Health and Social Care Widening Participation and Access Faculty

The purpose of this faculty is to support the drive to increase access for young people, people from local communities, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds into successful careers within our health and social care organisations. This faculty will bring together key leaders from across health, social care, private, independent, and voluntary organisations with the aim of harnessing their expertise to successfully scale up opportunities around work experience, access to entry level jobs and meaningful career progression through routes such as apprenticeships across all our organisations.

A word from the faculty chair

I am Rebecca Waterfield, and I work for South and City College Birmingham, the largest general further education college in the area, and have first-hand experience of the needs and aspirations of our residents.

‘I am passionate about making a difference in their lives. Birmingham is one of the youngest cities in the UK but also has the highest levels of youth unemployment and the lowest amount of prior attainment.  This presents an opportunity to support these young people to be our workforce of the future within the health and social care sectors. Through collaboration across education, training providers, secondary, primary and social care we will make a difference!’

“My name is Elizabeth Allcott, and I am the Project Lead for this faculty, focused on increasing opportunities for young people from diverse local communities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue meaningful careers in the health and social care sectors.”

Our work is part of a broader commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce in Birmingham and Solihull, ensuring that the health and social care services provided are reflective of the needs of our communities. We are passionate about nurturing the talent of tomorrow, empowering individuals to make a positive impact on communities through their work in health and social care.

To contact the Faculty, please email BSolEducationCollaborative@bcu.ac.uk