2026 Award Winners

Portsmouth & Gosport Festival of Friends was a year-long school improvement project, focused on improving school-level support for Service children in 27 schools across the local region. It’s collaborative, cross-school and peer supported design has significantly improved the level of awareness and knowledge of the educational support needs of Service children in schools, across the locality, and positively impacted nearly 1,000 Service pupils by elevating their voices within their school communities and within the broader education landscape through the dissemination of a case study resource. Funded by the Armed Forces Education Trust, Greenwich Hospital and the University of Portsmouth.

 In a small classroom at Ysgol Llanllyfni, a group of Year 5 and 6 pupils gathered around a brightly coloured organ apron, examining X-rays and matching bones to their skeletons. Their excitement was palpable—not just because they were learning about the human body, but because, for the first time, they could see themselves as future healthcare professionals. This is the essence of Teddy Bear Hospital: a bilingual, interactive outreach initiative designed to inspire young pupils from socially and economically deprived communities in North Wales to explore healthcare careers, embrace healthy living, and take pride in Welsh-medium education.

Sheffield Hallam achieved its objective to increase the proportion of Black British students to 6%. As a regionally-focused institution in a location where Black British people account for only 2.5%, this is a significant achievement in widening participation. The Black British Pathway Programme was created to foster feelings of belonging and mattering, and success has been achieved through co-creation with current students, who take part in interactive sessions, developing policies to encourage and support incoming cohorts. This approach is truly innovative and a model for the sector. Through this programme, Sheffield Hallam has tangibly enriched the diversity of the university.

A2U offers long-term support to young people in care in school, sixth form and college, meaning that the outcome happens over extended and different timescales. In Years 7-11, the project provides activities that focus on HE, while in Years 12-13 it offers a broader range of activities to meet the needs of all A2U participants. These provide information about careers and education options and how to achieve them, such as through visits to employers, different faculties at the University of Wolverhampton, and employability workshops. These experiences help the participants to identify with those pathways more and therefore to feel that further education and training is an option for them. Because of this increased understanding of their options, they can develop higher expectations and aspirational goals and are more likely to maintain commitment to their education as they progress through school.

Help! I’m Going to Uni is Cardiff Met’s student-led podcast tackling the real anxieties of starting university with honesty, humour and authenticity. Hosted by graduate Holly, it brings diverse student voices to the forefront through unfiltered conversations that feel supportive, relatable and fun. Designed to be evergreen and repurposable, the content now underpins campaigns, live events and prospectus features, showcasing Cardiff Met as an inclusive, student-first community.

QUEERiosity is an online programme letting prospective students explore queerness and identity through hands-on creativity. Participants take part in practical workshops covering different course areas, then are given the time to develop final pieces to display publicly in our online showcase. Each online workshop highlights LGBTQ+ artists working within those areas and allow participants to develop their own practice. QUEERiosity is about letting prospective students see themselves flourish professionally and personally in a creative community.

PhD Café is a postgraduate recruitment initiative developed by The University of Manchester. Designed to support undergraduate and taught master’s students, it offers informal, café-style events where participants speak directly with current postgraduate researchers and admissions staff—no lectures, just honest, peer-led conversations. By reducing barriers to postgraduate research and promoting a sense of belonging, the initiative has increased awareness, engagement and diversity in STEM. With over 480 students engaged and adoption by additional faculties, PhD Café demonstrates a scalable, cost-effective model for encouraging progression into research at a world-leading institution.

The University of Liverpool’s Spring Postgraduate Open Events exemplify an innovative hybrid recruitment strategy, combining on-campus and virtual engagement to reach diverse, global audiences. The initiative provided personalised, accessible opportunities for prospective postgraduate students to connect with academics, current students, and support services. Through integrated marketing, streamlined booking, and data-driven evaluation, the events achieved over 2,500 registrations, a 35% attendance rate, and an excellent Net Promoter Score of 52. This sustainable, inclusive model enhanced applicant experience, removed geographical barriers, and delivered measurable conversion impact, positioning Liverpool as a sector leader in postgraduate recruitment and engagement best practice.

Leeds Futures is a national outreach programme by the University of Leeds supporting Year 12–13 students from underrepresented backgrounds. Through 13 subject-specific strands, hybrid delivery, and guaranteed contextual offers, it provides tailored academic exploration, practical university guidance, and immersive campus experiences. The programme fosters confidence, belonging, and informed decision-making, aligning with institutional access goals. In 2024, over 600 students participated, with strong progression outcomes and measurable impact on understanding and aspirations. Leeds Futures exemplifies inclusive, data-driven outreach that evolves with student feedback and empowers diverse learners to envision and pursue higher education. 

This project aimed to reduce interview inequity faced by medicine and dentistry degree applicants from widening participation (WP) backgrounds, both in terms of interview preparation and performance, and the financial costs incurred by travel. In 2024-25, Cardiff University piloted a scheme for contextually flagged (a robust indicator of WP backgrounds) applicants to medicine and dentistry who were called to interview. The scheme had two strands: a webinar series on interview preparation, and a travel bursary contributing to the costs of interview travel. 

Get Cardiff Met Ready is a pre-enrolment event designed to help incoming students feel confident, welcomed, and ready to start university. Held on campus before enrolment, the event combines practical sessions, student-led talks, and fun, interactive activities to ease anxieties and build a sense of belonging. With over 880 attendees – a 14% increase on the previous year – and 94% reporting they felt more prepared to begin their studies, the initiative has become a key part of Cardiff Met’s conversion strategy, supporting both student success and a positive transition into university life. 

The 2-for-1 Campus Experience, created by Aston University and Birmingham City University through Aimhigher West Midlands, tackles barriers faced by schools with limited budgets and capacity to organise pre-16 university visits. By combining resources, both institutions enable students to visit two universities in one day, doubling impact without doubling costs. The initiative promotes access for underrepresented learners, aligns with APP objectives, and operates sustainably within existing outreach structures. Schools benefit from reduced transport and staffing demands, while students gain comparative insights into higher education. Feedback confirms its success in raising aspirations through collaboration, innovation, and cost-effective widening participation.

University Explorers is a well-established outreach programme developed by the Widening Participation & Social Mobility team at the University of Warwick, in partnership with Virtual Schools in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull. Designed for Year 6 children in local authority care, it introduces Higher Education in a supportive and aspirational environment. Pupils attend four themed campus visits featuring academic tasters, group challenges, campus tours and a celebration event. The programme builds confidence, teamwork and communication skills, while deepening understanding of university life and future pathways. Reflection journals and ambassador support enhance personal development throughout this impactful, inclusive initiative.