Reducing inequality requires institutions to work with communities, rather than simply for them, particularly with people whose voices and experiences can be overlooked in conventional service design and decision-making.
At ARU, partnership is central to our approach to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
We work with community organisations, local and national government, charities, public services and civil society to understand barriers to participation, improve access to services and opportunities, and support people experiencing disadvantage or marginalisation.
From working with African Families in the UK to explore how trusted community ambassadors can reduce inequalities in access to health and social welfare services, to research that has helped improve access to justice for asylum seekers, our partnerships combine academic evidence with lived experience and community expertise. In doing so, we seek not only to understand inequality, but to build the relationships, evidence and practical approaches needed to challenge it.
Supporting participation in higher education for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
We're committed to reducing inequalities in access to higher education for communities that remain significantly underrepresented within the sector. Through our commitment to the Gypsies, Travellers, Roma, Showmen and Boaters (GTRSB) into Higher Education Pledge, the University works to remove barriers to participation, create a welcoming environment for learners and raise aspirations among prospective students. This work is informed by nationally recognised research undertaken by ARU academics into the experiences of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and the challenges they face in accessing education and wider public services.
Since 2024, we have hosted dedicated Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month campus visits across Cambridge, Peterborough and Chelmsford. These events provided opportunities for young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to visit a university campus, meet students and staff, learn about higher education pathways and explore future opportunities. Through outreach activities such as these, ARU seeks to improve educational participation and create pathways into higher education for communities that have historically experienced significant exclusion.
Empowering communities through community organising
At ARU, we believe that reducing inequalities requires people to have the skills and confidence to influence the issues affecting their communities. Through award-winning Ruskin Modules associated with our Safe and Inclusive Communities theme, students learn for example, the principles of community organising and collective action, understand how social change happens and how communities can work together to address inequality, exclusion and injustice.
The impact of this learning extends beyond the classroom. ARU has highlighted examples of students applying community organising approaches in their own communities, including supporting farmers in rural India to negotiate improved working and living conditions. By embedding community organising within the curriculum, we equip students with practical skills that enable them to contribute to more inclusive, resilient and empowered communities both locally and internationally.
Tackling racism through education and public dialogue
We're committed to creating opportunities for open discussion, critical reflection and public engagement on issues of race equality and social justice. Through initiatives such as the Unlearn Series, the Race Equality Advocates programme and public events linked to the University's Race Equality Strategy, students, staff and community members are encouraged to explore how racism manifests within society and how inequalities can be challenged. These activities are part of ARU's wider commitment to becoming an actively anti-racist institution and complement wider institutional achievements including the University's Race Equality Charter Bronze Award and its role as the first UK university to sign the UNISON Anti-Racism Charter. By creating spaces for learning, dialogue and action, ARU contributes to public understanding of race equity while helping students and communities develop the knowledge and confidence needed to challenge discrimination.
Creating opportunities for underrepresented learners
We work closely with schools, colleges, community organisations and local partners to improve educational opportunities for groups that are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Through targeted outreach, tailored student support and widening participation initiatives, the University supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds, minority ethnic communities, care-experienced backgrounds and other groups that may face barriers to educational success.
This work is part of our broader mission at ARU, to promote social mobility and reduce inequalities through education. By combining outreach activity with ongoing support once students arrive at university, we seek not only to widen access to higher education but also to ensure that students from all backgrounds are able to succeed, progress and achieve their ambitions.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.