About

The UFA is a national educational charity - based in Birmingham, working in partnership with Local Authorities, schools and communities to extend learning beyond the school day.

Its aim is to create an ‘open’ university for young people, so that they can access a range of challenging learning opportunities in and beyond their school.

Being part of a ‘university’ in early life helps to raise aspirations, increase the likelihood of young people going on to Further and Higher Education and develop skills that will help them succeed in their future lives and employment.

The UFA works with young people aged 5 – 25 and with adults who support and promote their achievements through developing challenging models of learning not only with schools and teachers but also with parents, community tutors, learning mentors, artists, and professionals from all walks of life.

Raising young people’s aspirations and achievements by improving confidence and self belief through exciting and memorable educational experiences is at the heart of what the UFA does.

One of the purposes of the UFA model is to encourage the growth of young people as leaders, motivating and engaging themselves and others in the learning process.

The training and development of peer tutors in learning teams has been a feature since the UFA’s inception and it was one of the first organisations to develop extensive practice in this area.

Over 500,000 young people have taken part in UFA activity since 1996.

Log on at www.ufa.org.uk