Breaking down the barriers to Student Opportunities and Youth Social Action

Breaking down the barriers report cover


 

A framework to help students’ unions and universities working together to reduce or remove barriers around student volunteering


Since the 19th century students' unions have created opportunities for students to engage in social activity. This continues today, only with wider impact and more innovative approaches. But even with the ongoing efforts of students' unions, it remains the case that student activities are often restricted as a result of barriers to participation.
 
Developed by Universities UK and the National Union of Students​ and based on six quality principles: 

 
            • ​​​​Student-led
            • ​​​Socially impactful
            • ​​​​Reflective
            • ​​​​Embedded
            • ​​​​Progressive
            • ​​​​Challenging​
            ​
 

The team

Katy Haigh

Policy Researcher
Universities UK
Daniel Hurley

Dan Hurley

Policy Manager
Universities UK
Fiona Waye

Fiona Waye

Policy Manager
Universities UK

News

Students getting exam results

University admissions teams will 'pull out all the stops' this year

25 February 2021
Universities UK's response to the government's announcement on teacher assessed grades for 2021.
students from above

Universities UK calls for urgent action on racial harassment in higher education

24 November 2020
UUK has published a new set of recommendations designed to decisively tackle racial harassment as part of efforts to address racial inequality in UK higher education.

Blog

Pride flag

Going the extra mile to embrace LGBT+ equality in higher education

10 February 2021
This LGBT+ History Month, the University of Birmingham’s Dr Sammy Li reflects on progress that has been made by universities to support LGBT+ equality and looks at what more must be done to ensure no one is left behind.
Laptop, phone and tablet, at home studying

Covid-19 silver linings: how the pandemic has increased opportunities for disabled university students

15 July 2020
AbilityNet's Amy Low explains how new ways of working brought about by the pandemic have resulted in improvements in accessibility and inclusion for disabled university students.
The Royal Liver Building on the Mersey River

Culture in the age of Covid-19: why universities must take centre stage

10 July 2020
Professor Dinah Birch sets out how the University of Liverpool has ensured cultural experiences in the city remain on offer to communities during lockdown.