Children's education charity founder receives honorary fellowship | News

September 2025

Charity founder supporting disadvantaged children in education receives honorary fellowship

By Melanie Hall

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A charity founder who has supported thousands of disadvantaged young people to achieve success in their education has been made an honorary fellow of University College Birmingham.

Dr Rachel Carr OBE, founder and CEO of IntoUniversity, a registered charity that provides children and young people with a safe space to learn, develop vital skills and gain experience in the world of work, received the honour at today's graduation ceremonies at Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Inspired by her parents, who left school aged 14 and did not have the opportunity for further study, her first-hand experience of the inequality of opportunity brought by poverty instilled her with a desire to help others.

Encouraged by a primary school teacher whose advice and support she treasures to this day, Rachel studied for her undergraduate and master’s degrees in English Language and Literature at King’s College London.

She then went on to complete a PhD, in which she explored themes of access to higher education in Victorian literature before working as a
senior lecturer at University of West London between 1990 and 2000.

On receiving her honorary fellowship, Rachel said: "I'm so excited to be awarded this. It's such a privilege and an honour to be recognised in this way. This is the first time I have received a fellowship too, so that's incredibly special for me."

Throughout her academic life, she maintained her drive to help underprivileged young people, and in 2002, began operating a homework club and working as a carnival arts tutor at the Clement James Centre.

This modest endeavour became a start-up charity in 2007, before flourishing nationwide. The organisation now operates 45 centres in 28 cities and towns across England and Scotland, and has helped more than 45,000 young people.

The centres include IntoUniversity East in Kitt's Green, Birmingham, launched by University College Birmingham this year in partnership with two other educational institutions.

"The IntoUniversity partnership with University College Birmingham has got off to a flying start and we have been supporting thousands of young people in Birmingham already," said Rachel.

Rachel received an OBE in 2011 for services to education, and became a fellow of King’s College London in 2020.

She also received honorary doctorates from the University of York, Glasgow University and Edinburgh University, before being made an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Bristol in 2025.

Alongside her role, Rachel has also worked as a fundraising consultant. She is a trustee of a charity in her local community, has run a youth group and volunteers at Notting Hill Carnival.