giving to The Access Project this Christmas, you can help young people like Patrice to build brighter futures. Support our Big Give Christmas Challenge between 2 December - 9 December to double your donation at no extra cost to you ✨ Make a donation 🔗 https://loom.ly/DG0NakI

Yesterday, we visited Parliament with the Fair Access Coalition to explore how we can achieve the national ambition for two thirds of young people to progress to higher learning. We're pleased to be surrounded by colleagues passionate about creating a fairer future, for everyone.

Building confidence for brighter futures 💪 Empowering young people is at the heart of our mission. We work with students like Finlay to grow their skills, achieve in education, and take control of their futures to achieve social mobility. #Education #SocialMobility

What an honour to attend the 2025 Director of the Year Awards 🏆 We were delighted to attend the awards as this year's charity partner. Congratulations to all of the winners - and thanks once again to the Institute of Directors for supporting our mission and our young people 💚

Take on the #BigGive Christmas Challenge with The Access Project! 🎁 From 2 December - 9 December, all donations to our Christmas Challenge will be matched by our generous fundraising champions. One donation, twice the impact. Set your reminders and give back to a good cause this winter 💚❄️

🩷💚 How wonderful to see Cynthia Erivo return to La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School last week! We're lucky to have La Retraite on board as one of our partners - and it's delightful to work with talented students every day. #WickedForGood https://loom.ly/mGeGp-w

📈 Two thirds of students are working alongside their studies to cover basic costs, says @hepi-news.bsky.social @unilancashire.bsky.social Financial pressure while studying is detrimental to academic success and wellbeing. Our response 🔗 https://loom.ly/bzWloUE #HigherEducation #CostOfLiving

Our students are breaking barriers to education 💪 Alisha is a student on our Oxbridge Pathway programme. Working with The Access Project has helped her realise her ambitions and aim for a bright future at a top university. Read Alisha's story 👉 https://loom.ly/USbrKBE #SocialMobility

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

Two thirds of young people will take part in higher level learning, under new government targets. https://loom.ly/GfNYqcY

We're at the #THE Student Success conference in Edinburgh 👋 Our director Miguel Herdade will be speaking with higher education sector colleagues, discussing how universities can hone students' financial literacy to help mitigate the cost of living. Come and say hello - we'd love to meet you 💚

Ever thought about volunteering? 🙌 We're looking for passionate people to join us as volunteer skills coaches in January 2026, working one-to-one with our young people. ⌛ 1 hour per month, flexible to your schedule ✅ No experience needed Apply to volunteer 👉 https://loom.ly/TDvaqVg

Can we write to you? ✍️ Find volunteering opportunities, fundraisers, success stories and more in our quarterly supporters' newsletter 🗞️ Join our mailing list 🔗 https://loom.ly/aF6RgJ8

🌼 On Remembrance Sunday, we pay our respects to those who sacrificed their lives in conflict. May we never forget those who gave everything for freedom and peace. #RemembranceDay

We were delighted to be invited to dinner with our key partners at the Ironmongers' Company at the end of last month. Thank you to the Ironmongers' Company for your continued support - we're thrilled to be working together to tackle educational inequality.

This #TrusteesWeek, we would like to say a huge thank you to our dedicated Board of Trustees. We’re honoured to be supported by each and every one of you. Thank you for helping to steer our mission and for making a difference to the lives of so many young people. #CharityTrustees #SocialMobility

We were honoured to attend awards evening at St Thomas More Catholic School, one of our partner schools, last week. Our director Miguel presented the Award for Outstanding Leadership to Julian-Conrad and Angela, two very deserving students who exemplify the school values. Congratulations, both! 👏

"Thanks to The Access Project, I'm now in one of the top sets for maths" 👏 Niamh is a year 11 pupil with The Access Project. Since joining our programme, she's improved her grades in maths and is now aiming high - to achieve excellent grades and eventually place at a top university.

Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black communities. For us, this is about supporting the young Black people on our programmes to break down educational barriers and be the best that they can be – throughout their educational journeys.

