About This Webinar
How can higher education providers move beyond compliance and translate Access and Participation Plans (APPs) into meaningful action that improves student success? This webinar explores Blackpool and The Fylde College's Higher Education Learning Mentor (HELM) model, a strategic APP intervention designed to enhance belonging, continuation, attainment and the overall student experience. Supporting a diverse higher education and apprenticeship population, many of whom balance study alongside work, caring responsibilities and other commitments, HELMs provide proactive academic mentoring, coaching, skills development and personalised transition support. Embedded within curriculum areas and informed by student feedback, the model identifies and addresses barriers before they impact outcomes. Drawing on evidence of impact and implementation insights, this session offers a practical and transferable approach for institutions seeking to embed student-centred, APP-aligned support that strengthens confidence, engagement and success.
About the Presenters
Emma Benyon is the HE Academic Achievement Manager at Blackpool and The Fylde College, where she leads initiatives that support student success, belonging and academic achievement. An EMCC-accredited Senior Practitioner Coach, Emma has a particular interest in applying coaching approaches within higher education to enhance confidence, self-regulation and student outcomes. She is currently undertaking an MSc in Psychology of Coaching and is researching the impact of academic coaching as a student success intervention. Alongside leading the Higher Education Learning Mentor (HELM) service, she works across Access and Participation, student belonging and personal development initiatives.
Amy Walton has worked in Higher Education at Blackpool and The Fylde College for nearly 20 years, supporting students to achieve their educational goals and reach their full potential. Recently, her work has focused on supporting students with disabilities, helping them access appropriate adjustments, funding, and specialist support to enhance their learning experience. Her recent research interests centre on evaluating effective interventions that promote student success and reduce attainment gaps in Higher Education, with a particular focus on improving outcomes for underrepresented and disabled students.