Entry requirements:
The initiative aims to support young people aged 18+ from low-income families, and applicants interested must meet the following criteria:
- Attending state school or college, or have done within the past two years, minimum Grade C / 4 in GCSE Maths is desirable but not essential, and
- Not planning on attending university, and
- The occupation of your main household earner is categorised as a lower socio-economic background*, or
- Have been eligible for free school meals** at any point in the previous six years
*Parental occupation classification is a national standard, and the Social Mobility Work’s toolkit (found here) provides details on the categorisations. “Lower socio-economic” typically refers to individuals or groups who have lower income, less educational attainment, and often work in lower-paying or less stable jobs.
**Free School Meals are a statutory benefit available to school-aged children from families who receive other qualifying benefits and who have been through the relevant registration process. It does not include those who receive meals at school through other means e.g., boarding school.
Scheme delivery:
The scheme originated from a pilot initiated in London in 2023 and has since expanded to all 7 NHS regions in England. In 2024, each region will be hosting placement students from across their local communities and is set to commence in September 2024. Applications are now closed for 2024.
