
Lancaster Success Programme
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What to expect from the LSP
The programme offers several avenues of support to LSP members, please read below to find out more!
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What support does the LSP provide?
Students stay with the LSP for the duration of their degree, and by taking up a place, you will join a growing, supportive community of students and have access to a range of bespoke support. We work closely with other departments and support services across the University such as Careers; Transitions; Learning Development; Global Futures; Counselling and Disability. By getting to know you as an individual, we can help you to access the right opportunities to enable you to get the most out of every stage of your university journey. Find out more below:
What to expect from the LSP (Accordion) Accordion
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Pre-arrival
Opportunities to connect with other LSP students and key members of staff before you arrive
Once your place is confirmed, the Student Success team will keep in regular contact with you via email and will answer any questions you may have. You will also have an opportunity to join a Teams space to meet other new students on the LSP.
Prepare for Lancaster – on campus taster day in September
Prepare for Lancaster (PfL) is an orientation day for LSP students in September. This day will introduce you to the University, the LSP, your department and the range of services available to Lancaster University students. There will also be the chance for participants to get to know each other.
“It allowed me to know people and gain a familiar face which would ease any anxieties of meeting new people and not knowing exactly who is available for support.”
"I feel the university is very welcoming and I cannot wait to get started. The activities were very useful and have benefitted me a lot."
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Transition to university
Introduction to Lancaster
Your induction to the LSP will take place in the first two weeks of term. You will be added to the LSP Teams space, where you can connect with LSP staff and students in years 1, 2 and 3. LSP students also have their own Facebook page which you will be invited to join.
Meet your Success Coaches
At the beginning of term you have your first one-to-one meeting with your personal Student Success Coach, who will help you to settle in to life at Lancaster and support you throughout your student journey. These meetings are offered in-person and via video call.
Meet your LSP Advocates
We currently have five Student Advocates, whose role is to consult with students on the LSP and gather feedback, which is then communicated to staff via a termly committee. They also organise social events and help to publicise opportunities and events. We will be advertising for additional LSP Advocates from among our new LSP members at the start of term. All our Student Advocates are paid the National Living Wage.
Welcome to Lancaster event
Our LSP welcome event gives you an opportunity to meet other students on the LSP, Student Advocates and staff in an informal setting. Pizza is usually involved!
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Success at Lancaster
One-to-one personal development coaching
The regular one-to-one meetings with your LSP Student Success Coach are designed to empower you to reflect and build on your current strengths and to learn from all of your experiences, whether positive or negative. You will be encouraged to develop core skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, planning for the future, resilience, managing new situations and communicating effectively. These meetings are student-led, and it is usual for students to have one or two per term, but if you need more you just need to ask.
We will also help you to make the most of the wide range of opportunities available at the University and through external agencies, such as access to internships and career development activities.
Enrichment fund
As an engaging member of the LSP, you will have access to an enrichment fund which you can spend on items to support your student experience. Typical purchases include: books, stationery and electronic equipment (such as a contribution to a printer or laptop). You can discuss possible purchases and how to claim with your Student Success Coach.
Action Learning Sets (ALSs)
Action Learning Sets are a chance for you to get together in a small group of around 5 or 6 LSP students and meet regularly along with a Student Success Coach. The aim is for the ALS members help each other identify learning needs and reflect and learn from issues they are facing. It is a really open, collaborative process which makes it easy to build up meaningful connections with people. Firm friendships have been forged in the ALSs and the feedback from two participants below speaks for itself.
“The ALS sessions are really useful, not only for receiving and giving help on how we can overcome and deal with certain troubles in our lives, but also for personal confidence building. I have always been nervous speaking to people, where I am the focus of a group and am being listened to. However, the last session was really comforting to have a group listen to me. This has already improved my confidence speaking to new people already, and I’m ready/looking forward to future sessions.”
Social and Networking Events
The Student Success Team and the Student Advocates run social events throughout the year which offer great opportunities to connect with other students on the LSP. The social events are often varied with activities and refreshments are usually provided. Some examples of social events we have run include Coffee and cake drop-in, summer social BBQ, and games night. The themes of the social events are based on student suggestions and feedback to ensure everyone gets the most out of them.
Lancaster Award
The Lancaster Award is developed in partnership with employers to reward students for taking part in extra-curricular activities. As an engaging member of the LSP, you can earn up to 20 points towards this award, where there are three levels - bronze, silver and gold.
Regular communications
Your Success Coach will keep in contact with you via email and will offer you several appointment slots throughout each term. You can also get in touch with them at any time to ask questions. Staff regularly post links to events or opportunities which may be of interest to students on the student-staff Teams page, where students can also interact with each other and staff. There is also a welcome newsletter at the start of each term which highlights what is coming up on the programme.
Referral routes to support
We work closely with other departments and support services across the university such as Careers, Transitions, Learning Development, Global Futures, Counselling and Disability. We enable you to take advantage of the extensive range of support available across the university and, where appropriate, make referrals on your behalf.
