Up to £1,000 funding is available for projects where students and staff work in partnership to enhance the student experience.
The priorities for this year’s projects are:
- Wellbeing, mental health, cost of living and student accommodation
- Transforming the curriculum
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
There are 18 successfully funded projects for 2024-25 and Bulletin has already heard from some of collaborators about the work that is already underway.
Rachael King, Programme Director: Access at the Centre for Open Learning, has been working with students to form the Mature and Access Student Society (MASS). This society will dedicate itself to looking at the mental health of both current and former Access students, who have faced barriers to attending university. She is collaborating with students Zoe Jones and Hayley McCormack to create a supportive community that will foster positive mental health through peer support.
Rachael told Bulletin how the funding has made a real difference:
“The funding has really validated the value in providing spaces for Mature and Access students to come together. We have been able to hold networking events at a local café, and a bespoke library skills session. We will run dedicated workshops to offer strategies that promote resilience, stress management, particularly during challenging times such as exam periods or transitions between semesters. We are working towards an event towards the end of this semester, so watch this space!”
“Credit should be given to the newly-formed MASS who are also creating wonderful opportunities to help mature students navigate the transition to undergraduate study. We are really excited to work together to make a difference in this area.”
You can read all about the aims of each of the exciting projects funded this year:
2024-25 Overview of SPA funded projects
Find out more
Bulletin will hear more from these teams and some of the other projects as more of their work gets underway.
The funding for 2024-25 has now closed, but details for next year will be announced in late August ahead of the October 2025 deadline.
SPA 2023/24 projects – Teaching Matters
Blogs: Student Partnership Agreement example – Teaching Matters