Oxford Mentor Scheme for Black Students

US human rights activist Rev Jesse Jackson is heading up a campaign to encourage more black students to apply to Oxford.The project, which will be headed under the title of 'Aspire', is being pushed by Regent's Park College, Canterbury Christ Church University and the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) racial justice team. The programme will focus on establishing and adding to mentoring schemes around Britain, in an attempt to identify problem areas faced by those thinking of applying to universities.Of the applications made to Oxford last year, only 151 of the applicants were black. Of that number, 26 were offered places. Myra Blythe, chaplain of Regent's Park, said: "We are tapping into what is a nationwide issue but looking at it from the Oxford perspective." "It is a major problem, not only in this country, but as Jessee Jackson is highlighting, in the United States too."