Former First Minister helps Cardiff Met deliver empowering help for ‘inspirational’ sanctuary seekers

Cardiff Met's Widening Access team recently involved former First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS, in delivering their Ready Access programme to refugees and asylum seekers.

The Ready Access programme saw the team providing a supportive and empowering space where sanctuary seekers from across the world could strengthen their academic confidence, explore pathways into higher education, and connect with peers who share similar journeys.

Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, took part in a policy and practice round-table discussion - an opportunity for staff and learners to discuss how we can better support sanctuary seekers into HE. The former First Minister also awarded learners with certificates of attendance, describing the attendees as ‘inspirational’.  

This programme, which Widening Access delivered alongside Bridging the Gap, follows on from much of Cardiff Met's work supporting sanctuary seekers' progression to HE. This includes a two-day summer school for sanctuary seekers funded by Cardiff Met’s Global Grant Scheme, an arts workshop highlighting asylum seekers’ experiences of poverty in Wales, psychology tasters for refugees leading to learner success, and the ongoing 'Community to Campus' taster and accredited short courses delivered by Widening Access.

The Ready Access programme was filled with enriching experiences and opportunities for learners to understand more about Cardiff Met and university in general, covering every point of the application cycle such as researching, applying, funding, student life and academic skills.

A huge thanks goes to the many internal staff who supported the programme, including: Dr Mike Wells; Rebecca Lever; Dr Heidi Seage; Dr Clare Glennan; Dr Gabriel Roberts; Natalie Buckland; the Student Recruitment team; the Careers team; the Money Advice team; Student Services & Wellbeing team; Reaching Wider; the Students' Union; and the Digital Library Services. There was also support from external staff, including Cardiff University, University of South Wales, and Medr.

Head of our Global Student Advisory Service, Natalie Buckland said: "I was delighted to participate in such and empowering, inspirational and supportive event.”

One learner said: “All the staff were so kind, they oriented us around campus, each and everyone giving their helpful experiences. I say thanks and appreciation to everyone for their help. There are a lot of things that I learned from them. I feel so confident that I will achieve my goal of going to university in the future.”