Empowering young people to succeed

Our Impact
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Villiers Park is a national social mobility charity.

We deliver evidence-informed programmes that develop personal and employability skills and raise academic outcomes for young people aged 11-19 from under-represented backgrounds.


We believe every young person should have an equal opportunity to excel at school, at university and in their careers. Our unique and tailored programmes increase aspirations for learning and motivation, develop academic, employability and personal skills and raise attainment.

Our Focus

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Consistent long-term support

Helps young people to gain clarity on their aspirations.

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Targeted skills-based support

Collaborative social action projects and subject-specific courses allow students to discover passions and potential.

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Expanding Horizons

University and career insights help young people to explore a world of possibilities.

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Empowerment

Future Leaders build new connections and grow their networks.

My favourite part of the programme is the coaching and mentoring. I’m grateful that I have someone dedicated to helping me succeed in the future.

Will

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Villiers Park has given me the confidence to be myself and the support to follow my dreams.

Robin

I'm so grateful to Villiers Park for giving me this opportunity because I feel like I've gained so much knowledge.

Abigail

I didn't know things like this existed. It's made me consider working for a place like this even though I'm not a business person at all.

Future Leader after Sopra Steria Insight Day

My favourite part of the programme is the coaching and mentoring. I’m grateful that I have someone dedicated to helping me succeed in the future.

Will

Villiers Park has given me the confidence to be myself and the support to follow my dreams.

Robin

Our Supporters

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Latest News

By Bronagh Sumner April 25, 2025
In September 2024, we were thrilled to have Emma Cross join our team as a Progression Coach in Hastings and Bexhill. Before working at Villiers Park, Emma worked as a teacher across multiple schools in East Sussex and internationally. What does your role entail? As a Progression Coach, my role involves supporting young people across Hastings and Bexhill ?" especially those from underrepresented backgrounds ?" in achieving their academic and career aspirations. I provide one-to-one sessions to help students develop confidence, resilience and goal setting skills as well as supporting students in identifying their strengths, interests and potential career pathways. This support could either be through university and apprenticeship applications, personal statements, interview preparation, internships or other alternative career pathways. I have also been involved in organising and delivering workshops around applying for university and managing exam anxiety. What did you do before coming to Villiers Park? I spent some time in Hong Kong studying and teaching English at a local primary school. Throughout my time teaching, I discovered a passion for learning about education in international contexts, so I decided to study a MA in International Education and Development at the University of Sussex. From this, I gained valuable insights on the impact of globalisation on education policy and practice. I also volunteered with the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link, where I had the opportunity to travel to Hastings, Sierra Leone, and work with some amazing individuals, focusing on developing education and healthcare around the surrounding areas of Freetown. What is your biggest project at the moment? My biggest project now is supporting our Future Leaders with their Leadership Challenge projects. I spend a lot of time working with groups, supporting them with their project proposals and implementation. We have some great projects this year, such as a community beach clean, a research presentation around A-Level Law, teaching a Year 7 PE lesson and a whole school football tournament. What is the biggest challenge you are currently facing in your role? The biggest challenge I am currently facing is finding local and contextual apprenticeship and work experience opportunities for our Future Leaders. Hastings and Bexhill have a limited offering for these opportunities, so it makes it difficult for our Future Leaders to feel motivated and involved in apprenticeships. What is your favourite part about your job? My favourite part of the job is seeing the direct impact you have on students’ confidence and aspirations. Watching students grow and see them go from uncertain about their future to feeling empowered and motivated and building strong relationships with young people and being their trusted mentor who helps them navigate challenges. Also, knowing that your work is making a real difference in creating social mobility and giving students access to opportunities, like university insight days, they might not have had otherwise. What is a book you will always recommend? This is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone ?" high science fiction meets with poetic love literary! If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go? It has always been my dream to go to Japan! I’m fascinated by the culture and landscape ?" and Japanese food is my favourite!? Or New Zealand to see all the different locations where they filmed the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Who are your two dream dinner party guests? Wow! So many people I would choose... but I would have to go with Chino Moreno from the band Deftones ?" just so I can talk about all the things I love about his music! And Hakuri Murakami to talk all things literature. What would your perfect weekend look like? A perfect weekend would be brunch in my favourite cafe (must have good coffee!), a sunny walk around the South Downs with the dogs, ending up in a pub with good friends, food and a band!
By Bronagh Sumner April 25, 2025
Villiers Park and Roku, a pioneer in TV streaming, are proud to be working together to inspire the next generation of leaders in STEM, technology and entertainment.
September 23, 2024
In July, we were thrilled to hold our 2nd Year 10 residential at the University of Bath. This year 81 Future Leaders from our hubs across the country travelled to Bath, some by coach and some by ...
By Blam Websites September 15, 2024
Today marks a significant milestone in the lives of young people across the country. We have worked with many of our Future Leaders throughout their GCSEs and into A Level studies. It is a huge privil...
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By Jakka Pranav Swaroop Naidu June 3, 2024
We are thrilled to be working with ESB again this year on another oracy project!ESB work with young people in under-represented commu...
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By Jakka Pranav Swaroop Naidu February 26, 2024
Deborah Richardson who has been a key member of Villiers Park’s team for over 30 years has announced her retirement this summer...
News
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