Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
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Student Leadership Project launched
A pilot programme aimed at developing the leadership potential of students in higher education, strengthening the communities in which they live, was launched today.
The Student Leadership Project is funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and designed by the charity 'Youth at Risk UK'. It aims to identify and support students with leadership capacity who may be at risk of losing interest in or dropping out of their course.
Through helping these students to develop their learning, interpersonal and social skills the project aims to reduce drop outs from university and increase attendance, achievement and participation in both curricula and extra-curricular activities.
Key objectives of the project include:
* Developing students' leadership potential through intensive personal development training;
* Students designing and delivering a leadership project to impact their academic and local community;
* Developing constructive relationships between other students across cultural, faith and socio-economic boundaries;
* Offering students coaches to support them in realising their own leadership potential; and
* Encouraging students to become coaches to their peers in future programmes - passing on their knowledge and experiences.
Minister of State for Higher Education, David Lammy, said:
"We simply cannot afford to let young people miss out on the opportunity to achieve their potential. All young people should have access to the support, advice and guidance which enables them to develop, look after their families and enhance their communities.
"I applaud Youth at Risk's new project which creates the umbrella of support necessary for young people to get the most out of their university experience and determine their own future."
Neil Wragg, MBE, Chief Executive Officer of Youth at Risk, said:
"The concerted efforts of Higher Education institutions to attract more students from under-represented backgrounds has brought a welcomed diversity within the student population. However, we understand that a university campus may be an unfamiliar culture to many of these students, with adjusting to university life representing quite a challenge.
"The aim of this new programme is to engage those who appear to be disengaging with their course, or are disenfranchised for other reasons, but who also have potential leadership qualities and provide them with the support and focus that enables them to continue and achieve in their studies and in their communities."
In its first year the Student Leadership Project will work with 180 students from three universities - Thames Valley University, London Metropolitan University and the University of Bedfordshire. The programme will be externally evaluated after one year to consider the potential for further roll out to other institutions.
Notes to editors
1. Youth at Risk has a strong, simple belief. All young people can have a worthwhile future, no matter what has happened in their past or how difficult their current circumstances.
2. Youth at Risk is a UK-wide charity, led by Neil Wragg MBE that designs, develops and delivers innovative community programmes that enable some of society's most alienated young people to accept responsibilities and transform their lives. Youth at Risk achieves transformation by supporting young people, professionals and communities to build trust, respect and resilience skills and create and sustain change for themselves.
3. Youth at Risk has a 16-year track record of delivering transformation within communities, leadership programmes, schools, prisons, and long term unemployment programmes. Between the launch of Youth at Risk in 1992 and the end of its most recent financial year (June 2008) Youth at Risk has worked with in excess of 8,850 young people and 8,900 adults.
4. DIUS has provided £100,000 for the Student Leadership Project.
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