ACDiversity visit to Cambridge creates positive connections

Brenda King oversees an initiative that, at any one time, mentors around 120 pupils from African-Caribbean backgrounds. All come from state schools, most in London and one in Wolverhampton. The aim of the programme is to raise and support aspirations in communities where under-achievement can be an issue, and encourage more African-Caribbean pupils to apply to research-led universities.

Brenda (pictured above left) and ACDiversity’s lead volunteer, Colleen Robinson (right), met members of the widening participation team at Cambridge Admissions Office, including Mark Copestake (centre), coordinator of GEEMA (Group for Encouraging Ethnic Minority Applications to Cambridge). They had lunch at Pembroke College with academics and students, and then went on to meet Dr Helen Watson, Admissions Tutor at St John’s College.

“It was really useful to talk to the widening participation team about ways in which we might work in partnership and learn from each other. It was also valuable to hear Helen Watson’s suggestions about encouraging students to think about applying for subjects that really interest them on the basis that a degree from Cambridge opens doors,” said Brenda.

Pupils are recommended to ACDiversity by their teachers on the basis of their academic potential and join the programme in Year-9. They are teamed up with mentors from leading City of London institutions who support them right up to their A-levels, often proving to be instrumental in their academic progress.

The programme starts with a week-long residential which builds self-confidence, increases social skills and encourages participants to aim high. For the third year, this will be held at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge – a venue that ACDiversity has found extremely welcoming and an ideal setting to give pupils and their parents a flavour of student life at a collegiate university.

Yesterday’s visit began with a presentation of some of the latest developments in stem cell research by Dr Harold Ayetey. He works as a Clinical Research Fellow within the Smith Laboratory at the Wellcome Centre for Stem Cell Research and as a clinician at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Born in Ghana, he took a degree in neuroscience at Kings College London, before coming to Cambridge to study medicine.

“It was really exciting and inspiring to get a glimpse of some of the exciting science going on at Cambridge – research that could literally change the lives of people around the world. It’s great that people like Harold are so keen to talk to our students and inspire them. It really makes a difference,” said Brenda.