WRIHW's Andrea Lambell (Co-Director) has been involved in a vital report which will assist the University in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment to all.
At Durham University we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where our students, staff and visitors feel supported and valued, enabling them to thrive.
We are on a journey towards this goal, and have already made important strides forward, thanks to the significant efforts of our community.
We all have a responsibility to cultivate environments that embrace diversity, promote equality, and foster belonging.
We welcome reflections and experiences from all our community. We reflect on these to further enhance our collective approach and any actions.
The Belonging Report
We want to understand further the lived experiences of students from backgrounds that are under-represented in UK higher education.
To do this, we draw on a range of insights and intelligence to ensure we can take any appropriate action to support them at Durham.
From our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fund, we supported and funded the Anthropology First Generation Scholars group, led by Professor Kate Hampshire of the Department of Anthropology; Abigail Lewis, then an Anthropology undergraduate; Catherine Marley and Andrea Lambell, then PhD students in Anthropology; and Professor Vikki Boliver, of the Department of Sociology, to explore experiences of Durham University students from less-privileged social backgrounds and from northern England. This was undertaken through a survey in May 2022 and focus groups in June and July 2022.
The final report, which is available here: The Belonging Report, has been among the many sources of research and insights to inform our Access and Participation Plan, 2025/26-2028/29 and wider programmes of work under our Inclusive Durham approach.
How we support our students and encourage a sense of belonging
Drawing on the Belonging report, and other important insights into the lived experiences of students from backgrounds under-represented in UK higher education, we have taken significant steps to widen access to Durham and to ensure all our students feel welcome when they get here.
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