Application timeline
Here is the timeline for applications for the 2022/23 intake to the Lancaster Success Programme:
Applications open
Students who are eligible to apply for a place on the Lancaster Success Programme will be contacted by email on 13th June 2022 and invited to complete a short online application form. You will also get the chance to register for an information event. Several online information events will take place between June 2022 and July 2022 which will explain in detail about what to expect from the LSP. You can attend one of these either before or after applying for a place.
Applications close
Applications to the Lancaster Success Programme close on 20th July 2022. You will be informed by email about the outcome of your application shortly afterwards. If your place is confirmed, you will be invited to join the LSP Teams space where you can begin to connect with other LSP students straight away. The Student Success team will keep in contact with you by email over summer.
Clearing & confirmation offers
Eligible clearing and confirmation offer holders will be contacted in September 2022 with an invitation to apply for a place on the LSP. Places will be confirmed by email no later than the end of September 2022.
Prepare for Lancaster event
All students accepted on to the LSP will receive an invitation to attend a "Prepare for Lancaster" orientation event. We are offering an event on campus on 15th September 2022 with an online event being held on 22nd September for those unable to attend in-person. This day will introduce you to the University, the LSP, your department and the range of services available to Lancaster University students. There will also be the chance for participants to get to know each other.
Introduction to Lancaster
Your induction to the LSP will take place in the first two weeks of term; the emphasis will be on getting to know LSP staff and students. Our LSP welcome event gives you an opportunity to meet other students on the LSP, Student Advocates and staff in an informal setting. Pizza is usually involved!
Student Stories
Hear what our students think about their experience on the Lancaster Success Programme
LSP student feedback
"The LSP has been a fantastic source of support since I started at Lancaster University. My Success Coach has advised me brilliantly as to the avenues of support tailored to my personal situation."
"The one-to-one meetings are great, the enrichment fund is very helpful, the communication between the staff members and the students in the LSP through newsletter, social media or Microsoft Teams is great too."
"During meetings it helped me realise that I wasn’t alone in how I was feeling."
"Supporting, helped with the transition into university, informative."
Opportunities for LSP Students
Undergraduate Research Internships - The Research Internships are paid work experience opportunities for Lancaster University undergraduate students who meet widening participation criteria.
GROW Your Future - Offers you the opportunity to take part in activities that support the development of key employability skills, professional networks and guided careers support.
Undergraduate Research Conference - Each year we host a conference where undergraduates from across all Lancaster Partners and all disciplines come together to showcase and celebrate their research.
Meet the Student Success team

Beth Kendrick, Student Success Officer
I first joined Lancaster University in 2016 and have worked as part of the wider delivery team on the Lancaster Success Programme since 2021. I am happy to have now joined the team as a Student Success Officer. I am passionate about coaching students to realise their full potential and I enjoy getting to know each student’s values and how these feed into their personal goals. I want to help each student get the most out of their time at University and achieve whatever their version of success looks like. In my spare time I am a (very amateur) musician and enjoy walking up hills with dogs and watching live music.

Hannah Critchley, Student Success Officer
Joining the wonderful community of Lancaster University in October 2022, I am looking forward to empowering students to get the most out of their University experience and realise their full potential for successful future careers.
I always strive to be the best I can be with a positive attitude and a smile. I hope this will motivate and inspire those I work with and can't wait to meet lots of friendly new people who I can learn from too.
In my spare time, you will find me spending time with my family and friends or lost in a good book. I also love a challenge, so much so, I once completed a triathlon!

Luke Ravenscroft, Student Success Assistant
I have joined the team in September 2022 after finishing my Undergraduate degree from Lancaster. I’ll also be studying a Master’s degree alongside my role in the team too! I’ve had a lot of experience within widening participation at Lancaster, as a student and staff member, so I’m excited to bring my experiences to the team.
My day-to-day duties involve running the Enrichment Fund, answering student queries and helping the Student Success Team on various events and projects aimed at LSP students.
In my free time you’ll find me involved in sports- I play korfball and I’m a big netball fan. A fun fact about me is that I was the captain of the Welsh Wheelchair Basketball Team.
Meet the Student Success Coaches
Alongside the core Student Success team, we also have a team of eight Student Success Coaches who provide 1:1 coaching sessions for members of the LSP.
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Alex Hacket-Evans
Hi! I'm Alex, and I'm one of the Student Success Coaches. I'm doing this role alongside being a Widening Participation Co-ordinator, and this gives me an opportunity to extend my work with students before university to during, to help students have the best university life they can have!
Fun Fact: I converted an old van into a campervan, which I then lived in for over a year!
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Jake Brown
Hi, I'm Jake. Outside of my Student Success Role, I am a Widening Participation Officer- I run our Access Programme, campus residential, and I get involved in plenty of other events across the university. I love my job, and the ability to continue to work with students as a Success Coach once they arrive at Lancaster is really exciting!
