In 2006 the AchieveAbility Network and the ThisAbility project collaboratively developed a ground breaking student ambassador scheme that aims to break down the barriers to further and higher education for learners with disabilities.
The scheme is funded by Sir John Cass’s Foundation with the support of University of Westminster, London East Thames Gateway Aimhigher, West London Aimhigher, London North Aimhigher and Aspire.
The scheme is led by the AchieveAbility Network and the ThisAbility Project. The two projects focus on two different strands and cohorts of students. The AchieveAbility Network works solely with learners with SpLD. The ThisAbility strand works with learner’s sensory impairments, physical impairments, autistic spectrum conditions and Asperger’s Syndrome. Each strand recruits university students with disabilities as ambassadors and trains them to deliver outreach activities to young people with similar disabilities in secondary school, further education colleges and pupil referral units across London.
Aim:
The aim of the scheme is for ambassadors to deliver up to 5 outreach sessions to young people within the school or college; however sessions are flexible depending on the needs of the individual school or college. The sessions include a range of interesting and engaging activities that focus on raising aspirations among young people and increasing awareness of the opportunities in higher education and employment. To complete the sessions and heighten the experience for the young people involved they are given the opportunity to visit a University in London, accompanied by the ambassadors, for a taster day.
"Hearing from the students was brilliant as they are the ones who have dealt with situations and it was encouraging to see what they have achieved.’ Learner Year 11
"We have all been so inspired by the mentors learning journeys, they have taught us new strategies to adopt, which make our life so much easier. Above all though they have confirmed what we have always known – that young people with special educational needs can and do achieve."Parent and SpLD Learner
Ambassadors:
The ambassadors are compromised of a diverse group of current undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at a university. They are recruited from a number of different London Universities and therefore are pursuing a variety of degrees, all with varying experiences. They are fantastic role models who help to raise aspirations of young people, as well as providing them with the opportunity to gain real insight and knowledge of higher education from a student’s perspective. Through this scheme the ambassadors are also given the opportunity to participate in other events; these have included schools’ parent sessions and parents evenings, SENCO meetings, SEN local authority organised events and other Higher Education events and conferences.
Having overcome huge personal and practical barriers to education, our student ambassadors have pushed themselves to excel against the odds. We hope that the London Student Ambassador scheme will help young people in schools to not only identify with the challenges posed by these barriers to education for our ambassadors, but also with their achievements and successes. This in turn will help them choose the best path for themselves and progress into higher education.
“The benefits of being involved on this project, on a personal level allowed me to develop my communication skills, patience, and realisation that such pupils had so much potential and could be re-engaged with the right help and guidance. On reflection, particularly towards the end of the program the insight and interest in education, particularly in university that the pupils had gained was truly amazing to witness. And being a part of this was self rewarding.” AchieveAbility Student Ambassador
Evaluation:
To assess the scheme’s effectiveness and impact on its targeted young people, the scheme is undergoing a 3 year evaluation. The evaluations and feedback collected from the young people who participated so far have been extremely positive, with sessions proving to be beneficial and inspirational. The scheme has also been well received and highly regarded by teachers, SENCOs and parents, having witnessed the positive impact the sessions have had upon the young people, as well as the ambassadors.
Achievements:
Since the start of the scheme the AchieveAbility Network and the ThisAbility project have recruited and trained more than 54 students from 12 different London universities. These ambassadors have been delivering outreach sessions in a variety of settings and have reached a total of approximately 200 young people across the two years. Sir John Cass Foundation and other partners continue to support the work and it is hoped that this scheme will continue to expand in the next academic year, recruiting more ambassadors to work with more young people in schools and colleges across Greater London.
"I was supporting a student today who attended the meeting and he actually did some work for the first time in weeks today, 'Hip Hip Hooray'. During the lesson he repeated to me several times the he wanted to go to University. Another student has been to see me about college courses and lots lots more. After 1 session I believe this is going to have a positive effect for all pupils of and become an ongoing project.’ Teacher
"The impact it had was immeasurable. The self esteem, optimism and self advocacy of the students involved increased beyond all my expectations."SENCO
If you are interested in the AchieveAbility or the ThisAbility ambassador scheme and would like more information either about becoming a student ambassador or are a school or college interested in the participating in the scheme please contact:
AchieveAbility Network
Kate Byford k.byford@westminster.ac.uk
ThisAbility Project
Bee Ong k.b.ong@open.ac.uk
