A new education centre supported by the University of Liverpool is set to open in Knowsley providing educational support and development opportunities for 7 to 18 year olds.
The new IntoUniversity centre, which is being launched through a unique collaborative partnership between the LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community, the University of Liverpool and the Steve Morgan Foundation, will be centrally located in Kirkby town centre so that it is easily accessible for young people and their families. The centre is due to open in October 2023.
IntoUniversity introduces students aged seven and above to higher education via a tailored programme of workshops, out-of-school study, mentoring and one-to-one support.
The centre also equips young people with soft skills, insights into the world of work and opportunities for work experience to improve their chances of going to university, securing an apprenticeship or getting a job.
The centre will offer after-school academic support to young people in Kirkby, as well as a variety of other workshops, university visits, mentoring opportunities and aspiration-raising activities - all designed to give them the skills, confidence and information to make informed choices about their future and ultimately reach their full potential.
Gavin Brown, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education at the University of Liverpool said: "We invest more than £10m each year in financial support for students from under-represented groups to be able to study with us and in outreach activities with local schools and colleges. With the opening of the new learning centre in Kirkby, the University is delivering on its promise to further support and encourage young people across Merseyside to access life-changing educational opportunities.
"Following on from the success of the IntoUniversity North Liverpool centre in Anfield since it opened in 2017, the University is delighted to again be working with Future Goals partners, the LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community and the Steve Morgan Foundation, to help many more young people across the region make the most of their talents and abilities."
Councillor Margaret Harvey, Knowsley Council's Children's Services Cabinet Member, said: "I'm delighted to welcome IntoUniversity to Knowsley and look forward to expanding the educational offer for children and young people in our Borough.
"We know that IntoUniversity has successfully run a centre in Anfield over the last five years, which has delivered a range of benefits through their engagement with children and families in that area.
"Raising educational attainment is a priority for us and I'm delighted to welcome IntoUniversity to Knowsley to support our work to help local children and young people to achieve their potential."
The new facility in Kirkby has secured investment for five years from its partners the LFC Foundation, Everton in the Community, the University of Liverpool, and the Steve Morgan Foundation.
Commenting on the partnership, Liam Eaglestone, CEO of the Steve Morgan Foundation said: "We are delighted to be collaborating once again with like-minded organisations to support the delivery of additional educational and development opportunities for our young people. We are excited to see the positive difference this ground-breaking partnership could have and hope that it will encourage other communities across the country to form similar collaborations."
Dr Rachel Carr, CEO and Founder of IntoUniversity, commented: "We're very excited to be expanding our work in Merseyside through this new centre in Kirkby. We look forward to working with local schools and the wider community, and most importantly to welcoming some of the amazing young people in the area through the doors of our centre very soon. Kirkby is brimming with potential and we hope our centre can become an important feature within the local community, helping young people with the skills and support they need to realise that potential."
Matt Parish, CEO of Liverpool FC Foundation said: "Our partnership with the University of Liverpool and IntoUniversity for the last five years has supported 3,000 young people from across Liverpool at the North Liverpool Centre in Anfield. We're proud that 61% of students who attend IntoUniversity progress into further education, opening up opportunities that previously might have seemed unachievable.
"We are really excited to continue to be part of this journey which now includes Everton In The Community and the Steve Morgan Foundation. With their support and the opening of a second centre in Kirkby, the partnership will be able to provide further opportunities for even more young people"
Sue Gregory, CEO of Everton in the Community, said "We are looking forward to opening the doors of this important and much-needed facility in Kirkby and playing our part in helping to provide lifelong learning opportunities to young people in Merseyside and increase our collective impact on the education inequality gap."
