Local school visits University of Westminster to combat network poverty among schoolchildren

Local Village Network works to bring communities together to tackle inequality and social mobility. Their Amplify Me programme is delivered to year 10 and 12 students and matches groups of students with a partnered business who provides volunteer mentors. Their current programme is supported by the construction company Morgan Sindall.

Morgan Sindall is the main contractor on the 29 Marylebone Road project, which will create the UK’s most inclusive centre for employability and enterprise at the University of Westminster. Throughout the project, the University is working with Morgan Sindall to create employability opportunities for students, alumni and the wider community. 

Amplify Me is aimed at combating network poverty among schoolchildren. It teaches networking strategies and positive connection-building to create long-lasting change for those who participate. This round of the initiative combined employability training with confidence-building activities. Over four weeks, 17 students engaged in workshops and networking sessions, ending in a visit to Morgan Sindall's offices and the University of Westminster. 

The programme, which catered to a diverse group including 47% with special educational needs, focussed on increasing opportunities, networking, knowledge and aspiration. The students self-reported an improvement of over 87% on key metrics in those areas. 

Monica Paul, Senior Social Value Manager at the London branch of Morgan Sindall, said: “We would like to thank the University of Westminster for providing the venue for the final session and for talking to the young people about their university pathway. It was a fantastic collaboration!”

Director of Business Engagement at the University of Westminster Linsey Cole said: “We were delighted to work in partnership with Morgan Sindall to support young people from King Solomon Academy to develop their employability skills.  This aligns closely with our vision for 29 Marylebone Road to provide inspirational opportunities for our students, alumni and the local community.”

This initiative directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10: Reduced Inequalities and 17: Partnerships for Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.   

Learn more about the developments of the University’s new employability and enterprise centre at 29 Marylebone Road.