IntoUniversity North Islington has supported over 6,000 local young people through academic support, mentoring and opportunities to explore their futures.
IntoUniversity North Islington is celebrating ten years of providing long-term, place-based support to young people in the local community, marking the milestone at an anniversary event bringing together students, families, alumni, staff, volunteers, and funding partners.
Since opening its doors in 2016, the centre has worked with over 6,000 young people, helping them raise their aspirations, build academic confidence and explore post-18 educational and career pathways.
A parent of an Academic Support student spoke of the impact of the centre:
“I’m so happy that we found IntoUniversity. You follow the national curriculum in a different way that allows [my daughter] to use her imagination and learn more about her future – she loved learning about how an engineer works day-to-day. The sessions give her freedom to express herself which is developing her confidence and speech. She started talking late so this has always been a worry, but she is never scared to speak up at IntoUniversity.”
The centre’s long-term, community-embedded approach continues to deliver tangible outcomes for the borough. In 2024/25, 66% of school leavers from IntoUniversity North Islington progressed to higher education, compared to the local area average of 39%.
Jasmine Raine, Centre Leader at IntoUniversity North Islington said:
“It is a privilege to support and to get to know a community so well through students, families, school partnerships and recruiting local volunteers, and to guide the direction of this as Centre Leader. Celebrating our 10 year anniversary is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our community, and I look forward to more opportunities to see young people thrive and support them in realising their ambitions.”
Deepening local impact and skills
IntoUniversity North Islington provides continuous academic and pastoral support through Academic Support sessions, one-to-one Mentoring, in-school workshops, and Holiday FOCUS programmes.
Data from the 2025/26 academic year demonstrates the centre’s immediate impact on local students:
Dr Rachel Carr, CEO at IntoUniversity, said:
“Reaching ten years at North Islington is a milestone defined by collaboration. We are deeply grateful to our generous corporate partners and individual supporters, our committed local school partners, and our incredible team who make this work happen. Most of all, we are thankful to the young people and families who bring this centre to life every single day. It is a true joy to stand alongside this community, and we look forward to championing many more young people as they reach for their goals.”
The impact of early intervention
In 2023, at seven years old, Anaiah started attending Academic Support at IntoUniversity North Islington. She regularly attends Holiday FOCUS programmes and has taken part in trips to London Zoo, London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies. Due to her strong attendance at the after-school sessions, she has also taken part in Academic Support rewards sessions. Since joining IntoUniversity, Anaiah has grown in confidence both socially and academically, and has become an excellent role model for new students at the centre.
“I’m really excited for what the future holds. I’m confident that I’ll be able to reach my aspirations.”
Looking ahead, IntoUniversity North Islington will continue to work closely with the local community, funders and staff to support the young people requiring its services.
