Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Social Mobility Festival 2023

The University of Southampton's Social Mobility Network is hosting the Social Mobility Festival 2023: an extended celebration of Social Mobility Awareness Day on Thursday 15th June this year.

Social Mobility Awareness Day, an initiative organised by Making The Leap , exists to help raise the awareness of social mobility and encourage organisations to share their social mobility stories with the public.

The festival will be an opportunity to shine a light on topical social mobility issues and celebrate working class culture, with student and staff lived experience at its core.

The Social Mobility Network

The Social Mobility Network is a dedicated space for students and staff who self-define as either currently being from, or originating from, a low socioeconomic background. This lived experience is a key component of the composition of the Network. However, it is also open to those who have a vested interest to get involved with the work of the Network and can act as champions for it. Those in the Network can inform and create change that will benefit students and staff at the University of Southampton that are from income or class backgrounds that traditionally experience more obstacles.

The Network aims to breakdown barriers for students and staff before, during and after their time at Southampton. Crucially, the work is member-led, with a grassroots approach, ensuring work and change is happening in the spaces that most need it.

The Social Mobility Network on SharePoint

What's on?

The Grid Experience in Guildhall Square by ZoieLogic

Community Connections

Wednesday 14th June – A relaxed social evening with people passionate about social mobility.

Top of the Class

Thursday 15th June – Overcoming Class Barriers to Make Universities Better for Everyone

Safe Listening Space

Friday 16th June – A confidential space for UoS students and staff to talk about the challenges.

You can sign up to as many or as few events as you would like, and we encourage you to share this with anyone you think may be interested. We are excited to welcome you to the University of Southampton for our extended celebration of Social Mobility Awareness Day.

Sign up to the events

Community Connections

Wednesday 14th June, 17:30-19:30 at Below Deck, Building 42 (SUSU building)

Join us on 14th June for a relaxed social evening with members from the University of Southampton community, all of whom are passionate about progressing social mobility. We will have a conceptual dance performance from widening participation organisation ZoieLogic Dance Theatre . There will be free food and drink provided.

Top of the Class – Overcoming Class Barriers to Make Universities Better for Everyone

Thursday 15th June, 9:30-16:30 in B100, Highfield Campus

Join us on 15th June 2023 to proactively celebrate Social Mobility Awareness Day. This conference will spotlight authentic voices and provide the opportunity to challenge pre-existing assumptions. You will contribute to discussions about how social mobility can help institutions and how collaboration with different stakeholders, including students and staff, can help to ingrain widening participation at all levels. Celebrate this Social Mobility Awareness Day in a proactive way, with a lens to furthering the work we can all do in this space, and the overall social inclusivity of the sector. The conference will cover the current problem/topical landscape before looking forward– we will share research and discover where we can collectively go next to improve the issues discussed.

Confirmed speakers for the conference include:

Social Mobility Safe Listening Space (UoS students & staff only)

Friday 16th June, 11:00-12:00 on MS Teams

This is a confidential opportunity to share our stories and talk about the challenges faced by individuals because of socioeconomic class and upbringing. It will enable us to understand the common themes of both positive and negative experiences so that we can continue and build upon the work the university has been doing to create an inclusive University community.