Social Mobility Foundation - Aspiring Professionals Programme 2024

The Pitch

Problem statement

Less than 5% of children on free school meals go to high tariff universities. Often the problem is not lack of ability but lack of knowledge, networks and opportunities. If children are the first in family to apply to university and their school isn't geared up to support their aspirations and secure opportunities for them to gain work experience and build their networks, they will be less confident in putting themselves forward and less able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and experience that is required to make competitive applications.

Solution

Our programme offers young people aged 16 on free school meals with high academic ability access to mentoring from a volunteer professional, work experience with a top employer, careers advice & skills workshops and help with their university applications over nine months. Funding will pay for staff time to coordinate student activities and train mentors, and for costs of participation for students including travel, food and clothing. Over 80% of students on the programme increase their confidence, increase their knowledge of the career pathways open to them, and increase their ability to make competitive applications to university. Over 50% are offered places at high tariff universities.

Why are we best placed to deliver?

We have been working in London for 15 years and have well developed relationships with target schools and with top employers. We have a strong network of volunteers including former students now working in professional careers. Our award winning programme is based on the Gatsby benchmarks for careers advice and has been externally validated. We have a track record of success with students consistently rating the programme highly for the opportunities they secured and the confidence and skills they gained, and employers consistently recognising that SMF students are different from the young people they usually see but do have the potential to build successful careers.

Focus Areas

Delivery plan

Budget breakdown

Beneficiaries

20 people

Who will benefit

Expected impact

• 80% of participants increase their confidence • 80% of participants improve understanding of their career options and pathways • 70% of participants improve their ability to make a competitive application to university • 70% to be offered places by high tariff universities, 50% to attend high tariff universities

Track record

"Without the SMF I wouldn’t have been able to gain the relevant experience I needed in the field of medicine. I have gained a lot of confidence in my abilities and am now able to network with new people, for example, and use my voice. My time here has been invaluable." Jihan, APP medicine student, 2021 In 2021 92% of employers felt that working with the SMF allowed their organisation to reach students they wouldn’t usually see. 100% of students said that attending a Mock Interview Workshop taught them them to present themselves and their ideas more effectively