Merseyside Young Health and Life Scientists

Merseyside Young Health and Life Scientists (MYHLS) is a rolling three-year programme of health-related activities and support for young people in Years 9-11 who are from under-represented groups and have the potential and interest in studying health and life sciences subjects at university. Pupils will then be supported to, where applicable, apply for post-16 projects.

Local schools will be invited in the Autumn to nominate Year 9 pupils to participate in MYHLS which will run until the end of Year 11. Year 9 pupils will experience all 6 course streams:

  • Medicine
  • Dentistry
  • Veterinary Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Health Sciences
  • Life Sciences

In Year 10 pupils will choose their stream and follow that programme in Years 10 and 11.

The programme aims to:

  • Increase pupil confidence, motivation and aspirations
  • Develop pupil understanding of the subject qualification choices needed for health and life sciences study and careers
  • Provide curriculum enrichment to stretch skills, abilities and understanding
  • Familiarise pupils with the Faculty, University and campus
  • Enhance pupil knowledge by visiting real life HLS settings such as a local hospital, veterinary practice or laboratories
  • Support pupils to make informed choices and decisions.

What does the programme involve?

Pupils will participate in activities at the University as part of a curriculum designed to build knowledge and experience incrementally.

Current HLS students will work with pupils as valuable role models, delivering a programme of health science related activities as well as generic sessions, such as:

  • Team building, problem solving and communication skills
  • Life as a student in the Faculty and Health and Life Sciences
  • Exploring the human body
  • Careers in medicine and health
  • Debating ethics
  • Study support and mentoring
  • Student finance
  • Work experience and reflection

Who is it for?

Pupils in local partner schools are prioritised based on a range of indicators:

  • A strong desire to study a health sciences subject
  • Prior achievement in maths and science
  • Predicted ability to progress to university level study
  • Come from a home where neither parent attended university in the UK or abroad
  • Be in receipt of, or entitled to, free school meals
  • Live in a neighbourhood which has a low rate of progression to higher education, or an area which has a high level of financial, social or economic deprivation. This is defined by the student's home postcode.
  • Have parents working in non-professional occupations (socio-economic groups 4-8)

Or alternatively,

  • Be in the care of their local authority, or have experience of being in care, or be a young adult carer.

 

For more information on Merseyside Young Health and Life Scientists, please contact Abbie.Harrendence@liverpool.ac.uk