Fun Fact: I once ran the Manchester 10K in a giant pig costume in 30 degree heat!
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Jessie Whaite
My name is Jessie and I'm an Evaluation and Impact Officer, and alongside this, I work as a Student Success Coach. I hope to continue to support students from the Lancaster Access Programme as they begin their journey into Higher Education, helping them to make the most of their university experience and all it has to offer as well as supporting them to achieve their goals.
Fun Fact: I’ve white water rafted down the Amazon River.
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Martin Walker
I'm Martin, I work as a Faculty Liason Officer and as a Student Success Coach. This gives me an opportunity to work with current students in order to maximise their potential and empower them to develop a solutions-based approach.
Fun Fact:I spent the summer of 2010 on a dude ranch in Montana, 5000 feet above sea level.
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Matt Pawelski
Hi, I'm Matt and I'm one of the Student Success Coaches. My main role at the university is the Evaluation and Impact Manager within the Social Mobility department.
Being a Student Success Coach has been an amazing experience so far. Getting to know the students I work with and see them grow and develop has been extremely rewarding. I take great pride in being able to support them as they navigate the challenges they face on their journey through Lancaster University. It’s such a rewarding and enriching process!Fun Fact: I once nearly knocked over John Bishop in Manchester Piccadilly train station. He was running for a train and bumped into me – he was very apologetic.
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Paul Wood
I have worked at Lancaster since 2018 and first started in the Lancaster Success Programme wider delivery team in 2021. My substantive role is in the Global Experiences team, managing the outgoing Study Abroad programme, and I am also the Deputy Senior Welfare Advisor for Cartmel College. All these roles give me the opportunity to help support students throughout their time at university and I love to see students’ development, both academic and personal, whilst they are studying at Lancaster (or for a year at one of our international partners with the Study Abroad Scheme!)
I’m a huge sports fan – football, American football, golf, cricket – you name it and I will probably either be playing it or sat watching it in my spare time. I also spend a lot of time walking my dog (and best pal) Bella, as well as seeing friends and travelling around the UK over the summer months in a campervan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions Accordion
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Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible to join this programme, students must satisfy one of the following criteria:
- have a contextual offer
- be a Lancaster Access Programme student
- be a Realising Opportunities student
- hold a Lancaster Sanctuary Scholarship
- be in receipt of a Lancaster University Care Package
- be 21 or older at the commencement of your undergraduate degree (a mature student).
All prospective students who are eligible to join the LSP will be contacted via email in June.
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How do I apply?
Students who are eligible to apply for a place on the Lancaster Success Programme will be contacted by email in June 2022 and invited to complete a short online application form. Please complete the form before the application deadline of 20th July 2022. Places are limited, so it is advisable to apply early to secure a place.
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What support is offered to mature students?
Around 25% of the students on the LSP are mature, which means that we know what helps mature students to feel they belong. Our current mature students range in age from early 20s to 50s and come from departments right across the University. On the Lancaster Success Programme there are tailored avenues of support including 1:1 meetings, Action Learning Sets and social events for mature students only.
- Action Learning Sets – all mature LSP students are invited to join these small staff facilitated peer support groups, which enable mature students from a variety of departments in your year group to meet 2 or 3 times per term to discuss challenges they face in Higher Education.
- Plenty of mature social events, which start right at the beginning of term.
For more information on LSP and university level support for mature students please visit the mature student webpage.
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How can I find out more information?
Once prospective students have applied for a place on the LSP there will be opportunities to attend an LSP Information Session. These are online interactive sessions run by the Student Success Team where you will receive an overview of the LSP support and the chance to ask any questions you might have.
Alternatively, if you have any questions, please just contact the Student Success Team via email, studentsuccess@lancaster.ac.uk where we will be happy to help.
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Can I join the LSP after starting university?
There are a small number of places available for current students who are eligible and would benefit from engaging in the support offered by the LSP. If you would like to join, please speak to your department about the programme, complete our self-referral form, or email studentsuccess@lancaster.ac.uk.
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If I join the LSP is it just for the first year?
You will remain a member of the LSP for your whole degree, including an periods on placement or studying abroad.
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How much time is involved in participating in the LSP?
You will be offered two half hour long one-to-one personal development meetings with your dedicated Success Coach per term and it is expected that you will attend at least 3 throughout the year. Participation in our social and networking events is optional, but students really value these so we would encourage you to attend as many as you can. We hold two pre-arrival events and three or four events per term. Three hour-long optional Action Learning Sets per term are offered to mature students. These are small group facilitated peer support sessions.
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What is the enrichment fund?
Each LSP student has access to a small amount of funding to help with purchases which enhance their student experience, such as books, a bus pass, a University gym membership or contribution towards purchasing a laptop.
Get in touch:
Student Success, University House, Lancaster University LA1 4YW
My advice to anyone joining university would be to grab every opportunity that you can. The Lancaster Success Programme is a great opportunity for anyone joining university who is eligible.