New partnership for Admiral and college
ADMIRAL has entered into a new access partnership with Jesus College Oxford. With its HQ in Cardiff and offices in Swansea and Newport, where it employs more than 7,000, insurance to loans FTSE 100 firm Admiral is donating £120,000 in support of the college’s outreach programmes across Wales.
The support, over three years, will enable the college to develop new activities, enhance existing programmes and reach more academically-gifted young people who are currently under-represented at Oxford and other leading universities in the UK.
The initiative will include outreach partnerships with several Welsh primary and secondary schools, with careers and interviews advice workshops.
It will also bring additional support to the college’s Seren summer school programme and the Oxford Cymru consortium. The Welsh Government’s Seren programme supports the brightest year 8-13 students from state schools and colleges to achieve their full academic potential.
The Oxford consortium consists of Jesus, New College and St Catharine’s College and has responsibility for access and outreach programmes for the whole of Wales on behalf of Oxford University.
Jesus College has maintained a strong connection with Wales since its founding in 1571 by a group of Welshmen led by Hugh Price, treasurer of St David’s Cathedral.
Its first fellows were mostly Welsh lawyers and as a result, for centuries Jesus was known as Oxford’s “Welsh college”.
Jesus College’s outreach programmes works specifically with Welsh schools and colleges. Of 10,000 engagements with young people each year, 7,000 are based in Wales. Of the college’s current cohort of 390 graduates, 22 are from Wales.
Dr Matthew Williams, Jesus College access fellow, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Admiral for their generous support of our Welsh access programmes. About 70% of the 10,000 young people we work with annually through our outreach and access activities come from Wales, and we are committed to inspiring, encouraging and enabling academically-gifted young Welsh students, regardless of background, to apply to Oxford and other leading universities in the UK.”
He added: “This new support will open the door for more young people across Wales to explore the opportunities available through a university education.
“We’re excited to be working with Admiral on a range of innovative and informative access programmes that will have a hugely positive impact on the school pupils we work with.”
Rhian Langham, head of people services (HR) at Admiral, said: “We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Jesus College on their Welsh access initiative for the next three years and feel passionately about removing the barriers in access provision.
“We know first-hand the young talent that exists in Wales, so helping to reach that talent through new, and enhanced existing activities, is particularly exciting for us.
We’re looking forward to playing a part in building a curriculum that provides talented students with the skills, confidence and capacity they need to succeed.”
Earlier this year, Jesus College announced the Michael Sheen Bursary – a new bursary scheme that will provide financial support for Welsh undergraduate students. The bursary has been developed in collaboration and supported by the Port Tabot-raised actor.