HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds has been given to Cumbria University in a bid to encourage young people into higher education.

£240,000 has been set aside to develop collaborative outreach networks to better inform people about university.

The money comes from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and is managed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Local and regional higher education providers, including universities and further education colleges, will come together to form the networks, ensuring comprehensive coverage across England.

There will be two networks in the North West region and one will be led by the University of Cumbria, the other by UCLan.

Each network will appoint a single point of contact to help teachers and advisers find out about higher education outreach activity in their area and to provide general advice about progression into higher education.

The programme is also open to older learners wishing to continue or return to study and care leavers.

Web-sites with information about outreach activity will be created to signpost information to support schools and colleges as they prepare their students for higher education, proving a one stop shop for eager students.

Ian Sinker, Director of Partnerships and Development at the University of Cumbria said: “Through this formal partnership the University of Cumbria and its partners will be in a strong position to offer young people in Cumbria and Lancashire access to information about progressing into higher education.

"This agreement formalises and expands on existing work and will go some way to ensuring that schools will have equal access to information about a wide range of opportunities such as summer schools, open days and other activities to get young people excited about higher education irrespective of location or background.”

Partners supporting Cumbria and Lancashire's networks include: Accrington & Rossendale College; Blackburn College; Blackpool & Fylde College; Burnley College; Carlisle College; Furness College; Kendal College; Lakes College; Lancaster & Morecambe College; Myerscough College; Preston’s College; and Runshaw College.

Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said: "We have been impressed by the higher education sector’s response to this scheme, which means that vital information about how to progress into higher education will be available to people across England.

"We set out to establish coverage of state-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges and, through the support of the sector, this will be achieved.

"As well as providing co-ordinated coverage of outreach activity, we are keen that the NNCO scheme contributes innovative approaches to the interaction between higher education institutions and schools and colleges."