During a meeting on Tuesday (12 July), eight youth councillors told Milburn about the difficulties groups such as young people in care, those with disabilities and those on low incomes face when applying for university.
The young people’s ideas to remove barriers included reinstating the EMA, supporting university students to go back to their local schools and talk about their university experience, and creating more free university outreach activities such as summer schools. The BYC members also raised the issue of the cost of attending university open days and the patchy careers advice in schools about what are the right qualifications for university courses.
Dan Derricott, BYC trustee, said: "Ensuring fair access to higher education is a big priority for the young people who make up the BYC. We’ve seen EMA cut, and fees rise, and we’re worried about the future of equality of opportunity for all young people. We’re committed to working with and influencing decision-makers to break down all barriers to young people getting the education they need and deserve."
Milburn is currently undertaking a review of the steps government and other institutions such as universities are taking to improve social mobility.
Milburn said of the meeting: "Everyone, no matter what their background, should have a fair crack at the whip when it comes to attending universities. Yet at the moment your chances of going to university are significantly determined by your background. As we try to work out what universities and government should do to improve the situation, no voice is more important than those directly affected."
