IntoUniversity Southampton centre celebrates 10 years of empowering young people in the community

IntoUniversity Southampton, based in Millbrook and run by IntoUniversity in partnership with the University of Southampton, first opened its doors in 2015. Since then, the centre has supported over 6,000 young people, offering academic support, mentoring and aspiration-raising programmes to help them overcome barriers to opportunity.

Over the past 10 years, Southampton students have taken part in more than 2,000 workshops and events, including 145 university visits to the University of Southampton, and together have received over 132,000 hours of support. Each hour represents a young person building confidence, discovering new opportunities or finding a safe space to learn and grow.

The centre’s Mentoring Programme has also played a vital role, pairing 182 mentors with 165 mentees across more than 2,100 meetings. These connections have helped young people to build self-belief, develop key skills, and imagine new futures for themselves.

Of those who have completed their school journey, around 31% progressed to university in 2024/25 compared to the local average of 17.4%. Many others have chosen alternative routes into apprenticeships, employment, and training, showcasing the diverse and inspiring achievements of Southampton’s young people.

At a celebratory event held at the centre, students, families, staff, volunteers, and members of the local community gathered alongside the Vice President for Education at the University of Southampton to mark this milestone and celebrate the centre’s lasting impact on generations of students.

Rosie Doyle, Regional Operations Manager for South London and South Coast at IntoUniversity, said:

“We are proud to celebrate the IntoUniversity Southampton centre’s 10-year anniversary and our long-standing partnership with the University of Southampton. Since opening in 2015, young people in the community have enjoyed visiting after school for our Academic Support sessions as well as taking part in other programmes, including trips to the university. These experiences have helped them gain a deeper understanding of higher education and the opportunities it can offer. We look forward to continuing our work together to support young people in Southampton for many years to come.”

Gino Graziano, Executive Director Student Life at the University of Southampton, said:

“We are very proud of what we have achieved in collaboration with IntoUniversity over the last decade. The sheer number of young people we have been able to support is phenomenal. The partnership with IntoUniversity has given us a greater presence in the community and we are very pleased we have been able to use each other’s skills and expertise to provide this opportunity.”