New equity guides to support the student experience
At the beginning of the next academic year, we will launch the Black Experience Guide, the first of a growing suite of staff and student co-created resources designed to reflect and celebrate the diversity of LJMU.
How we got here
The Black Experience Guide has been developed in response to the university’s Access and Participation Plan data which highlights an awarding gap affecting Black students.
As part of the development of the plan, students and key stakeholders across the university identified a range of factors contributing to this risk to equality of opportunity, including a reduced sense of belonging, as well as challenges relating to academic, personal and mental health support, and cost pressures.
As part of our commitment to addressing these challenges, the guide has been co-created with students to strengthen that sense of belonging and provide clear, accessible signposting to a wide range of support services and resources available across LJMU.
About the guide
This guide brings together insights, experiences, and recommendations from Black students and staff, offering tailored suggestions on places, services, and communities across Liverpool. It aims to reduce barriers linked to unfamiliarity and help students feel more connected, supported, and confident in their environment.
The guide has been developed by Access and Participation staff in collaboration with many key stakeholders, including JMSU, Student Recruitment Marketing and Admissions, International Relations, and Diversity and Inclusion colleagues.
Through this partnership, the inclusion of staff perspectives was also prioritised, recognising the importance of representation. This ensures that students can see themselves reflected within the university community, while also enabling staff to access resources and recommendations that resonate with their lived experiences and identities.
Get involved with developing more future guides
The guide forms part of a growing suite of community-led resources designed to reflect and celebrate the diversity of LJMU. Upcoming guides will focus on neurodivergent students, LGBTQ+ students, and Northern Irish students, among others.
The Access and Participation team are keen to work with colleagues across the university to co-create further guides for other communities.
If you would like to collaborate with them to develop a guide, please email the Access and Participation inbox.
You can find out more about Student Voice and Access and Participation Plan work on the recently launched staff SharePoint site.
Students at the Heart Conference 2026 equity guide session
If you are interested in finding out more about the development of the guide, you can attend a dedicated session at the Students at Heart Conference 2026 on Tuesday 16 June – Session 15: Your New Toolkit for Belonging: How Equity Guides can support the Student Experience.
