By Holly

Who we are.

The Awarding Gap Project focuses on ameliorating the University experiences of Black students in hopes of closing the ethnicity degree awarding gap. Research has shown a difference in how many higher awards (2:1 and 1sts) that are given to Black students in comparison to white students. AGP identifies the importance of this gap being closed. The AGP is aided by a panel of like-minded Black students at the University of Southampton.

What this has meant for me.

Being a panel member of AGP for the last 2 years has allowed me to contribute my experience and ideas to better current and future student experiences. This contribution also includes the creation of the Black Fresher's Guide. The Black Fresher's Guide covers areas of everyday life for Black students joining Southampton. Throughout the guide we focus on great and diverse food/restaurant spots available in the city, recipes, links to black beauty and barber services as well as available points of entertainment. Most importantly, the guide also outlines the societies available to join - including more information about the Awarding Gap Project!

Read our guide here:

And there’s more.

Black Peer Empowerment Leaders are a new student peer support network at the University of Southampton that aim to give support to students who are Black and studying at the University with local, national, and international situations taken into consideration. Essentially, a safe space is available to provide Black students who are new to the university with a point of contact to speak with via university email and within group sessions facilitated online or face to face.