University Academy 92 (UA92) is introducing an innovative package of benefits designed to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education.
Inspired by Marcus Rashford’s free school meals campaign, and UA92’s own vision to make higher education accessible to all, UA92 has created a free £5,000 support package of education essentials.
Funded with the help of partners Microsoft, TalkTalk and more, the package includes a laptop, unlimited data, travel to UA92, lunches throughout the year and a home starter voucher, providing students with the fundamental support they need for successful study.
Gary Neville, co-founder of UA92, commented: “At UA92, we aim to make higher education inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of background.
“Sadly, young people from communities where financial deprivation is high often miss out on the chance to continue their education so we were keen to develop a package of support for those who truly need it.
“We’ve worked hard with our partners to create the Make It For Real initiative to offer more young people the opportunity to continue their education and thrive, irrespective of traditional barriers.”
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CEO of UA92, Sara Prowse, added: “Our Make It For Real initiative underpins UA92’s principles of accessibility, social mobility and inclusivity.
“Currently only 26% of students eligible for free school meals progress to higher education, compared to 45% of those who don’t receive free school meals. This gap is the highest it’s been since 2006.
“These statistics make it clear that much more can be done to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. For many, continuing education beyond what is compulsory is deemed unaffordable or inaccessible.
“This package is designed to help these young people think again about higher education by providing them with some of the fundamentals for successful study which are often forgotten costs.”
UA92 is working in partnership with a number of brands to deliver the Make It For Real package. Students eligible for the grant will each receive a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop and unlimited TalkTalk data for three years, Co-op lunch vouchers (five days a week, 52 weeks of the year for the length of their course), £150 Dunelm home vouchers and free travel to get to UA92.
The package is available to UA92 students enrolling from November onwards. To qualify, students need to currently be in receipt of free school meals or did so in their last year at school or college. The Make It For Real package is available to the current intake of undergraduates applying through UCAS.
The campaign will reach all corners of the UK, focusing initial activation through communities in Greater Manchester.
For more information on the Make It For Real support package and details how to apply visit www.ua92.ac.uk