When Colyton Foundation pitched at our Spring Connector in May, Director Nick Wakeling highlighted a striking but often overlooked inequality: under-resourced young people in the South West face some of the greatest barriers to educational attainment and progression to higher education in the country.

This is underscored by any number of statistics, but one is particularly striking: a child educated in the South West is 70% less likely to go to Oxford or Cambridge than a child educated in London.

TFN members raised £12,400 to support the Foundation’s Your Future Story programme, which brings schools and universities together to help high-attaining young people from under-resourced backgrounds fulfil their potential.

Less than three months later, on 6 August, the issue received national attention. Following an approach by Nick to BBC Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys, BBC News visited Your Future Story partner Budehaven Community School for a report exploring the particular challenges facing young people in rural and coastal communities. The coverage also features the university and employer visits and mentoring being provided through the programme.

It’s a great example of a TFN charity not only tackling an overlooked problem, but helping to put it on the national agenda.

Watch Nick’s pitch at the Spring Connector

and watch the BBC News report