Walking on Sunshine!
The start of the summer term is always such an optimistic time. The days are getting warmer, the evenings getting longer and, here at Grit, we’re gearing up for a packed few months!
We’re beginning work with some schools new to Grit: in west London through our partners at the Harrow Club; in Warwickshire; in Nottingham with our partners at DANCOP (a multi university collaboration); and in South Yorkshire with our partners at Sheffield University.
Then there’s our programmes for students at Nottingham Trent University, with nursing and midwifery students and with Black Leaders at the University of Hull, with Students of Colour at the University of Greenwich and Solent University, with Student Advocates at the University of Westminster and with Year 13 students looking to go to the University of York.
Not to mention the workshops for staff in the Universities of Leeds, Hull, Westminster and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London; and we’re following up with local authority leaders at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
So, we’ve checked the forecast, the temperature is rising and it’s time to crack on …!
Have a great month!
“Opportunities like this don’t come around very often …”
You’ve probably seem some of the films we’ve been making of students talking about their Grit experience.
We’ve put together a new 90 second film bringing together some of the most powerful statements about our Black Leaders Programme. It’s for students thinking about doing the programme and, we think, a great testament to share with universities considering offering it to their students.
Love to know what you think! Let us know via jon@grit.org.uk
Beyond Employability
“When students are able to recognise and celebrate the true depth of their learning they see new possibilities for who they could become in the world.”
Co-authored with Doug Cole, Associate Director of Employability at Nottingham Trent University, our April 2023 Higher Education Policy Institute blog looks at supporting students to prepare for the world of work in an age of remote working, AI and portfolio careers.
Have a read!
“A thought provoking experience”
Our CEO Ellie, along with Dr Catherine McConnell of the University of Brighton, recently spoke at the annual conference of the UK Advising and Tutoring Association (UKAT), the body representing Personal Tutors and Academic Advisers in universities.
The question ““how can increased self-awareness improve the impact of your interactions with students?” generated fascinating and passionate discussion. As one delegate put it, “We got a real flavour of GRIT coaching methodology in building relationships with students for effective personal tutoring. A thought provoking experience for practice development.”
Morgan’s Story
"I’ve got the keys to a prison I’d trapped myself in."
Morgan had just started his first year at the University of Westminster when he did a Grit one-day programme.
"I felt very small in a big, big city. I was 200 miles from my friends and family. I felt isolated. But I wanted to see how I could grow as a person, see how I could branch out and be more confident. I wanted to be a better version, a ‘new’ me.”
Read about what happened to Morgan next as a result of the Grit workshop.