It’s #StudentVolunteeringWeek, and we want to thank all the student volunteers who have helped in delivering our mission. It is wonderful to see so many undergraduates ‘giving back’ by tutoring students, and welcome volunteer postgraduate students onto our coaching programme. You’re all stars! ⭐

💚 Introducing our impact report for 2024/25: 'Our year in voices' 💚 Once again, we demonstrate that our intervention has a benchmark-beating impact on the young people we work with. Thank you to the key voices that contributed to this report. We look forward to working together in the year ahead.

We're #hiring for a University Access Officer to join our team ✨ Location - Barnet, London Contract - Full-time, fixed-term until August 2026 Salary - £29,227.50 per annum Apply by 23 February 👉 https://loom.ly/x3g8qCo

Did you know that The Access Project has a staff book group? We love to discover new gems and revisit favourite reads 🎧📚. This #NationalStorytellingWeek some of our book chat members shared their beloved favourite stories with us. What would your choice be? #NationalYearOfReading

Trips season incoming... Starting next week, Year 12 students from across our partner schools will be getting a taste of life at university on our core programme visits. Sending huge thanks to all our fantastic trips partners: your support means the world to our students! 💚

📣 Under 18 student opportunity! 📣 The pathway to a top university isn't just about academic study. There are so many amazing opportunities available for students, including the brilliant summer school programme offered by our friends at The Sutton Trust. Take a look below 👇

Fifteen Year 12 students had a day in the city last week at an inspirational World of Work event hosted by our partners, Bain Capital. The students gained an insight into the workplace, worked in groups to create a new app, and took part in a career panel Q & A session. Thank you, Bain Capital! 💚

Having access to digital technologies is important for the households we work with, which is why we are grateful to @goodthingsfdn.bsky.social for donating SIM cards and laptops. This support helps households access online resources and engage with education.

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

Musab wants to make education fairer for young people like him. "The Access Project provides opportunities for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. I want to continue to be part of the change that The Access Project is making." Read Musab's story 👉 https://loom.ly/EWwNXDQ

Contextual admissions, access schemes, foundation years... 📚 There's a wide range of options available to help young people get into university - but often, they don't know where to begin. The Access Project is empowering students like Lily to take control of their education.

We are delighted to welcome Sam Davies to The Access Project as Interim Director of Fundraising and Communications. https://loom.ly/43ftGi0

Overcoming barriers to education 📈 Young people on our programme are 50% more likely than statistically similar peers to progress to top universities, giving them the best chance of achieving social mobility.

"I’ve been offered a wide range of enrichment opportunities to support me with my application." 🎓 Ilhan wants to be a doctor. Through our medicine mentoring pathway, Ilhan is acquiring the skills she'll need to thrive at uni - and make her dreams come true. #Healthcare #HigherEducation

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Neil McIntosh CBE, former Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Access Project. We are incredibly grateful to Neil for his thoughtful guidance of The Access Project. We extend our sympathies to Neil’s friends, family, and colleagues during this time.

Education should be for everyone, not just the wealthy. We work with young people to develop skills, grow confidence, and find pathways to university. We're committed to a future in which everybody has the chance to succeed.

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

Alicia joined The Access Project during a difficult time in her life. With help from her mentors, Alicia is growing her academic skills and unlocking her potential - learning how to thrive in education and beyond. 👏 #SocialMobility #HigherEducation

Looking to give back to a good cause in 2026? Start a fundraiser for The Access Project to help a young person get the education they deserve 💚 Run a marathon, sell baked treats, or take on a sponsored silence - the choice is yours! Get started with your fundraising kit 🔗 https://loom.ly/spnm9DA

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.