NEON Contribution to Widening Access Award – Commendation
Over the past twelve years Darren has been at the forefront of the national drive to widen access to medicine and is committed to ensuring that the UK’s medical workforce reflects the population that it serves. Darren has developed sector‑leading widening participation programmes and championed ground breaking contextual admissions procedures that have supported learners in realising their aspirations and have offered a fair opportunity for all applicants to medicine, regardless of background.
Darren began his work in widening participation to medicine with the development and delivery of the BrightMed programme, a longitudinal access programme for young people aged 12‑18, designed to raise aspirations, encourage attainment in STEM subjects and support applications to medicine.
Darren’s impact can be demonstrated through the number of individuals who attribute their success to his work in widening participation, through recognition of good practice in national reports and through the advisory boards upon which he sits.