On the 9 February 2019, in a Mayfair hotel, a Welcome Meeting was held for the first cohort of Black students who won places on the Durham University SP Summer School Programme.

Most of the 21 year 12 Black students attended this event with a family member, and heard all about England’s third oldest university and the range of things to expect from the two year SP Programme.

Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, a Patron of Reach Society, and two cofounders Dr Donald palmer and Dr Dwain Neil, congratulated them for being the first group to take advantage of a new and historic collaboration between Durham University and Reach Society, which is designed to attract talented Black students to experience this top Russell Group university, and benefit from its SP Summer School.