The 2020 National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) Awards were presented online on Thursday 22^nd October. The NEON Awards provide a platform to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of NEON’s members and their learners in widening access to higher education and enabling social mobility.

COVID-19 has had a huge impact upon widening access to higher education (HE). It has forced the widening access community to reflect upon how we engage with learners and develop new ways of delivery. Therefore, this year, it is more important than ever to not only celebrate the success of this work and the transformative power that higher education can have on the lives of learners, but to consider how we continue to push our work forward to ensure success learners are able to both enter, and succeed within, HE.

Director of NEON, Dr. Graeme Atherton, states:

‘With over 60 nominations, shortlisting was a difficult process and it has highlighted the outstanding work that is being carried out by both institutions and individuals across the UK.’

Please see below for the winners and commendations from the 2020 NEON Awards.

NEON Widening Access Initiative (Outreach) Award

• Books & Stories, Bournemouth University – Commendation
• The Access Project – Commendation
• York Students in Schools GCSE Tutoring Project, University of York – Commendation
• Discovery Days, University of Nottingham – Winner

NEON Widening Access Initiative (Retention and Success) Award

• GO Wales, Cardiff University – Commendation
• Peer Support, The University of Manchester – Commendation
• Transitions Team, Lancaster University – Commendation
• We Care Team, University of Sunderland – Winner

 Widening Access Partnership Award

• Explore University, Staffordshire University – Commendation
• Higher Education Progression Partnership (Hepp) – Commendation
• The University of Nottingham and IntoUniversity – Winner

NEON Access School or College Award

• Bodmin College, The William Clift Academy – Commendation
• Castleford Academy – Commendation
• Southmoor Academy – Winner

NEON Student of the Year Award

• Christine Browne, King’s College London – Commendation
• Margaret Ojerinde, University of Liverpool – Commendation
• Declan McLoughlin, Queen Mary University of London – Winner

NEON Contribution to Widening Access Award

• Enam Haque, The University of Manchester – Commendation
• Peter Riley, Manchester Metropolitan University – Commendation
• Ant Sutcliffe, Higher Horizons+ (Keele University) – Winner

NEON Higher Education Institution of the Year Award

• University of Derby – Winner

Please click here to read about all the nominees.

Only NEON members can submit a nomination for the NEON Awards.