New foundation offers support to higher education sector

Melanie May | 5 May 2016 | News

• Tagged with:
• higher education
• trusts and foundations

A charitable foundation has launched to help tackle the big issues facing the UK higher education sector.
University Partnerships Programme (UPP), which provides campus student accommodation and support services in the UK, launched the UPP Foundation last month. It will award grants to universities, charities and other higher education bodies to support the sector in tackling issues within four strategic themes:
– Increase access and retention
– Improve student employability
– Enhance civic universities
– Develop global citizens
UK’s student mental health charity, Student Minds will be one of the first to benefit from a grant. The grant will fund Student Minds’ Student Living project, which is being undertaken in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University and includes the development of a front-line staff training scheme. According to UPP, the project is a first for the higher education sector, and will help to inform UPP and the sector’s approach to student mental health.
The UPP Foundation will also provide a public policy platform for sector leaders, experts and the wider public to debate the future of higher education.
The foundation’s advisory board comprises sector specialists from leading UK universities, think tanks, industry bodies and Government. It will be chaired by the Rt Hon. David Laws, former chief secretary to the Treasury, schools minister and cabinet office minister.
Paul Marshall, group business development director at UPP and UPP Foundation Trustee Board chair commented:

“The UPP Foundation presents a fantastic opportunity to support the higher education sector, expand public debate and encourage collaboration and the sharing of best practice. A corporate foundation is a visible and centralised avenue for focusing and directing critically important Corporate Social Responsibility activity and will ensure the best possible outcomes for our charity partners.”

More information is available at www.upp-foundation.org.

About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.