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. Our response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) From the beginning of Covid-19 the WP team quickly adapted our methods (to online) which ensured that the majority of our projects and activities have and will continue to go ahead. We are taking this as an opportunity to learn innovative and impactful ways of engaging with under-represented groups and shall embed these lessons in our practice going forward. The University remains committed to keeping Widening Participation, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the forefront in all aspects of our response to COVID-19, as we have always strived to do. More information on Widening Participation: Widening Participation The team consists of: Laura Cattell Head of Widening Participation / Deputy Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 650 4383 Email: laura.cattell@ed.ac.uk Dr Neil Speirs Widening Participation Manager Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Website: Full profile page Email: neil.speirs@ed.ac.uk Pat Reid Widening Participation Manager Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Email: Pat.reid@ed.ac.uk Jess Hume Widening Participation Manager Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 651 5585 Email: jess.hume@ed.ac.uk Kirstin Henry Widening Participation Manager Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Email: kirstin.henry@ed.ac.uk Ryan Hamilton Widening Participation Officer (Reach Edinburgh) Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 650 8437 Email: ryan.hamilton@ed.ac.uk Stef Blum-Stevenson Widening Participation Officer (ACES) Student Recruitment & Admissions Contact details Email: stef.blum@ed.ac.uk Jasmine Holt Outreach Officer (ACES) Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Email: jasmine.holt@ed.ac.uk Gabriele Negro Widening Participation Officer Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 651 3138 Email: gabriele.negro@ed.ac.uk Tom Draper Widening Participation Officer Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Email: tom.draper@ed.ac.uk Susan Forrest WP Events Officer Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 651 5514 Email: susan.forrest@ed.ac.uk Eleanor Ellis IntoUniversity Community Liaison Coordinator Student Recruitment and Admissions Jefferson Shirley Data and Monitoring Officer Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 651 3138 Email: jefferson.shirley@ed.ac.uk Briony Cowan Widening Participation Administrator Student Recruitment and Admissions Contact details Email: briony.cowan@ed.ac.uk Jim Mills Widening Participation Graduate Intern Student Recruitment and Admissions This article was published on 2024-07-22
