IntoUniversity’s Tour d’Oxford 2022

On Saturday 14 April, with the sun shining over South Oxfordshire, Eton College students and teachers set out to cycle around the Oxford green belt to raise money for the charity IntoUniversity. 

The charity IntoUniversity provides local learning centres where young people are inspired to achieve. At each local centre, IntoUniversity offers an innovative programme that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain either a university place or another chosen aspiration. Eton sponsors the IntoUniversity centres in Clacton-on-Sea, Coventry and North Liverpool. 

When we were in Blackbird-Leys before the start of the ride, one of the most deprived areas of Oxford, we talked to the staff at the centre and learnt about just how much of a difference the money we were raising was going to make. These funds raised from our 60km bike ride will go directly towards the charity’s vital work with Primary and Secondary students across England and Scotland at these centres. The work, as the name of the charity suggests, is aimed at providing children from ages 8 to 18 with super curricular activities to boost their in-classroom performance. This extra education helps them reach their full potential without the hindrance of financial restrictions. This improves the neighbourhood one step at a time as younger generations start to see they can aspire to much more – something just great to see. Having seen the centre and resources available, it is inevitable that the money we have raised will benefit children and their educators.

The fundraiser we put together was almost at its target when we set out mid-morning. As we were pulling back into Eton College, we surpassed our £1,500 target! We will continue to work with IntoUniversity’s development centres and take donations.