THE P ARTICIPATE P ROJECT

◦ The Merseyside Network for Collaborative Outreach is a newly formed collaborative partnership ◦ The MNCO is a collaborative partnership between the Higher Education Institutions and Further Education Colleges located in Greater Merseyside.

The MNCO and the Collaborative Network Manager are based at The University of Liverpool, but the network is impartial and is able to provide information on all of the network partners.

◦ HEFCE are managing the National Networks for Collaborative Outreach (NNCO), of which the MNCO is one. ◦ The scheme involves 200 universities and FECs and will reach 4,300 secondary schools and colleges through 34 local and 4 national networks.

Areas of Low Participation ◦ HEFCE use POLAR3 classifications, which looks at how likely young people are to participate in HE across the UK and shows how this varies by area. ◦ It is also used to calculate HEFCE’s widening participation funding allocations and the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) uses it to measure institution performance.Higher Education Statistics Agency ◦ pation,areas/ pation,areas/

◦ All Local Authority: Wirral ◦ POLAR3 quintile 1 ◦ Leasowe Young participation rate: 18.9% ◦ Bidston ◦ Young participation rate: 12.3% ◦ Seacombe ◦ Young participation rate: 17.8% ◦ Birkenhead ◦ Young participation rate: 15.1% ◦ Tranmere ◦ Young participation rate: 10.9% ◦ Heswall ◦ Young participation rate: 68.5% POLAR3 quintile: 5

WMC involvement? ◦ A project that can be a model to adapt and use by MNCO and its partners, to engage and inspire young and mature people from all kinds of different backgrounds. ◦ The project can be delivered to target groups and and HEI events through the MNCO partnership ◦ Access to Schools in areas of low participation, through the partnership events

Wirral Met College Secured funding to create a project to engage young and mature people from ‘low participation’ areas Design, plan and implement a project to do this, this project will be shared and modelled by MNCO partners Conduct research into the barriers to Higher Education for people from areas of low participation Lack of Social Support Peer to peer relationships Class Consciousness limited curriculum choice from the age of 14 national-strategy-for-access-and-student-success.pdf

T HE P ARTICIPATE P ROJECT

◦ Within the our local community we have over 12 areas of low participation (POLAR3) ◦ All of which are classified by HEFCE quintile 1, where only 1 in 5 young people progress to higher education. ◦ High numbers of ward uplift students in college ◦ Not including Liverpool City region Rationale for Project

◦ All Local Authority: Wirral ◦ POLAR3 quintile 1 ◦ Leasowe Young participation rate: 18.9% ◦ Bidston ◦ Young participation rate: 12.3% ◦ Seacombe ◦ Young participation rate: 17.8% ◦ Birkenhead ◦ Young participation rate: 15.1% ◦ Tranmere ◦ Young participation rate: 10.9%

Student led project ◦ Current students who have achieved their goal of either progressing onto, or participating in, higher education are the best role models and advocates for raising ambitions and aspirations of their peers. ◦ Particularly current students who have shared experiences through similar socio-economic backgrounds and/or come from areas of ‘low participation’.

HE Student Enhancement ◦ The aim is to give opportunities, not only those who will participate in the project, but also opportunities for those current students (Student Advocates) to ‘give something back’ and engage with young people in their community. ◦ Current students would be involved in creating, delivering, promoting and engaging with participants.

◦ Project aims: 1.To inspire young and mature people in the local community to participate in, or take steps to progress on to, Higher Education. 2.To engage with young and mature people to explore areas of learning that will inform and inspire future career goals. 3.To develop outreach events and social support interventions that will inform and support individuals to achieve their future educational and career goals. Through interventions such as: ◦ Practical social support ◦ Positive role models ◦ Peer to peer mentoring AIMS OF PROJECT

1.Inspire – Interactive demonstrations ◦ Student Advocates from various subject areas such as Art and Design, Science, Health etc. would demonstrate their own subject in a practical, fun and interactive way. ◦ Participants could talk to current students advocates about their subject and what areas of study and careers there are within that subject.

2.Inform – Story Boards and Mentoring ◦ Student Advocates will share their own experiences by presenting their ‘success story’ through A3 story boards they have put together. HE/FE staff can offer Information, Advice and Guidance about current courses in the local area, entry requirements, funding available and prospective employment routes. ◦ The Participate Project page will be used to share resources, information and support. Participants can communicate with a Student Advocate Mentor for positive encouragement, signposting and information.

3.Engage – Shadowing Tours ◦ Participants can book on to shadow a Student Advocate or Ambassador for a half day in their chosen subject area. Either here at WMC or one of the MNCO partners. ◦ This could also be delivered as a tour around or invitation to open days HEI. ◦ The participants would be shown around the department of interest, meet other students and tutors. ◦ Participants will also be given information, advice and guidance opportunities to support them with choosing the right course to start their own ‘success story’.