The Access Project

The Access Project is an education and social mobility charity founded in 2008 by teacher Alex Kelly, with a mission to help under-resourced young people place at top UK universities. The organization was born from a recognition that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not - bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds face significant barriers in accessing higher education.

The charity operates through a unique combination of in-school mentoring, personalized one-to-one or group tuition, and skills coaching to help students raise their GCSE and A level grades. University Access Officers work directly with students in schools across London, the Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North West to navigate and overcome educational barriers. The programme focuses on helping students make strong applications, achieve academic success, and successfully transition to university. Since its founding, The Access Project has grown to work with students across 40 schools, with thousands of volunteer tutors supporting over 1,900 students annually.

In 2023, Anna Searle joined as Chief Executive Officer, bringing extensive experience in global education and leadership with the British Council. The organization is funded through a combination of school contributions (around 25%), university partners, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations, enabling them to provide services at no cost to students.