VCSE Value Forum - The Great North - Book your free place
The Brilliant Club Join the Dots
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Less advantaged students are more likely to drop out in their first year of university and less likely to achieve top grades compared to their more advantaged peers. Join the Dots supports less advantaged students to successfully transition from school to university, by providing targeted support and guidance across a student's first year of university.

Beneficiaries

  • Children / Young People

    Young people aged 18-25 transitioning from school to university.

  • Marginalised or vulnerable groups

    Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds which make them more likely to drop out such as low income, deprivation by postcode, first generation university, care experience or disability, amongst other things.

  • Number of beneficiaries - 500

    Across all university partners.

Geographic reach

  • England: Nationwide
  • United Kingdom
BENEFICIARIES REACHED ANNUALLY

500

Beneficiaries will be aged 18-25

SIZE OF PROJECT PER ANNUM

£100,000.00

TIMELINE

Oct 2025 Onwards

BENEFICIARIES REACHED ANNUALLY

500

Beneficiaries will meet one of our targeting criteria

Project Outcome Targets

Students develop their academic self-belief, study skills and sense of belonging

Students progress into their second year of university study

Students graduate with strong degree outcome

Project Activities

  • In preparation for university, students complete online university preparation workshops.

  • Students matched with a PhD coach at their university

  • Students complete 121 coaching with their PhD coach.

  • Students attend group sessions with other students at their university

  • Programme finishes around April of first year of university

Resources Needed For The Project

Resource Description Quantity needed When needed How this donation supports the project (Enabling Actions or KPIs)
MONEY Philanthropic funding complements university and partner funding to ensure the sustainability of the programme. We run Join the Dots at approximately 10 universities across the UK. Flexible This funding helps us to pay PhD researchers who act as coaches on the programme, and programme staff to deliver it.
Project Impact and Partners
IMPACT REPORTING

Bi-annually

March 2021

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
UN SDG 4: Quality Education UN SDG 10: Reduced Inequality
How we monitor the quality and results of our work

We monitor impact through self-report surveys.

OTHER PARTNERS

Bloomsbury Publishing

Bloomsbury are providing books to all students on Join the Dots from 2025 onwards