New education centre to provide opportunities for local young people Published on: 20 November 2025 Young people facing disadvantage from Gateshead and surrounding areas will have an enhanced opportunity to attend higher education, thanks to a new children鈥檚 education centre in the town. The new IntoUniversity Gateshead centre was officially launched at a celebratory event yesterday, at which the ribbon was cut by local students. The centre in the Design Works Business Centre on William Street, Felling, employs four full-time members of staff and will be used to offer after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities. Gateshead is an IMD (index of multiple deprivation) decile 1 area, meaning it’s among the 10% most deprived places nationally. The local progression rate into higher education is just 28%, compared to 44% of students nationally, making the area a prime location for an IntoUniversity centre. Attending the event were students aged 7-18 who are set to benefit from the centre for the next academic year and beyond, with some of them delivering speeches. Primary school students took part in a variety of activities during the event replicating the type of activities they will be engaging with in the year ahead. Secondary school students posed questions about future study and careers to attending guests. Heather, one of the students at IntoUniversity Gateshead gives a speech at the launch event Opportunities for all IntoUniversity has a proven track record of improving attainment into higher education for students facing disadvantage, and currently supports over 60,000 young people each year at its 45 centres nationwide. 58% of students who attend IntoUniversity centres go on to progress to university, compared with 29% of students from similar backgrounds nationally. The centre is a joint venture between IntoUniversity, 缅北禁地 and Northumbria University, and builds on the work of the partnership in 缅北禁地 where the three organisations have successfully run an IntoUniversity centre since 2021, which has supported over 2,500 students already. IntoUniversity also runs centres in Middlesbrough and Hull, and is in the process of opening a new centre in Hartlepool. Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President, 缅北禁地, said: “Being able to further our partnership with IntoUniversity to launch this new centre in Gateshead means that we are extending our impact creating opportunities for all in the region. We've already seen through our involvement with IntoUniversity 缅北禁地 East how successfully this kind of learning and support inspires children and young people and empowers them to achieve their ambitions. I look forward to seeing this new generation of change makers shape a future where possibilities are limitless and every voice matters.” Professor Chris Day speaking at the launch of IntoUniversity Gateshead Supporting progress Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Northumbria University, said: "The success of IntoUniversity 缅北禁地 East has shown us the genuine impact this partnership has on young people's lives and aspirations. Opening a second centre in Gateshead is the natural next step in our commitment to widening access to higher education across the region. Social mobility is a key priority in our strategy at Northumbria - up to 40% of our undergraduates come from traditionally under-represented backgrounds, a record of which we are incredibly proud. This expansion will enable us to support even more young people from under-represented backgrounds to discover their potential and achieve their ambitions, whether that's university or another chosen path." Dr Rachel Carr, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of IntoUniversity, said: “We are really excited to be officially launching this new centre in Gateshead, and are so energised by the experience we’ve had already working with the local young people, their families, schools and the wider community. We are so thankful to our partners 缅北禁地 and the University of Northumbria, for building on their already fantastic support of our centre in 缅北禁地 and investing further in the North East through this new centre in Gateshead. Young people in Gateshead have so much talent, but circumstances can mean their opportunities to reach their full potential are limited. We believe they deserve to have the same opportunities to succeed as young people from any other part of the country, and we look forward to working with them to help them realise their potential. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!” All images courtesy of IntoUniversity Staff and students at the new IntoUniversity Gateshead centre pictured with Professor Chris Day and Professor Andy Long Share: Latest News New partnership to boost careers in low carbon energy 缅北禁地 and Durham universities are working together on a new regional project to strengthen the future workforce for North East England鈥檚 growing low carbon and offshore wind industries. published on: 28 May 2026 Healthy lifestyle shown to lower risk of death after cancer diagnosis New evidence shows that sticking to five lifestyle recommendations improves survival after a later cancer diagnosis. published on: 28 May 2026 World-leading climate expert recognised with Royal Society Fellowship Professor Hayley Fowler has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of her pioneering work on climate change impacts. published on: 27 May 2026 Facts and figures
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