The University of Winchester has today (Wednesday 20 January 2021) signed the new GTRSB into Higher Education Pledge, undertaking to support access to higher education for students from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater communities (GTRSB).
The Pledge is a firm commitment by the University to undertake certain steps to support GTRSB students into and within higher education and create an open and welcoming environment.
There are very few Gypsy, Traveller and Roma (GTR) university students and graduates in the UK, with an estimated average of 200 members of the communities in higher education at any one time. Barriers to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils' achievement in compulsory education reduce their access to higher education, as the likelihood of gaining the requisite grades at GCSE and A- Level needed to go on to study at degree level is reduced.
"Signing the GTRSB Pledge is an expression of our commitment here at Winchester to be pro-active in challenging the barriers to inclusion and success for GTRSB students in higher education," said Sam Jones, Assistant Vice-Chancellor, University of Winchester.
"Ensuring access to and support within higher education, enhanced opportunity, visibility, and increased equality for members of the GTRSB communities is a matter of social justice that we are deeply committed to."
Through its widening participation outreach programme, the University of Winchester is already at the forefront of work supporting the educational progression of other groups underrepresented in higher education. The department has won awards for innovative collaborative outreach supporting young carers, care leavers and children from military service backgrounds. The University intends to work more closely with partners in the network to tailor outreach for the GTRSB communities.
As one of the first five universities in the UK to sign the GTRSB Pledge, which was launched at an online event, Winchester is a Pathfinder signatory.
More information about the GTRSB pledge is available on the Buckinghamshire New University website: https://bucks.ac.uk/about-us/gtrsb-into-higher-education-pledge
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