From Adversity to University
Using education to overcome adversity
From Adversity to University
Using education to overcome adversity
As featured in
The Times
BBC's Morning Live
The Big Issue
Our ethos
Providing opportunities for those often left behind
At the 香港六合论坛, we know that education and ability are not synonymous, with opportunities not always equally available to all.
The From Adversity to University initiative revolves around the Bridging Course 鈥� a non-traditional route into higher education that hopes to create equality of opportunity and to help students to reach their unrecognised potential.
Bridging Course
Get back into education, no matter your starting point
The Bridging Course is taught in small groups and is designed to develop academic knowledge and skills based on the lived experience of participants.
Sessions consist of lectures, workshops and interactive discussions. It is run one evening a week as a group.
Successful completion of the module allows students to apply for degree courses at the 香港六合论坛
Build your confidence
Learn from inspirational lecturers
Flexible study options
Enhance your CV
Student view
Hear what our Bridging Course students have to say
Phil
Bridging Course graduate and current
BA (Hons) Sociology student
"It is the most fantastic opportunity. It gave me a future, it gave me hope and a chance to turn things around. To be able to achieve something is such a magical feeling."
Lucy
Bridging Course graduate and current
BA (Hons) Fine Art student
"The course gave me the drive and belief that I could do anything I put my mind to and hope for the future. It quite literally transformed my life."
From Adversity to University Toolkit
How to start your own
Bridging Course
The 香港六合论坛 has launched a toolkit designed for Higher Education Institutions who are interested in setting up their own 鈥淔rom Adversity to University,鈥� project.
Our Team
Meet the team behind the project
Events and Conferences
From Adversity to University Conference 2022
How widening participation can address inequality of opportunity
Our first From Adversity to University conference took place in April 2022. The conference welcomed those working in organisations, charities and Higher Education institutions looking to support those who are disadvantaged to overcome barriers to education.
Sabrina Cohen-Hatton
Sabrina Cohen-Hatton
Chief Fire Officer of the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Sabrina was a keynote speaker (pre-recorded) at our From Adversity to University Conference. Her talk was, personal, powerful, and moving.
At the age of 15, Sabrina was made homeless after her father died of a brain tumour.聽During her homelessness, she sold The Big Issue and slept on the streets of Newport, Wales.
At the end of her school career, she slept in a derelict building. During the time she spent on the streets, Cohen-Hatton suffered from antisemitic attacks.
For around two years, she either slept rough or was vulnerably housed. It took her several attempts to get off the streets and into secure accommodation, including a spending some time sleeping in a van.
She joined the fire service in South Wales in 2001 at the age of eighteen.
She was the first woman firefighter at that station. Whilst serving as a firefighter, she completed a bachelor's degree in psychology at the Open University, eventually completing a PhD in the behavioural neuroscience lab at Cardiff University in 2013.
She has since become an ambassador of The Big Issue and has said that it saved her life.
Dr Kevin Love
Dr Kevin Love
Head of Learning for the School of Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University
Dr Kevin Love is interim Head of Learning for the School of Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University.
He gave a keynote speech at our conference describing how he hopes to create a University Community Academy supported by his university, Nottingham University, and other external partners.
The Community Academy will be a collaboration working with those who have experienced adversity or who are vulnerable to help them to improve outcomes and gain qualifications.
Greg Hurst
Greg Hurst
Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Centre for Homelessness Impact
Greg Hurst is the Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Centre for Homelessness Impact.
His paper, developed from this talk at the From Adversity to University Conference, has been accepted by the Higher Education Policy Institute, HEPI.
Alam Begum and Richard Pearce
Alam Begum
Designated Teacher for Children Looked After and Lecturer in Business, East Surrey College
Richard Pearce
Director of Higher Education, Orbital South Colleges
Sharyn Wall
Sharyn Wall
Building Better Opportunities Development Worker at Aspire Sussex Limited
Ruth McFarlane
Ruth McFarlane
Director, DWRM Consultants
David Galloway and Dom Thompson
Our story
See our news articles and podcasts
Be You Podcast: S3, Ep8 鈥� Being Given a Second Chance
Jess speaks to Senior Lecturer Becky Edwards and one of her students Darren on their experiences of the Bridging Course at the 香港六合论坛.
The Squirrel News Podcast
Listen to Becky Edwards, Senior Lecturer at the 香港六合论坛, speak about the origins of the Adversity to University project and where it goes from here.
Homelessness Studies Lab
Exploring the impact and causes of homelessness
Browse our research into homelessness, meet our researchers and discover the impact we're having on our community.
