Social Inclusion, Equity and Opportunity: 2024–25

Higher Horizons: Creating Educational Opportunity

In March 2025, Keele University and the Higher Horizons partnership were shortlisted for the STEM Initiative Award at the 2025 Educate North Awards, for the GivEnergy 850 Learning Lab, a two-day residential at Keele for 85 young people from six local schools. Higher Horizons delivers targeted outreach, aspiration-raising activities and impartial advice to young people from groups traditionally under-represented in higher education across Staffordshire, Cheshire and Shropshire. Since 2017, the programme has engaged more than 65,000 learners, helping to reduce barriers to participation in higher education and supporting progression into further study and future careers.

Find out more:

• Higher Horizons and Keele shortlisted at Educate North Awards 2025
• Higher Horizons programme

Researchers Supporting Staffordshire Town to Become More Resilient and Inclusive

In 2024–25, researchers from the Keele Institute for Social Inclusion, led by Dr Tolu Olarewaju, worked with Tamworth Borough Council and community partners to strengthen resilience, inclusion and community cohesion following the civil unrest experienced during summer 2024. The project is designed to support young people and local businesses through education, community engagement and inclusion-focused interventions.

Key facts

Keele lead	Dr Tolu Olarewaju, Lecturer in Management
Partners	Tamworth Borough Council, local community organisations, local businesses and community stakeholders
Funder	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Community Recovery Fund)
Reach	Local
Focus	Community resilience, social inclusion, community cohesion and support for young people and local businesses following civil unrest in summer 2024

Find out more about the Tamworth study

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Making Environmental Action More Inclusive

In 2024–25, Dr Abigail Pearson from Keele's School of Law worked with national partners to ensure environmental policies are accessible and inclusive. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, the project explores how sustainability initiatives, such as bans on single-use plastics, can inadvertently disadvantage some groups, including disabled people, and seeks to embed inclusion into environmental decision-making from the outset.

Key facts

Keele lead	Dr Abigail Pearson, School of Law
Partners	Disability Rights UK, Everyday Plastic, Global Learning London
Funder	National Lottery Community Fund
Reach	National
Focus	Promoting inclusive environmental action by ensuring sustainability initiatives, policies and climate engagement activities are accessible and equitable for all members of society

Find out more about making environmental initiatives more inclusive

Bringing Legal Advice into the Community Through Keele in Town

In April 2025, Keele Law School's Legal Advice Clinic and CLOCK (Community Legal Outreach Collaboration Keele) became based at Keele in Town in Newcastle-under-Lyme, providing accessible, free legal support for residents while creating experiential learning opportunities for students. The initiative strengthens access to justice and community engagement in the local area.

Find out more about the Legal Advice Clinic and CLOCK at Keele in Town

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Community Wellbeing Through Student-Led Health Education

In October 2024, staff and students from Keele University's student-led Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic launched Wellbeing Education and Activity workshops for local residents, with an Ageing Well workshop for people over 60 in development. The initiative combines education, practical support and community engagement to improve public health and wellbeing.

Find out more about the wellbeing workshops

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Keele World Affairs: Weekly Lifelong Learning and Public Engagement

Throughout 2024–25, Keele World Affairs, an educational charity founded in 1980 with the support of Keele University, continued its programme of weekly talks and discussions exploring international affairs, politics, economics and global challenges. Membership is open to anyone in the region, including students and staff, and the programme provides regular opportunities for lifelong learning, civic dialogue and public engagement beyond the formal curriculum. The 2024–25 programme formed part of the lead-up to the organisation's 45th anniversary in December 2025, highlighting a long-standing commitment to public education, informed debate and community engagement.

Find out more about Keele World Affairs

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Global Challenge Lectures: Lifelong Learning and Public Engagement

Throughout 2024–25, the Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences (ILAS) continued its Global Challenge Lecture Programme, bringing leading figures from academia, public policy, industry, the arts and civil society to Keele to explore major global issues. Open to students, staff and members of the public, the programme provided opportunities for lifelong learning and engagement with contemporary challenges, including sustainability, health, politics, social justice, culture and international development. Through accessible public lectures and discussions, the programme supported the exchange of ideas between the University and the wider community and contributed to Keele's commitment to public engagement and knowledge sharing.

Lectures in 2024–25 included:

• 9 October 2024: Dr Annabel Sowemimo, "Decolonising and the NHS", on health inequalities and racial disparities in healthcare
• 21 November 2024: Daniel Greenberg CB, "Building and Maintaining Trust in Politics and Parliament"
• 3 February 2025: Carry Somers, "Weaving Solutions: Addressing Fibre and Dye Challenges through Nature and Innovation", on sustainability in fashion
• 17 March 2025: Professor Antonius Raghubansie, "Heading South: Patterns in International Student Mobility – whither Keele and the UK?"

Find out more about the Global Challenge Lecture Programme

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ArtsKeele: Expanding Access to Arts, Culture and Lifelong Learning

Throughout 2024–25, ArtsKeele delivered a programme of performances, exhibitions, workshops, public lectures and cultural events designed to engage students, staff and the wider community, with more than 80 publicly accessible events a year on and off campus. By providing opportunities for local residents and community groups to participate in arts and cultural activities, ArtsKeele supports lifelong learning, creativity, community participation and cultural inclusion, and seeks to make arts and culture accessible to a broad audience.

Find out more about ArtsKeele

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Keele Observatory: Community Access to Science and Discovery

Throughout 2024-25, the Keele Observatory provided opportunities for members of the public to engage with astronomy, space science and research through public opening events, educational visits and outreach activities. Public observatory openings attracted more than 1,300 visitors, while additional visits and events enabled schools, community groups and members of the public to explore the night sky using specialist telescopes and facilities. Activities included observing sessions, educational talks and participation in initiatives such as Women and Girls in Science Day. By making scientific knowledge and facilities accessible to a broad audience, the Observatory supports lifelong learning, public understanding of science and wider participation in STEM subjects.

Find out more about Keele Observatory

 

Last reviewed: 6 November 2026