Provision of Online Mentoring for Cumbria Collaborative Outreach Programme

Tender description

The National Collaborative Outreach Programme aims to increase the number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Higher Education by 2020. The programme consists of 29 consortia undertaking outreach activity in geographical areas where the HE participation of young people is both low and much lower than expected based on GCSE-level attainment. The Cumbria consortium will work collaboratively with universities, colleges and employers on outreach programmes in specific local areas. An online mentoring programme is required to raise aspirations and increase awareness of opportunities in Higher Education and Higher Level Apprenticeships. Separate programmes for young people in Years 9 or 10, and 12, will allow pupils to informally access information about their post-16 options, and participate in activities which aim to raise aspirations and break down boundaries to participation in Level 4 study. The programme will engage up to 1000 young people across target wards in Carlisle and Eden, the West Coast and Barrow in Furness, across a maximum of 25 schools. PLEASE NOTE Funding has only been secured for the first 18 months. The CCOP will find out in June/July 2018 if they have been successful in obtaining funding for the following 24-month period. Should funding not be obtained then period 2 will not go ahead. Period 1 - 01/07/2017 - 31/12/2018 Period 2 - 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2020