Northumbria works with the Mayor's Fund for London to widen access to higher education

Northumbria University's London Campus has opened its doors to young Londoners this summer, offering a route into higher education through a new initiative with the Mayor's Fund for London (MFL).

The collaboration supports the Mayor of London's programme of free holiday activities, part of a £6 million initiative launched by Sadiq Khan in 2025 to expand opportunities for learners in the capital facing the biggest barriers. The programme is a key manifesto commitment and, with MFL's support, contributes to the Mayor's pledge to create 250,000 positive opportunities for young Londoners over four years.

A range of five-day skills weeks for 16-18 year-olds will be offered at Northumbria University London, working with QA Higher Education, as part of a new annual programme. The first skills week with a focus on Cyber Security, Digital and Careers Skills took place this month. The sessions gave participants an accessible opportunity to build key knowledge on cyber essentials and core employability skills, while experiencing what studying in a higher education environment feels like.

Young people who take part can also benefit from the University's Destination Northumbria scheme, which exists to provide a support network that prepares learners for undergraduate study and makes reduced-entry contextual offers available to applicants who meet specific criteria. The criteria will now include successful participation in the MFL programme.

Students who go on to join one of Northumbria's undergraduate programmes will also have the chance to give back to the scheme through real-world experiential learning opportunities. They will gain academic credit for supporting future cohorts during MFL sessions as they progress through their degree studies.

Northumbria University London offers a range of undergraduate study programmes from levels 3 to 6 in subjects including Computing and Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security Technology, Data Science and Big Data Technology, Information Technology Management, International Banking and Finance, Enterprise and Innovation Management, Global Business Management and Tourism and Hospitality Management.

These programmes are aligned to areas of skills and employability priorities in London and include embedded opportunities to work with employers on real-world projects, short internships and professional practice pathways. The University's provision also recognises that learners bring a range of previous educational experiences and offers students an individual programme of support.

Dr Carly Foster, who is leading the project for Northumbria University, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to welcome young Londoners on to our campus in the heart of the city. I’ve had a fantastic time working with each learner from the first cohort to understand how the Digital and Cyber Essentials course can support them to reach their personal ambitions and career goals. This is only the start of a range of skills-focused offers from the University in partnership with the Mayor’s Fund for London.”

Beth Robertson, Delivery Manager for Employability and Skills at the Mayor’s Fund for London added: “We’re delighted to be working with Northumbria University to give the young people we support the opportunity to build their digital and cyber skills while experiencing university life first-hand. Partnerships like this play a crucial role in broadening horizons, creating opportunities and helping young people develop the confidence, connections and skills they need for the future.”

The free holiday activities initiative forms part of MFL's four-year strategy, which aims to provide free skills development opportunities and nutritious food to young Londoners in their local communities. The strategy brings together MFL's wider work across food and communities and employability and skills, building long-term impact through partnerships that give young Londoners access to role models, workshops and hands-on experience — helping them build the skills, networks and connections to careers that might otherwise feel out of reach.

Widening access to higher education by ensuring learners from all backgrounds are equipped with the skills, real-world experience and the networks needed to succeed, is at the heart of Northumbria’s social mission. With 40% of the University’s students coming from backgrounds that don’t usually participate in higher education, Northumbria is already a leading advocate for high quality education without barriers.

As well as spreading opportunity through teaching and learning, research at Northumbria has already made a direct impact on influencing and expanding holiday hunger and activities programmes across the country. Northumbria’s Healthy Living Lab, led by Professor Greta Defeyter, has previously co-led with young people, a Holiday Activities and Food research project, known as HAF Plus, with local authorities and the Mayor’s Fund for London.

The Department for Education’s HAF and HAF Plus schemes exist to give children and young people access to a range of free enriching physical activities, cultural experiences and nutritious food during the school holidays. Northumbria’s Newcastle City Campus has also been active in HAF Plus delivery by providing facilities, activities and staff to support young people in the North East during the holidays.

Speaking about participating in the Mayor of London's programme of free holiday activities, Dr Guy Brown, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Northumbria University’s London Campus said: “I’m really proud that this new initiative is once again bringing together two organisations with a shared purpose of making sure a young person’s background is never a barrier to opportunity. It’s been fantastic to see our first skills-week be so well received. The aim now is to continue working alongside the Mayor’s Fund for London to develop an annual programme to help as many young people as possible in London build the confidence, skills and connections to go on and achieve their ambitions."