At IntoUniversity, our centres work with young people and their families, building trusted relationships that unlock potential over time. For the Hughes family who have been attending our Hull East centre for four years, this support has made a real difference.
Joshua first joined IntoUniversity in Year 6, after taking part in an IntoUniversity FOCUS Week on Sustainability.
“I really enjoyed it,” he remembers. “It was something different from schoolwork.”
That first experience led him to Academic Support sessions, Mentoring, and university visits. For his parents, the sessions felt purposeful from the very start.
“It wasn’t just somewhere for them to go after school,” his mum, Emma, explains. “They were learning about different universities, different careers, and real options for the future. It opened our eyes.”
The centre’s flexibility, working around bus schedules, after-school commitments, and changing circumstances, helped build trust right away.
Over the years, the relationship between the family and the centre has grown beyond academics. When Joshua faced a difficult situation outside school, centre staff helped him process what had happened.
“The communication has always been there,” Emma says. “They check in, tell us how the children are doing, and ask if there’s anything we need.”
Family Learning Together sessions have also played a key role. Taking part in an engineering workshop together allowed Joshua’s parents to experience learning alongside their children.
“It was nice to actually sit down, build something together, and meet staff properly,” Emma says. “It makes it easier to have open conversations.”
These shared experiences strengthen relationships and ensure families feel part of the journey, not separate from it.
The Hughes family taking part in an Engineering-themed Family Learning session
For Joshua, the impact has been particularly visible in his confidence. Through projects and presentations at the centre, he has developed the courage to speak in front of others, something he once found intimidating.
“I wouldn’t have done that before,” he admits. “Now I feel more comfortable presenting.”
Academically, the centre provides consistent support, especially in subjects like Maths.
“Maths is harder at home,” Joshua explains. “Here, I can ask questions.”
Completing homework during sessions reduces stress and helps him keep on top of his workload. As he moves through Secondary school, that stability will be increasingly important.
For younger brother, Aaron, the centre offers something slightly different, a space that feels creative and engaging.
“It’s more fun than school,” he says. “You get to do different things.”
From creative projects to interactive challenges, the environment encourages exploration. The Extending Horizons residential was a particular highlight, a chance to spend time away from home, visit new places, and build independence.
“It was just different,” he remembers. “Staying up a bit later, doing quizzes, going to the cinema, it felt grown up.”
Experiences like these broaden young people’s perspectives and help them see beyond their immediate surroundings.
Aaron and his mentor, Jessica
Younger sister Elora, who joined in Year 3, is already benefiting from early exposure. She loves science experiments and art activities, especially making “oobleck” and building towers during family engineering sessions.
When asked about her future, she doesn’t hesitate:
“A doctor because I like helping people. Or an artist.”
Their youngest son, Benjamin, will join IntoUniversity when he starts Year 3. His parents are looking forward to him experiencing the same support and opportunities as his siblings.
For parents, Emma and Kieron, IntoUniversity has provided something equally powerful: knowledge.
“University wasn’t something we experienced ourselves,” Emma says. “I didn’t go to college, so I didn’t really know what options were out there.”
Through workshops, conversations, and regular engagement, they now feel informed about subject choices, Secondary school pathways, and post-16 routes.
“It’s never forced,” she explains. “It’s always presented as options, what’s available, what could work for them.”
“We talk more about choices now,” she reflects. “About what they might want to do, what they’re interested in. It’s a normal conversation.”
The family is clear that their children’s futures will ultimately be their own decisions.
“We’ve always said it’s their choice,” Emma says. “We’ll support them, but we won’t force them.”
And yet, university, once distant and abstract, now feels possible.
“After everything they’ve experienced here, it feels real.”
Meaningful relationships with families create real impact. When young people feel supported, parents feel informed, and communication flows openly, aspirations grow naturally.
At IntoUniversity, trust is built over time through listening as much as teaching. Engaged and empowered families are better equipped to guide their children to make thoughtful decisions about their future.
For the Hughes family, the Hull East centre has become more than an after-school programme. It is a partner in their children’s journey, building confidence, and supporting the whole family every step of the way.
