Sylvia Heal

Labour Party | Halesowen and Rowley Regis

Local MP backs Aimhigher mentoring scheme

1 May 2008

The Government have recently launched the ‘Aimhigher Associate’ mentoring scheme. The £21m scheme will see around 5,500 university students, drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, recruited to provide long term individual and face-to-face support to more than 21,000 pupils in schools and colleges across the country.

Aimhigher is an organisation that aims to widen participation in higher education by raising the awareness, aspirations and attainment of young people from under-represented groups.

This new scheme will be available to those children in schools and colleges where students achieve good results, but do not go to university in substantial numbers. For the first time, the scheme will support long term relationships between university students and school and college pupils as young as 14.

£21m will be invested over the next 3 years on 5500 associates in over 100 universities. Aimhigher Mentors will provide targeted support and share personal experience with young people between the ages 14-18. Young people will undertake 15-20 sessions per learner per academic year so that they benefit from long term support and build a trusting relationship with their Aimhigher Associate.

Sylvia Heal MP said: "I think the new "Aimhigher Associate" Scheme is an excellent idea, giving pupils a real insight into what being at University actually involves and I think young people are likely to respond better to people they can relate to. The scheme will hopefully help young people realise that University is a realistic option for everyone and encourage more people to apply."