Head Up! supports young people with disabilities, physical/mental health conditions, specific learning difficulties, and those who are neurodiverse. Our name stands for Higher Education Access for Disabled and disadvantaged students - we are run by students and recent graduates wanting to encourage and support young people in applying to university but also getting through school, navigating the social side of disability, and more. We provide mentoring as well as online events, resources, and social media content to reach out to young disabled people to let them know that they are not alone, and to support, encourage, and inform them to chase their aspirations.
We run an annual mentoring scheme, with mentees aged 14-18 being paired with a mentor (current/recent student) for online monthly sessions, to discuss and work towards the mentee's goals, whether these are academic or personal.
We have hosted live online Q&A events, attracting our mentees and a wider audience, to discuss a specific theme such as how to prepare for university interviews, or what to expect as a fresher.
We co-led an online social media campaign #MyUniMyWay, sharing profiles of disabled university students to encourage younger pupils to see university as an option for them, if they choose. Our Spotlight Sunday profiles on social media also highlighted the experiences and achievements of high-profile disabled people.
In creating this organisation with a team of disabled volunteers, we have not only helped younger students, but we have also created an accessible, supportive environment in which disabled students and graduates can gain relevant experience to support them in their future careers.
