I am First Gen
About I am
First Gen
According to The Telegraph, half of students who started their degree in 2017 were the first in their family to go to university.
This was the first time that the number of first generation students matched those students whose parents went to university. Despite this seismic shift in the type of students accessing higher education there is still a lack of positive role models who are from similar backgrounds - partly because first generation higher education graduates typically don’t share their stories.
The campaign #IAmFirstGen aims to bring together companies, organisations, and individuals across the South West to form a community of students and graduates that are the first in their family to study at degree level. #IAmFirstGen will highlight the diversity of educational journeys and career pathways that people in various sectors have followed.
#IAmFirstGen aims to give young people from first generation backgrounds strong and relatable role models and access to networks and practical support. The #IAmFirstGen campaign wants to forge connections between education and skills providers to create a pool of ‘first in family’ ambassadors who can support the progression of young people who possess skills and talent, but who do not have the networks or connections in their chosen sector.
By telling personal stories, the transformative power of higher education experiences can be shared with young people from first generation backgrounds to help build their expectations and create their own narrative for the future.
We know that businesses are increasingly recognising the value of diversity and want to support the social mobility agenda. The campaign provides scope for a scaffolded approach to supporting individuals at various stages of their education or careers, be it school pupils, freshers, undergraduates, graduates, alumni, and employees at the start, middle or height of their career.
Supporting #IAmFirstGen will enable employers to further social mobility and celebrate first generation employees in their company.
Letters from First Gens
Read about the experiences of other first gen students, teachers, professionals and leaders. Learn about their journeys and see what advice they would give their younger selves.
Get Involved
#IAmFirstGen intends to connect learners, businesses, and organisations to provide relatable role models for first-in-family learners. You can become part of #IAmFirstGen individually or through your organisation.
Submit a letter
If you would like to share your story you can do so by writing a letter to your previous self here. Follow this link to see our guidance and fill in a simple form to help you share your story.
News, events & social
💚 #WorldMentalHealthDay is a day to…
💚 #WorldMentalHealthDay is a day to focus on breaking stigma, encouraging conversations, and showing people they are not alone. It is also about promoting the support available. Did you know that you can be a mental health nurse and support those living with mental illness. You can find out more by checking out our healthcare website. #wmhd #wmhd23 #healthcarecareers
Are you a young person interested in a career in healthcare but don't know where to start? The Future Quest Healthcare website has you covered. Find out more about the Allied Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Midwifery. You can make your own action plans, go through our timelines, or find work experience and volunteering. www.fqhealthcare.org.uk
Are you a young person interested in a career in healthcare but don't know where to start? The Future Quest Healthcare website has you covered. Find out more about the Allied Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Midwifery. You can make your own action plans, go through our timelines, or find work experience and volunteering. www.fqhealthcare.org.uk
The NHS has 6 core values! The first value is "Working Together For Patients". While all staff members must work together to meet the NHS values, there are some roles that readily meet this specific value due to the job responsibilities. As the NHS value states, "Patients come first in everything the NHS does". Therefore, these NHS job roles have more contact with patients and easily meet the value, "Working Together For Patients"! Specialist Paramedic Porter Speech & Language Therapist Over the next 5 weeks, we'll be highlighting other NHS values and the roles that readily fit these values through their responsibilities. @nhsengland @nhshee
Who is Paul Stephenson? Paul Stephenson is a Civil Rights Activist who has helped to shape Bristol into a more inclusive city. The Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries and Education (ACE) at @UWEBristol now has the Paul Stephenson Bursary, for applicants from Ethnic Minority backgrounds. Click the link in our Bio to learn more about the Paul Stephenson bursary!
DID YOU KNOW... There are lots of additional funding options available to eligible students. All of these are available through the NHS Learning Support Fund. Take a look at the link in our bio to learn more about additional funding such as £5000 per academic year as a Training Grant or Parental Support of £2,000 for leaners with dependents. @Inclus_Futures @thinkhighercw @uwebristol
Volunteering and work experience are fantastic ways to gain insight into a particular career, working in a team and caring for people. The FQ Healthcare website signposts outreach opportunities in and around Bristol. Link in bio @NHSHEE #FQHealthcare
Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed your winter break. Have you made your new year's resolution yet? Here are some ideas from the Future Quest team ... 1. Learn something new 2. Have a good balance between your education and your personal life 3. Start a savings account 4. Spend less time on social media 5. Complete work experience or volunteering 6. Eat healthier and get lots of rest
💚 #WorldMentalHealthDay is a day to…
💚 #WorldMentalHealthDay is a day to focus on breaking stigma, encouraging conversations, and showing people they are not alone. It is also about promoting the support available. Did you know that you can be a mental health nurse and support those living with mental illness. You can find out more by checking out our healthcare website. #wmhd #wmhd23 #healthcarecareers
Thinking healthcare might be for you…
Thinking healthcare might be for you but you have no idea where to find that all important work experience? We've got you sorted. Use the Future Quest Healthcare site to find work experience and volunteering opportunities for young people. We have already done the searching for you! #healthcareheroes #healthcarecareers
Are you a young person interested…
Are you a young person interested in a career in healthcare but don't know where to start? The Future Quest Healthcare website has you covered. Find out more about the Allied Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Midwifery. You can make your own action plans, go through our timelines, or find work experience and volunteering.
Future Friday!!! Today, we are looking at…
Future Friday!!! Today, we are looking at the role of a ZOOLOGIST for the letter Z! Use the links in our Bio to look at the potential courses and learn more about your options for becoming a Zoologist! Here are some accounts that can help and inspire you to progress further if becoming a Zoologist is in your career plans! 👇 thewildlifetrusts world_wildlife rspb_love_nature wildplaceproject officialzsl ibis_journal britishecolsoc zoologisttom Follow #futurefriday for new careers!
Future Friday!!! Today, we are looking at…
Future Friday!!! Today, we are looking at the role of a YOUTH WORKER for the letter Y! Use the links in our Bio to look at the potential courses and learn more about your options for becoming a youth worker! Here are some accounts that can help and inspire you to progress further if becoming a Youth w Worker is in your career plans! 👇 thedoorstroud thenationalstar resurgotrust youthscapepodcast youngsomerset uk.youth Follow #futurefriday for more careers!
Future Friday!!! Today, we are looking at…
Future Friday!!! Today, we are looking at the role of a X-RAY TECHNICIAN for the letter X! Use the links in our Bio to look at the potential courses and learn more about your options for becoming an X-Ray Technician! Here are some accounts that can help and inspire you to progress further if becoming an X-Ray Technician is in your career plans! 👇 healthcareers scormembers radiographywithme theradiographylife Follow #futurefriday for new careers!