Make Happen

At Make Happen, we are proud to be the go-to place in Essex for impartial information about pathways to further and higher education.

Based at the university campuses in Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend, we’re part of the Office for Students’ Uni Connect programme (formerly NCOP). We’re one of 29 national partnerships that bring together teachers from schools and colleges, with universities and other local educational partners, to offer activities, advice and information on the benefits and realities of going to university or college, to study a degree or take a degree apprenticeship.

This is with a particular focus on areas where participation in higher education is lower than might be expected, given the GCSE results of the young people who live there. We are also dedicated to supporting school students’ exploration of the world of work and career progression.

We’re a team of 14 higher education and outreach professionals, some of us have a background in teaching, with extensive experience of working in the higher education sector. To reach out to the team, please email info@makehappen.org.

Our work 2017-23

From August 2017 to August 2023, Make Happen worked with schools and pupils from Essex, Southend, Thurrock and East London. Our work included:

• 102,034 unique learners engaged
• 50,287 students took part in sustained and progressive activity (took part in two or more sessions)
• 2,212 engagements with parents and carers
• 3,081 activities delivered
• 194 teacher/adviser engagements
• 350 schools and colleges worked with