UWE BR ISTOL
A Bristolian beacon of purpose and opportunity HOW UWE BRISTOL IS CHANGING LIFE TRAJECTORIES AND CHALLENGING LONG-STANDING BARRIERS TO SOCIAL MOBILITY.
UWE Bristol leverages its resources, experience and reputation to help shape social mobility practices in other education facilities. It works with its partners in public and private sector bodies and fellow higher education establishments, recognising the crucial role a university can play as an agent for change. It also provides guidance and support for employers in creating clear and accessible pathways towards potential fulfilment. UWE Bristol leads the Future Quest Programme across Bristol and surrounding areas as part of its social mobility efforts. Future Quest is one of the 29 partnerships of universities, colleges and other local partners in the Uni Connect programme. Future Quest involves all four main providers of higher education in Bristol – UWE, University of Bristol, City of Bristol College and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College - which work with local government charities and employers and with 41 schools and colleges to support young people’s progression into higher education. The programme, which started in January 2017 and is expected to run until July 2021, sets up local outreach hubs with cross-England coverage to help schools and colleges access higher education outreach and it invests in local areas where there are unexplained gaps in higher education. By the end of July 2019 Future Quest had engaged with 5,100 eligible learners and had undertaken 245 different activities and engaged in 6,000 hours of interaction. Future Quest is committed to working with its partners to reach out to communities that face the greatest barriers to social mobility and to
46
