Linking London Uni Connect Update - September 2026

It’s been a busy start to the new academic year, with several of our programmes launching or returning across the LUC network. 

Our new programmes supporting Care Experienced Students and Young Carers have launched at Havering Sixth Form and Coulsdon College, providing sustained one-to-one support alongside opportunities for students to engage directly with London universities and better understand the support available within higher education. 

Phase 2 of our BTEC Transition Project also begins this term, bringing our college and university partners back together to deliver three Autumn workshops focused on developing the skills students need to make a successful transition into higher education. 

Alongside our student-facing work, we held our first CPD Spotlight webinar of the academic year this week, exploring the barriers young carers can face in accessing and succeeding in higher education and sharing practical approaches to improving support. The session also saw the launch of our new practitioner resource for supporting young carers across the education sector. 

Our Kick Start Sports project is also back for another year, using sport as a way to engage and support young working-class males in exploring higher education. BTEC Sport cohorts from NCC Epping and Barnet and Southgate College are taking part, with the University of East London, University of West London and Middlesex University returning as university partners. The first student sessions begin next week. 

Finally, our LUC Wednesday Webinar Series has launched for the new academic year, starting with Think Like an Entrepreneur on 30 September, delivered by the University of Greenwich, followed by Personal Branding and Employability Skills on 14 October, delivered by My Great First Job. You can view the full programme of webinars for the year here.