The University of Westminster hosted a series of Future Leaders events at its Cavendish Campus for Year 12 and 13 students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and underrepresented communities from partner schools, supporting them to develop skills, build confidence and increase access to post-18 education.
Future Leaders, founded in 2020 by former teachers Faheem Khan and Halima Shakoor, works to improve social mobility, social justice and pathways into higher education and employment for disadvantaged young people. The organisation now reaches more than 10,000 students across the UK. Their target groups include students from lower socio‑economic backgrounds, Black and Minority Ethnic communities, first‑generation university applicants, LGBTQ+ youth, neurodiverse individuals and those who are care‑experienced or young carers.
Westminster partnered with Future Leaders to host three in‑person sessions, which took place on 17 December, 28 January and 4 March, and welcomed around 200 students per session from 40 partner schools across London.
Each session began with a briefing between the Future Leaders team and Westminster student ambassadors before students arrived. After a welcome, Munny Purba, Director of Programmes at Future Leaders, introduced the programme and outlined its mission to equip young people with the soft skills needed to become future leaders, including communication, presentation and confidence‑building.
During the January session, the University’s Outreach Team delivered presentations on UCAS, personal statements and what to expect from university‑level study. They also introduced students to the structure of degree programmes, the difference between lectures, seminars and tutorials, and the range of courses and campuses at Westminster. Gurcan Sanli, UK Student Recruitment and Outreach Officer at the University, also provided guidance on Student Finance, including loans, scholarships and bursaries.
Students then moved into breakout rooms for student‑led workshops on critical thinking, values, personal brand, negotiation and advocacy, where they applied these concepts through discussion, scenario‑based activities and peer‑to‑peer practice. They reflected on their own values and how they present themselves, analysed real‑world examples of misinformation and collaborated in negotiation simulations to balance competing priorities and reach shared decisions.
This partnership aligns with the University’s Access and Participation Plans (APP). This Plan sets out how the University aims to improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups and outlines Westminster’s investment to make that change possible. Following the success of the 2026 sessions, the University is now in discussions to collaborate with Future Leaders again in early 2027.
Dan Lewis, UK Student Recruitment and Outreach Manager and one of the leads on the APP, said: “We are proud to have partnered with Future Leaders as the Central London hub for the in-person delivery of their programme. Each session was inspiring, designed to equip students with the tools and confidence to become successful leaders of the future. We look forward to continuing to work with the Future Leaders team to widen access to higher education and professional development opportunities for students in London.”
The event directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about projects and initiatives at the University of Westminster.
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