Building Futures in the North East

Since 2021, IntoUniversity has grown its presence in the North East of England from zero to four local learning centres, aiming to tackle educational inequality. Starting with IntoUniversity Newcastle East in 2021, we have since opened in Middlesbrough in 2024 and most recently in Gateshead and Hartlepool in 2025.

But why the North East?

The North East faces some of the deepest-rooted challenges in the country when it comes to social mobility. Research from the End Child Poverty Coalition and the University of Loughborough (2024) revealed that 89% of constituencies in the region have at least one in four children growing up in poverty. Participation in Higher Education also remains among the lowest in England, with many areas seeing fewer than 20% of 18- and 19-year-olds progressing to university.

The English Indices of Deprivation show the scale of this challenge starkly. Middlesbrough ranks as the most deprived local authority in England, with 49% of its neighbourhoods in the top 10% most deprived nationally. It is closely followed by Hartlepool (9th most deprived), Newcastle (19th), and Gateshead (39th). Additionally, when we look at the number of children looked after in these communities, Hartlepool has the highest rate of children in care (164 per 10,000) out of all local authorities in the North East (GOV UK, 2024). These figures illustrate why targeted support for young people across the North East is so essential.

IntoUniversity Middlesbrough launch Byline: Dave Charnley Photography

Understanding Local Challenges

Through community consultation, our teams are continuing to build a deeper understanding of the barriers that young people in the North East face.

Education can sometimes become intertwined with financial welfare systems, making it difficult for young people to prioritise learning. A local research report, developed in collaboration with Northumbria University, Hartlepool Borough Council, HartlePower, CLIP and Thrive Teesside, provides further insight. Residents of Hartlepool expressed concerns around the lack of training and employment opportunities for young people in Hartlepool, high unemployment rates, and a need for young people to leave the town to access better jobs (2024). Therefore, in the face of limited local job prospects and post-16 options, some young people may feel pressure to take job opportunities early to support their families, rather than continuing in education. 

Eve, our new Centre Leader in Hartlepool, describes the importance of our work in Hartlepool and the North East:

“The North East has a long history of being overlooked when it comes to opportunities, yet it is home to so many young people with the potential to achieve great things. Having an IntoUniversity centre in Hartlepool means young people will now have quality support in exploring their next steps, whether that’s gaining the knowledge to make informed choices about their future or developing the confidence to believe in themselves and their aspirations, and be recognised for the talent they always had in the place they call home.”

In Gateshead, unemployment levels are high, and this has worsened in the last decade. In 2021, just over one in two people (52.8%) were employed (excluding full-time students), compared with 54.1% in 2011 (Census, 2021). Challenges such as school refusal, rising exclusions, homelessness and housing insecurity all have a knock-on effect on young people’s confidence and engagement in education. 

Laura, Centre Leader of IntoUniversity Gateshead, speaks about the work we are doing in the community to remove these barriers:

“The Primary FOCUS weeks, run with Year 6 students, have been particularly effective at raising aspirations and knowledge of future options, including university. Students have the time and opportunity to discuss their hopes for the future and also find out about ways they can make this happen! Additionally, in Gateshead, lots of youth initiatives have closed or have a cost barrier to them. Our after-school provision ‘Academic Support’ is completely free which has been noted as a benefit by lots of young people and their adults at home.”

Looking Ahead

Despite these challenges, there is huge potential and resilience within the communities we serve. Each new IntoUniversity centre in the North East represents a long-term commitment to supporting local students, families and schools to achieve their aspirations.

Recent research from the Sutton Trust’s Opportunity Index (2025) and the UPP Foundation’s Widening Participation Inquiry (2025) underscores why this regional focus matters. Both reports identify the North East as one of the most disadvantaged areas in England for social mobility and Higher Education access, calling for early, sustained, place-based investment, early intervention, and stronger partnerships between schools, universities, and communities.

IntoUniversity’s model directly addresses these priorities and helps bridge the regional Higher Education participation gap highlighted by national research. We provide academic support, mentoring, and aspiration-raising from Primary school to university, supporting young people to reach their goals.

This growth has been made possible through the support of all our valued partners, including Newcastle University, Northumbria University, King’s College, Cambridge, and the John Armitage Trust. Together, we are reaching more young people in communities where educational disadvantage remains one of the most significant barriers to opportunity.

As we continue to build our presence in the region, our goal is to inspire thousands more young people to imagine new futures for themselves. With the dedication of our staff, the energy of our students and the strength of our partnerships, we are helping to ensure that every young person in the North East has the chance to realise their potential.