Since IntoUniversity Manchester North (IUMN) were forced to close their centre doors, and stop face-to-face contact with primary, secondary and post-16 learners from one of the most disadvantaged areas of Manchester, the IUMN team have been working tirelessly to ensure that all of the students that regularly attended their centre were provided with essential, remote support, to keep them focused and on track with their education.

Each week, the team have phoned all of the students that they usually work with, to provide both academic and pastoral support to them, and their families. During these phone calls, students are set fun and engaging activities and challenges for the week, to continue their engagement and motivation to learn, whilst not relying on online access to do so. The IntoUniversity mentoring programme has transitioned to an online platform and has provided advice and guidance to students, at a time when their teachers and advisors cannot. The team have also continued communications with parents and carers and are on hand to answer calls or emails at any time during the day, often acting as their only support mechanism for home-schooling their children.

The IntoUniversity team have done some truly inspirational work over the last three months, and the heart-warming feedback and stories from the students and their families, clearly show the difference they are making to the lives of these young people.

One student said: “It can be easy to lose focus and motivation, and sometimes I do. But I know that I always have my weekly catch up call with IntoUniversity to re-focus on my tasks for the week.”

One parent said: “We feel reassured that our son can come to IntoUniversity to get help from staff if we are unable to help him with his schoolwork.”

For more information or to get involved in the work of IUMN, contact abbie.mountford@manchester.ac.uk.