The Julia Anderson Training Programme has received £2,000 from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Seed Fund for a school outreach initiative.

The EDI Seed Fund supports Imperial staff to implement ideas that help to build an inclusive environment for work and study. The Julia Anderson Training Programme (JATP) was one of nine projects, out of eighteen applications, to receive funding for this year.
 
The JATP provides valuable paid opportunities for people with limited or no work experience, enabling them to support the delivery of activities at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial. Launched in 2022, the programme has received over 650 applications and hosted 13 incredible trainees, many of whom have since left to start full-time careers.
 
The funding will help develop a secondary school outreach initiative with the goal of raising awareness around barriers people may face when applying for jobs and encouraging school leavers to apply for the programme. The aim is to develop a roadshow and promotional materials to engage with school leavers.
 

The programme has been designed to attract and support those traditionally underrepresented in academia, and the funding will help us build further on this ethos Sophie Pieters Operations Officer, IGHI

Sophie Pieters, Operations Officer at the Institute of Global Health Innovation who oversees the JATP, said, “We are delighted to receive this funding, which will empower school leavers to apply and give them equal opportunities as their peers with university degrees.

The programme has been designed to attract and support those traditionally underrepresented in academia, and the funding will help us build further on this ethos. As a school leaver myself, it is so important to offer career opportunities to everyone who needs it, and this funding will enable us to continue to make a difference.”

Building on success

Adding to its list of accomplishments, the JATP was honoured with the President's Award in 2022 for Excellence in Culture and Community, specifically in the realm of equality, diversity, and inclusion. This prestigious award acknowledges the commitment of staff members in cultivating an environment that promotes equality of opportunity, embraces diversity, and ensures that both students and staff can work and study without discrimination or harassment.

 
The JATP is currently accepting applications for the January 2024 cohort. Applications close on 11 October. Visit the website to find out more.