Villiers Park Educational Trust

We were proud to see our Assistant Director, Alex Grant, present at the NEON Summer Symposium in Liverpool last week, sharing our work on Possible Selves, residentials and coaching.

It was a brilliant day of discussion and collaboration, showcasing how partnerships between the third sector, universities and industry can create meaningful opportunities for young people.

Grounded in the Possible Selves framework, our Year 10 residential builds on goals set through coaching, giving students the chance to experience university life, explore apprenticeship routes and hear directly from corporate partners about future careers.

By putting young people at the centre, this approach helps them grow in confidence, broaden their horizons and develop a richer “palette of experiences” to inform their future choices.

A huge thank you to Heather-Lee Wright and the University of Bath for their partnership and support.

Learn more about Possible Selves 👉villierspark.org.uk/possible-selves

We’re recruiting: Assistant Director - Digital and Innovation

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a senior leadership role at Villiers Park helping to shape our strategy and expand our impact.

We’re keen to hear from experienced leaders in education, widening participation or the charity sector who are driven by social mobility and making long-term change.

We welcome informal conversations if you’re curious about the role 💬
Please share with your networks — your recommendation could make a real difference 🔁

Find out more 👉villierspark.org.uk/assistant-director

Today is and this year’s theme is .

Stories shape how we see the world and what we believe is possible.

For young people from under-represented backgrounds, access to relatable stories can be the difference between imagining a future and achieving it.

At Villiers Park, this sits at the heart of our work. Through our Future Leaders Programme, we help young people build confidence and clarity that turn possible selves into real futures.

Read more 👉 villierspark.org.uk/social-mobility-day-2026

Fashion, culture and community came together at North Cambridge Academy through a wonderful Leadership Challenge Fashion Show 👏

Three students designed and created their own dresses using recycled and thrifted materials, inspired by different cultures and decorated with hand-embroidered motifs. From organising the event to creating the outfits and recruiting models, they showed fantastic teamwork and leadership throughout.

A huge congratulations to the students for delivering such a creative project!

Read more 👉 villierspark.org.uk/celebrating-fashion-and-culture-with-leadership-challenge

Celebrating Fashion and Culture with Leadership Challenge Empowering under-represented young people aged 11-19 through education, leadership, and career programmes that boost skills, confidence, and opportunity.

Did you know that after two years on our programme 80% of Future Leaders felt certain or very certain about their future pathway — an increase of 51 percentage points.

Through our sustained support, coaching and real-world experiences at universities and with employers, young people move from not being sure to feeling certain they can achieve their goals

Learn more in our 2025 Impact Report ⬇️
villierspark.org.uk/our-impact

Welcome to the team, Jamie 🎉

Jamie joined us in February as a Progression Coach for Hastings and Bexhill after completing a Master’s degree in Criminal Psychology. Having previously been part of the Villiers Park Scholars Programme himself, Jamie now brings his passion for social mobility and first-hand experience to supporting young people in achieving their goals.

Jamie shared:
“It’s been great getting to know the team and I’m excited to start supporting Future Leaders and watching them grow and succeed.”

Stephen Graham talking about seeing an actor living across the street from his nan and realising that “anything is possible” really chimed with us at Villiers Park.

That’s exactly what Possible Selves is about — those lightbulb moments when young people gain access to experiences and insights that broaden their horizons, helping them see new possibilities and put into words what they want from their future.

As one young person told us after spending a day inside a real workplace, meeting staff and seeing behind the scenes:

“I didn’t know things like this existed. It’s made me consider working for a place like this… it’s like a hidden gem.”

📽️

Stephen Graham takes home the award for Leading Actor at the #BAFTATVAwards Nyd de videoer og den musik, du holder af, upload originalt indhold, og del det hele med venner, familie og verden på YouTube.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is Action - a reminder that even small steps for ourselves and each other can have a bigger impact when we take them together.

At our recent staff development day, our Wellbeing Working Group met to discuss their priorities for the upcoming term. We’ll be kicking off with monthly wellbeing sessions including meditation, desk pilates and a fun quiz 🩵