Hear from our participants
University Students
Anisha
Anisha, a care experienced student, had just started the first year of a Social Work degree at the University of Leeds when she did a 1-day Grit programme.
Arshaaq
Arshaaq was in his second year at the University of Wolverhampton when he took part in a Grit programme.
Chloe
Chloe was in her final year at Nottingham Trent University when she did a 3-day Grit programme. Chloe is from an Armed Forces family and was the first in her family to go to university.
Carl
Carl was in the first year of a medical degree at the University of Manchester when he took part in a Grit Black Leaders programme.
Fana
Fana was in her first year of a degree in Medical Imaging at the University of Exeter when she took part in a 2-day Black Leaders programme. Fana is a refugee with leave to remain status.
Bethany
Bethany was in her fourth and final year of a degree apprenticeship in software engineering at Nottingham Trent University when she did a 3-day Grit programme.
Nico
Mature student Nico was in her second year of a nursing degree at Cardiff University when she did a Grit programme.
Matthew
Matthew was in his Foundation Year at the University of Aberystwyth when he took part in a Grit programme. Matthew is neurodivergent.
Ian
Ian was in his second year of studying for a PhD in Engineering Design at the University of Strathclyde when he did a Grit programme.
David
David, an international student, had just started a master’s degree at the University of Westminster when he did a Grit programme.
Mia
Mia was repeating the first year of her medical degree at the University of Exeter when she participated in a Grit 1-day workshop.
Alexandra
Alexandra had just started a Foundation Year course at the University of Hull when she did a 1-day Grit workshop. A mature student and parent, she was commuting 2 hours each way into university.
University Staff
Yolanda
Yolanda, a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, took part in a Grit programme training staff to coach Black students across the faculty.
Beatrice
Beatrice is an Associate Professor in the University of Leeds Business School. She took part in a 2-day programme for staff.
Matt
After observing a student workshop Matt, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Westminster, did a Grit workshop for staff.
School Students
Nile
Nile was a pupil at a school in Sheffield when he took part in an Access to University programme in 2023.
Kawtar
Kawtar was in Year 9 at a school in West London when she did a 3-day intensive Grit workshop followed by five months of coaching from a volunteer life coach.
Liam
Liam was in Year 10 at a school in Warwickshire when he did a Grit programme.
School Staff
Ross
Ross is Head of Year 11 at a school in Nuneaton. He did a 3-day Grit programme.
Sophie
A member of the support team at a school in Portsmouth, Sophie, took part in a 2-day programme for staff as part of a project led by the University of Portsmouth.
James
James was Duty Behaviour Lead at a school in Warwickshire when he did a 2-day Grit programme.
Local Authority Staff
Paula
Paula, an Education Support Officer, took part in a 1-day Grit programme for Kent Virtual School staff.
Lee
Lee, Head of Sold Services to Schools and Housing Support Fund Lead, took part in a 3-day Grit programme for staff at Nottingham City Council.
Rodney
Rodney was a Social Worker at the LB Haringey Young Adults Service when he did a Grit Programme.