What We Do
Leveraging trust to transform systems for student success.
Inspired by the collaborative effort of African and Caribbean migrants who sought to offset the attainment gap experienced by Black children in the late nineties and early noughties through supplementary schooling, KINSIS has followed suit and done the same connecting the abundant talent, wisdom and generosity in our communities with students from those very communities and mediating the space between university and students.
Our Programmes
We deliver holistic, student-led programming that addresses both institutional barriers and individual development, improving academic success, wellbeing, graduate outcomes and cultivating a sense of belonging.
Targeted Interventions for Black Women and Girls
The Holistic Leadership Academy™
The HLA Programme holistically develops Black female student leaders, equipping them with the skills, mindset, and support to succeed in Higher Education and beyond. This programme addresses the Ethnicity Awarding Gap, which disproportionately affects Black students, especially women, by tackling challenges related to race, gender, socioeconomic status, and health. This targeted intervention can be adjusted for various student groups.
Students Experiencing Awarding Gaps
The KIN Programme
The KIN Programme builds on over a decade of community organising, peer leadership, and student-led impact. Grounded in our Holistic Leadership Model, it offers an end-to-end supplementary curriculum that runs alongside the formal academic experience, supporting students across the lifecycle.
We work with universities to:
- Activate Latent Leaders through residentials, on-course support, and workshops
- Support their student’s growth into Trusted Guides, who create community and foster belonging
- Mediate the gap between the institution and marginalised students, reducing potential negative outcomes
In partnership with KINSIS, universities and employers cultivate student and staff change-makers who transform themselves and their environment, creating a cohesive ecosystem that continuously regenerates and strengthens, benefiting all members (present and future) of the community. This is our KINSIS-University-Society Theory of Change.
Definitions of the practices developed from our research:
Universities
This KINSIS’ development framework that considers the whole student, their environment(s), the contextual nuances they navigate in their student life cycle and what they need to flourish (Agboola, 2019).
Latent Leaders
People who have yet to be developed via our holistic development programme or other forms of development interventions (Agboola, 2021).
Activated Leaders
People who have been developed via our holistic development programme or other forms of development interventions (Agboola, 2021).
Trusted Guides
People who share similar experiences with students foster authentic connections, and a deep sense of belonging and build robust capacity for life events experienced at the undergraduate level. Activated Leaders are trained to become Trusted Guides themselves, creating a positive feedback loop of leadership development.
Case Studies
Success stories from our community, research findings, and positive outcomes from past projects.
University of Southhampton
Tackling the ethnicity awarding Gap, supporting belonging, enhancing graduate outcomes
In 2024, KINSIS partnered with the University of Southampton to deliver a condensed version of our Holistic Development Programme for Black female students navigating complex academic, personal, and cultural challenges.
Students accessed:
- Training workshops on wellness, leadership and workplace readiness
- Therapeutic support and culturally attuned pastoral care
- A 5-day national residential connecting Black student leaders across the UK
Southampton Impact Snapshot
- 87% reported feeling more equipped to handle challenges in a university setting
- 80% reported feeling a stronger sense of belonging amongst peers
- 100% reported feeling more confident to advocate for themselves
- 2 Platinum Prize winners at the National Leadership Academy
- Internships secured, job offers negotiated, confidence restored
“I’ve been able to secure several interviews for different companies because of the skills that I’ve learnt from the Saturday School and other KINSIS workshops.”
“Since I’ve been involved in the BWP community and later on the KINSIS programme, I’ve been able to secure an internship in my second year, another summer internship in my third year and a one-year placement after my summer internship, which I am currently on. I’ve also been able to secure several interviews for different companies because of the skills that I’ve learnt from the Saturday School and other KINSIS workshops. I’ve learnt how to market myself and sell my skills properly on the career market.”
Final Year Student
University of Leeds
City-wide community building, leadership development, and tackling non-continuation
As a Student Success Partner to the University of Leeds, KINSIS has delivered student capacity-building projects and interventions to support degree progression.
Students accessed:
- Establishing city-wide connections with student leadership from four Leeds universities: University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett, Leeds Arts, and Leeds Trinity
- Improved progression rates and student experience by mediating between the University and the students when critical challenges arise
- Partnered with the University of Leeds to deliver a 5-day national residential for Black student leaders across the UK
Leeds Impact Snapshot (2021–2024)
- 4 institutions engaged through one student-led society
- BWP leaders secured paid internships and on-campus promotions
- Cross-city events led by students and supported by KINSIS
- Committee members awarded commercial internships and national recognition
- Cultural change and confidence-building embedded across Leeds campuses
- 100% continuation rates for students enrolled in KINSIS programme
- 75% reported a greater sense of belonging after completing KINSIS programme
- Student leader selected as one of TargetJob’s Top 40 Black Heritage Students in the UK
“Since joining BWP I was promoted to Supervisor at my part-time job at the university’s fundraising team”
"Before BWP I never saw myself as someone with leadership potential… Since joining BWP I have not only been able to grow our society but I was also promoted to Supervisor at my part-time job at the university’s fundraising team and completed an 8-week commercial internship at Sky."
- Co-President, BWP Leeds Society
Let’s Work Together
Partner With Us
Whether you're looking to:
- Increase student engagement
- Build belonging and community with care
- Equip your students with tools for impact and wellbeing
We’re here to help you do it differently—and do it well.