Education centre is already a hit in Clacton-on-Sea
Published: 26 April 2018 at 16:30
Success of venture with Anglia Ruskin University is celebrated at launch event
A new education centre aimed at raising aspirations among young people in Clacton-on-Sea and the surrounding area has already worked with more than 700 young people.
The IntoUniversity centre, in Rosemary Road, has been opened in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and was officially launched on Wednesday (25 April).
Dignitaries including representatives from local Government, charities, supporters and schools gathered to hear speeches from students who have used the centre, and Anglia Ruskin’s Vice Chancellor Professor Iain Martin.
IntoUniversity, a charity which provides after-school academic support, mentoring and programmes to help young people get to university, opened its Clacton-on-Sea centre to young people in October.
Currently the centre welcomes 40 children to its after-school sessions every week. In total, 740 young people have taken part in the IntoUniversity programme since it opened.
One of the students, Jessica Ash, aged ten, who attends White Hall Academy, said:
“I worked out I have attended the centre for 75 hours. I keep coming back because sometimes it is such fun you don’t even realise you are working. It is so good I have persuaded some of my friends from school to come.”
Professor Iain Martin, Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University, said:
“Participating in higher education is one of the most important life-changing opportunities, benefiting both students and the community. Our partnership with IntoUniversity is a key part of our commitment to help build and support aspirations so that all who could benefit can go on to higher education.
“Some parts of Tendring have among the lowest higher education participation rates in the country – it does not need to be like that as the children here have just as much innate talent as the rest of the country – we want to help them realise that talent.
“It is heartening to hear that so many young people in Tendring have taken advantage of this new facility already and it was wonderful to be able to meet some of them and hear their stories at the launch event.”
Dr Rachel Carr OBE, chief executive and co-founder of IntoUniversity, said:
“Our new Clacton-on-Sea centre is already supporting hundreds of local young people to achieve their ambitions. We’re delighted to be working with Anglia Ruskin University to provide long-term support to these students, throughout their time at school and beyond.
“We are extremely grateful to our many partners including Tendring Council and the local schools and community partners who have made this centre possible.”
Lynda McWilliams, Tendring District Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Education, said:
“I am delighted to see the IntoUniversity centre in Clacton-on-Sea formally open. Visiting the centre again for the launch and hearing from students who have already benefited from its work, I know this is a fantastic initiative to improve educational outcomes for our young people.
“I would like to extend my thanks to all the hard work put in by our officers, working alongside staff from IntoUniversity and Anglia Ruskin University, to get this project up and running.”