Our Widening Participation team engages with under-represented groups throughout the student life cycle, in order to raise aspirations, support access, and encourage success and progression. The Widening Participation team leads on the University’s commitment to be a place of opportunity for a diverse group of students – including those who have not had equal opportunity to demonstrate their full academic potential. As experienced inclusion practitioners and consultants, we engage with individuals from some of the most deprived communities and under-represented groups in Scotland and beyond.We take a multi-faceted approach: raising aspirations, supporting attainment and applications, and aiding transitions and opportunities throughout the student experience. This includes outreach programmes with primary and secondary schools, colleges and communities; contextualised admissions; and financial, academic, co-curricular, extra-curricular and pastoral support for students while at Edinburgh and into employment.Our colleagues from across the University are vital partners in Widening Participation, and more information about ways to get involved can be found on the Widening Participation section of the SRA website. We also have strong partnerships with a wide range of access programmes, colleges and universities across the UK.More information on Widening Participation:Widening ParticipationThe team consists of: NameRoleEmailPhoneProfile Laura CattellHead of Widening Participation / Deputy Director of Student Recruitment and Admissionslaura.cattell@ed.ac.uk+44 (0)131 650 4383Lesley StokesWidening Participation Managerlesley.stokes@ed.ac.ukDr Neil SpeirsWidening Participation Managerneil.speirs@ed.ac.ukPat ReidWidening Participation ManagerPat.reid@ed.ac.ukKirstin HenryWidening Participation Managerkirstin.henry@ed.ac.ukRyan HamiltonWidening Participation Officer (Reach Edinburgh)ryan.hamilton@ed.ac.uk+44 (0)131 650 8437Stef Blum-StevensonWidening Participation Officer (ACES)stef.blum@ed.ac.ukJasmine BitsakakiOutreach Officer (ACES)jasmine.bitsakaki@ed.ac.ukGabriele NegroWidening Participation Officergabriele.negro@ed.ac.uk+44 (0)131 651 3138Tom DraperWidening Participation Officertom.draper@ed.ac.ukLauren PorterWidening Participation Officer - Summer Schoolslauren.porter@ed.ac.ukEleanor EllisIntoUniversity Community Liaison CoordinatorJefferson ShirleyData and Monitoring Officerjefferson.shirley@ed.ac.uk+44 (0)131 651 3138Briony CowanWidening Participation Administratorbriony.cowan@ed.ac.uk This article was published on 2024-07-22
