Schroders Partners With IntoUniversity

Last year, Schroders launched its ‘Schroders Giving’ initiative, and today the firm announced the second of several key partnerships; a new three-year partnership with IntoUniversity,an educational charity which provides local learning centres where young people are inspired to achieve.

Since 2002, IntoUniversity has been providing academic support, mentoring and aspiration-raising workshops to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain a university place or another chosen aspiration.  During the COVID-19 crisis, IntoUniversity has closed its centres but remains open, providing vital academic and pastoral support, online and over the phone, while schools are closed and have been able to speak to 93% of their students who usually attend after-school Academic Support sessions.

Caspar Rock, Chief Investment Officer of Cazenove Capital, a part of the Schroders Group, and member of the Advisory Board of IntoUniversity, commented:

“Education is at the core of the development of a prosperous society, playing a determining role in an individual’s success in life. We have a responsibility not just to educate our employees but our communities as well. For many years, we have been supporting social mobility through a number of programs promoting gender, ethnic, and social diversity. Partnering with IntoUniversity will allow us to extend our impact beyond Schroders’ internal initiatives and give greater opportunities to the younger generation to unlock their potential.”

Through the partnership, Schroders will help grow and expand IntoUniversity’s network through employee volunteering and supporting fundraising activities. IntoUniversity now operates 31 learning centres and projects across England, and has ambitious plans to expand its provision further. IntoUniversity’s 2019 impact report showed that the charity is already working with over 2,000 volunteers and supporting over 42,500 students. Schroders will be funding the recently re-launched Lambeth centre, now called IntoUniversity Kennington, that will support 1,000 young people each year to aspire and achieve their full potential.

Schroders’ UK charity partnerships focus on the issues the business feels strongly about including; improving social mobility, breaking down barriers to education and employment, and mental health. Through these partnerships the business hopes to help influence real change and engage employees via both fundraising and volunteering, using their skills to make a lasting positive social impact and improving people’s futures.

Dr Rachel Carr, IntoUniversity Chief Executive and co-founder, said:

“So many factors come into play when it comes to being able to access Higher Education – where you live, which school you go to, your sex, ethnic group, and income background – most of which are unfortunately often outside of young people’s control. At IntoUniversity, we believe that all young people should have the opportunity to fulfil their chosen aspirations, no matter their socio-economic background.

“We look forward to working with Schroders to put the company’s employees’ wealth of experience to the service of our youth and ensure that IntoUniversity can continue to be there for those in need.”