How The Bridging Project has supported students this year
The 2023/2024 academic year has officially come to a close, and what a year it’s been!
This year, we are so proud to have supported 36 students on our coaching programme, completing a total of 283 coaching sessions and delivering 11 student events. Our coaching sessions have helped our students to achieve their goals and works towards one of the key Bridging Project outcomes:
Increase levels of student retention
Increase students’ sense of belonging at university
Increase students’ soft skills (goal setting, problem solving, time and stress
management)
Increase students’ knowledge of systems of support at university and confidence to access them
Increase students’ confidence and engagement in university life
This year we have partnered with Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge, Balliol and Trinity Colleges at the University of Oxford, and the University of Nottingham to deliver our coaching programme to support students from underrepresented backgrounds in their transition to university. The students we are supporting have some of the lowest entry rates into university and are groups which have statistically significant gaps in participation and retention (Social Mobility Commission & HESA, 2021).
In particular:
56% were first generation students
53% were eligible for free school meals and/or received a bursary at school
78% have declared having a disability
“I benefited a lot from my coaching sessions. I have seen an improvement in my work-life balance and my ability to get involved in university life beyond academics such as societies. I liked being able to address specific topics each session such as organisation, time management, goal setting - and I have learnt skills which will benefit me throughout university and my career! A huge thank you to The Bridging Project and my coach. I don't think I would have gotten as far as I have without this support.”
Murray Edwards Student on The Bridging Project
The 2023/2024 Impact Report shows:
The Bridging Project has had a positive impact on student retention, with 100% of students completing their first year and aiming to continue into their second year at university
The Bridging Project has had a significant impact on students’ sense of belonging at university, with 92% stating that the programme improved their sense of belonging at university
The Bridging Project has had a positive impact on students’ soft skills development; 96% of students can now set short and long term goals and achieve them, compared to 69% of students pre-programme, 96% of students can now identify problems and implement the steps needed to overcome them, compared to 50% of students pre-programme, 83% of students can now manage their time effectively, compared to just 19% of students pre-programme and 75% of students can now manage their stress effectively, compared to just 22% of students pre-programme.
The Bridging Project has developed students’ confidence to access support at university, with 96% of students now feeling confident accessing peer support, compared to just 53% pre-programme, and 83% of students now feeling confident accessing student support services, compared with 40% pre-programme.
The Bridging Project has had a positive impact on student engagement in university life, with 100% of students feeling confident making friends and spending time with friends and 96% stating the programme helped them engage in university life in general.
“My coach was incredible at helping me communicate my worries and address them head-on whilst offering strategies and useful tools to help solve various problems and move forward from my concerns. I am far more confident in myself in all aspects of my university experience. I can recognise various concerns or worries I have and now use the tools to support myself. I have finished this course as a much stronger individual.” - Balliol Student on The Bridging Project
We are so proud of all of our Bridging Project students this year! Download the full impact report as well as the breakdown for each university here. To find out more about how our coaching programme can benefit your university, get in touch.