You could change a young person's life. Volunteering as a skills coach is fun, flexible to your schedule, and easy to get started - with no experience required. Visit our website or send us a DM to learn more 👀

Last week, the government launched the post-16 education and skills white paper - illustrating its plans to address the skills gap and ensure two thirds of young people take part in higher level learning. Read our response 🔗 https://loom.ly/GfNYqcY #HigherEducation #SocialMobility

🚨 TODAY AT 12PM! 🚨 It's #NationalMentoringDay - and what better way to celebrate than to sign up as a coach with The Access Project? Join our free info session to learn more about how you could become positive role model for a young person. Sign up here 🔗 https://loom.ly/P480u1o

Are you a motivated fundraiser looking for your next career step? We're #hiring for a Senior Fundraising Coordinator! 📍 Location - Remote 💷 Salary - £27,642 (plus £3,000 London weighting if applicable) 📃 Contract - Full time, permanent Apply now 👉 https://loom.ly/JzEgkUQ#hiring #CharityJobs

Young people like Subilo face significant barriers to higher education. But we're fighting for change. With help from The Access Project, Subilo is now studying International Social Policty and Economics at LSE. 🗣️ "It was a good feeling arriving, I couldn’t believe I’d got here."

Happy Diwali to all of our students, colleagues, and supporters celebrating the festival of lights! 🕯️✨

We're #hiring! ✨ 1 x Senior Fundraising Coordinator 1 x Fundraising Coordinator 📅 Closing date: 31 October 📍 Remote (with some travel into London) Application links below 👇 #Fundraising

This #WorldValuesDay, we're shining a spotlight on The Access Project's values: courage, empowerment, inclusion, ownership, and impact 💚 Our values are the beliefs that drive our mission to break barriers to education for under-resourced young people. How does your workplace show its values? 🤔

🚨 Calling all volunteers! 📢 Curious about coaching at The Access Project? Join our free information session to learn more about volunteering - and how you could become skills coach for an under-resourced young person. 📅 27 October, 12pm Sign up here 🔗 https://loom.ly/P480u1o

Seeing people like you succeed can have a huge impact on your aspirations ✨ Take it from Ryan, a year 13 student at The Access Project, whose trip to @sussex.ac.uk gave him his first glimpse at student life 🎓 We can't wait for our next round of university trips to kick off next year!

Thanks to our key partners at ICG for once again inviting us to your offices alongside @upreach.bsky.social to share more about our volunteer coaching programme. It is a pleasure to work with partners and colleagues who care about making a positive impact on the lives of young people.

Volunteer coaching is flexible, fits around your schedule, and you don't need any former experience to get started. Take it from Lucia - it's one of the most rewarding things you can do. 🌟 Ready to get started? Visit our website to learn more 🔗 https://loom.ly/TDvaqVg

We're hiring a #Salesforce coordinator to join our operations team! This position plays a key role in the analysis of our impact, maintenance of our systems, and development of technologies 📈 Closing date 20 October. Apply now 👉 https://loom.ly/gDlreJ0#Salesforce #DataJobs #CharityJobs #Hiring

Will maintenance grants improve social mobility? Helena Gillespie at @uk.theconversation.com discusses responses to the government's plan to reintroduce maintenance grants for low income students, featuring The Access Project's Anna Searle. #LPC2025 https://loom.ly/d7vu34M

G'mar chatima tova to all of our Jewish students, colleagues, and supporters observing Yom Kippur 💚

Maintenance grants will be reintroduced for low income students studying "priority courses". We welcome this development as a step towards achieving accessible, fair, and inclusive university education for all. Read The Access Project's response in full 🔗 https://loom.ly/kVwDwGM #LPC2025

An evening with Barack Obama! Last week, a handful of our students visited London's O2 arena to listen to Barack Obama in conversation with David Olusoga. We had a brilliant night hearing the former US President discuss the road ahead to supporting the next generation. #Politics #SocialMobility

State education is under extreme pressure. Our #WideningParticipation programme invites young people aged from the country's most under-resourced areas to develop essential skills and place at top universities - giving them the best chance to thrive later in life.