It’s more than a moment
Higher education is no stranger to well-intentioned initiatives that capture attention, generate discussion.
Living Black at University should not be one of them.
This was a theme I reflected on while speaking at the Living Black at University Conference 2026, Breaking Barriers – Accelerating Systemic Change.
Originally commissioned by Unite Students and published in 2022, Living Black at University is a landmark research report exploring Black students’ experiences of UK student accommodation, across both university halls and the private sector. It highlighted systemic challenges around belonging, safety and inclusion and made clear that, for many Black students, accommodation was not always an environment where they could fully thrive. For many, it was the first time these experiences had been articulated at scale.
Five years on from the idea first emerging, its relevance has only grown.
A moment that stayed with me
When I attended my first Living Black at University conference, I experienced something that for many is every day, but for me was not.
I was not in the minority – and that feeling stayed with me.
Looking around the room at professionals across accommodation, student support and academia, I felt a genuine sense of belonging. It was powerful, and it made me reflect on what our sector could look like if it truly reflected the diversity of the students we serve.
From insight to action
The report was a catalyst. What followed has mattered just as much.
The Living Black at University Commission was established to take forward its recommendations and embed change across the sector. As Chair, my focus has been on turning insight into action – ensuring this work leads to tangible improvements in student experience.
A key part of this is the Student Co-creation Group: a group of students working directly with the Commission to share their lived experiences, shape solutions and hold the sector to account. It ensures that student voice does not sit on the sidelines but actively shapes decisions and holds the sector to account.
From access to belonging
Widening access is essential. But on its own, it is not enough.
If students arrive at university and feel excluded or unsafe, we have not succeeded. Participation matters just as much as access.
That means designing inclusive environments from the outset – across accommodation, wellbeing, catering and security – so that every student can live, learn and belong.
From momentum to meaningful change
This work is collective. It depends on sustained commitment across the sector, and on individuals choosing to act within their own organisations.
As I step down as Chair of the Living Black at University Commission, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but clear that more needs to be done.
At UPP, we are committed to turning insight into action – not as a one-off initiative, but as part of how we design and deliver student living environments every day. I’m proud to be part of an organisation that is embedding this commitment into practice. Because creating inclusive environments for students isn’t an initiative. It’s a responsibility.
