Opportunities

Skills Coach

Volunteer Coach – The Access Project

The Access Project supports young people from under-resourced backgrounds to overcome barriers to opportunity. Working in partnership with schools across the UK, the organisation aims to give young people the best possible preparation for higher education and the world of work.

Volunteer coaches play a vital role in delivering this mission by helping young people aged 16–17 develop essential skills to prepare them for success at university and in their future careers.

The role involves delivering six one-to-one coaching sessions between January and June. All sessions take place online and are scheduled flexibly, allowing volunteers to participate from anywhere in the UK at a time that suits them.

As a volunteer coach, individuals will:

  • Help young people take their next steps with confidence by strengthening their communication, organisation, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
  • Draw on their own experiences to share valuable insights and provide personalised guidance.
  • Make a meaningful difference to young people’s aspirations, access to leading universities and opportunities for social mobility.

No previous coaching experience is required. The Access Project provides:

  • A comprehensive live online training session covering the programme structure, coaching techniques and safeguarding best practice.
  • Dedicated session resources and guidance on how to use them.
  • Ongoing support from the central team throughout the programme.
  • Opportunities to connect with a community of like-minded volunteers.

Eligibility requirements

To become a volunteer coach, applicants must:

  • Have completed an undergraduate degree or have at least three years of professional experience.
  • Commit to delivering six coaching sessions per young person between January and June.
  • Complete the relevant training, provide two references and undertake a DBS check, with the cost covered by The Access Project.
  • Be based in the UK for the duration of the programme.
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Organisation

The Access Project

The Access Project

About The Access Project

The Access Project supports young people from under-resourced backgrounds to access leading universities through a unique programme of mentoring, skills coaching and tuition.

Why it exists

Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.

Access to education in the UK remains profoundly unequal. According to The Sutton Trust, students from the most under-resourced backgrounds are three times less likely to attend university than their more advantaged peers.

The Access Project aims to level the playing field and help young people from the most under-resourced backgrounds gain places at leading universities, giving them the best possible chance of achieving social mobility.

The organisation is recognised as an industry leader in education and widening participation. Its achievements include:

  • Highly Commended in the 2018 Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Annual Awards for Education, Employment and Skills.
  • Validated at Level 3 on Nesta’s Standards of Evidence in 2016.

How does it work?

Established in 2008, The Access Project helps talented young people from under-resourced backgrounds access education at some of the UK's leading universities. Through its unique programme, the organisation supports young people to make the most of their education and improve their future opportunities.

The organisation works with more than 40 schools across the country, supporting over 2,000 young people aged 14–18 across London, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria to transform their prospects.

Students enrolled in the programme receive expert support from University Access Officers, who are based in schools and guide pupils through their education options, university applications and aspects of student life, including navigating student finance.

A team of more than 1,000 volunteers also provides invaluable support. Volunteer tutors help students improve their GCSE grades, while volunteer coaches help them develop essential skills and prepare for the world of work.

Young people participating in the programme are 50% more likely to secure a place at a leading university compared with statistically similar students.