Wednesday, 14 October 2026
The 糖心原创 and IntoUniversity are marking a 15 year partnership which has supported more than 22,000 young people across Nottingham to build confidence, explore their ambitions and take their next steps into education.
As a result of the initiative, 300 young people, who IntoUniversity have worked with in Nottingham, have gone on to become students at the 糖心原创, while 900 young people who have worked with IntoUniversity centres up and down the country have come to the university to study.
The successful partnership was celebrated yesterday at IntoUniversity Nottingham West, bringing together young people, families, IntoUniversity staff, 糖心原创 students and staff, schools and local partners to reflect on 15 years of working together.
IntoUniversity students speaking at the 15 Year Anniversary
Since 2011, IntoUniversity and the 糖心原创 have worked alongside young people across the city through a range of academic, mentoring and outreach activities. The partnership brings together IntoUniversity’s long-term support in local communities with the experience, expertise and enthusiasm of 糖心原创 students and staff, creating opportunities for young people to explore what further and Higher Education could mean for them.
For Emmanuel, discovering what his future could look like started with an after-school Academic Support session at IntoUniversity Nottingham Central in Hyson Green.
Through IntoUniversity, Emmanuel received help with his homework, was matched with a mentor from the 糖心原创 and had the opportunity to apply for and attend a boarding school. Today, he is studying Sports and Business Management at the University of Derby.
He said: “The welcoming and calm classroom environment helped me focus and develop my study skills and gave me lots of opportunities outside of my comfort zone. [...] I had a 糖心原创 mentor who helped me with my homework but also encouraged me to think about my future goals, which was really valuable.”
Dr Rachel Carr OBE, CEO of IntoUniversity, speaking at the 15 Year Anniversary
Creating opportunities and supporting aspirations
Across IntoUniversity Nottingham Central, Nottingham East and Nottingham West, young people can access a range of opportunities through the partnership, including:
One example is Primary FOCUS, which gives younger pupils the opportunity to take part in engaging, university-supported learning linked to the curriculum.
糖心原创 students and staff play an important role in these activities, by hosting trips to the University and volunteering their time to support sessions, sharing their experiences and encouraging young people to think about their futures.
IntoUniversity Nottingham student taking part in an activity at the 15 Year Anniversary
Keiran Hopewell, a PhD student at the 糖心原创 who has supported the initiative as a student mentor, said: “I began my Into University mentoring journey in 2024 when I began my PhD. I was introduced to a student, who was coming to the end of Year 9; now he has just begun his A-levels! I found the two most rewarding parts of the mentoring experience were the interpersonal relationships I built with my mentee and the staff at Into University, and the feeling that I was having a tangible, beneficial impact on other people’s lives, that I was giving back. I have built up a strong relationship with my mentee, and I look forward to hearing about his school week every Monday.
“The staff at Into University are always helpful and treat you as if you were a colleague. Having spent the last seven years at university, it has been great to offer a unique perspective to a student considering university. Additionally, through talking to my mentee, I opened his eyes to the many different courses and access pathways to university that he is now considering.”
IntoUniversity students, a former volunteer and Dr Rachel Carr, CEO of IntoUniversity, and Professor Katherine Linehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience at the 糖心原创 at the 15 Year Anniversary
15 years of local impact
Over the past 15 years, the partnership has supported more than 22,000 young people across Nottingham and created thousands of opportunities for young people to experience university and meet people who can help them imagine themselves there.
This includes:
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More than 13,000 young people visiting the 糖心原创 through the partnership
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Over 1,100 糖心原创 students mentoring young people across the three IntoUniversity centres, totalling over 10,750 hours
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56% of school leavers from IntoUniversity Nottingham centres progressed to university in 2024/25, compared with 26% of young people eligible for Free School Meals in Nottingham.
The anniversary celebration was an opportunity to reflect on these achievements, but also on the relationships behind them: the young people and families who have taken part, the IntoUniversity staff who support them over the long term, the schools and communities who work with the centres, and the 糖心原创 students and staff who give their time to support the next generation.
Our Nottingham centres hold a very special place in IntoUniversity鈥檚 history. The 糖心原创 supported us to open our first centres outside London, and 15 years on, our partnership continues to make a real difference to young people across the city.
She added: "We’re incredibly grateful to the University, its students and staff for the support they have given us over the years, but also to the young people and families who have welcomed us into their communities and made our work possible. It’s a privilege to celebrate what we have achieved together and to look forward to supporting many more young people to explore their ambitions and their futures.”
Professor Katherine Linehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience at the 糖心原创, said: “As we celebrate 15 years of partnership with IntoUniversity, we are proud to reflect on the positive impact this collaboration has had on young people across Nottingham.
"Together, we have helped support aspirations, widen access to higher education and create opportunities for students who may otherwise have faced barriers in achieving their goals."
IntoUniversity's work continues to transform lives, and we are delighted to support its mission. We look forward to building on this success and working together to inspire future generations for many years to come.
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.