Vision for the future

There are 500 places available for 13 and 14 year olds in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell to attend the annual Vision Conference.

The event on Tuesday, 19 and Wednesday, 20 January 2010 is organised by the University and Aimhigher Black Country.

The conference will start with a lively production by Impact Theatre, followed by Positively Mad who will show the students some mind mapping tools to help them with their revision.

Interactive workshops run by University staff, covering a range of different topics from understanding Film to Dance workshops will be held throughout the day.

Natalie Latham, Schools Co-ordinator for Aimhigher, said “The Vision Conference is a fantastic opportunity for what is most probably many young peoples’ first experience of university. The conference is designed to portray higher education as a realistic, worthwhile and enjoyable option for all students.”

Melanie Brown, HE Awareness Officer for Schools and Colleges Liaison at the University, said: “The Vision Conference offers young people in the Black Country a glimpse at university in a way that is positive and enjoyable. As a result, we hope that many of those who attend will see going to university as something that is real and achievable.”

It is the seventh year of collaboration as part of Aimhigher, a national government programme to raise the aspirations of young people who are capable of attending university but may not have considered it as a real option.

Further information

Notes to editors

The conference is part of a wider programme of activities, including residential visits to universities and informative guidance about university for young people in the Black Country organised by Aimhigher.

Schools and Colleges Liaison work with local schools and colleges to inform students about the pathways and benefits of going to university, through visits to the University and workshops on courses, UCAS and student finance. Raising awareness of university and student aspirations to achieve is central to their work.

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736