Academics at Bristol University are to be rewarded for their efforts in providing young mothers with a greater understanding of the legal system and how it affects them.

The Law Enrichment Programme has earned the university an award for Best Practice in Widening Participation from the higher education group Universities UK.

The programme was designed for young mothers attending The Meriton centre in the St Philips area of the city - a pupil referral unit run by the local education authority.

A group of 10 students, aged between 16 and 21, took part in the three-week course covering issues such as the Sexual Offences Bill, domestic violence and the legal rights of young people.

The programme was delivered by academics from the Department of Law, School for Policy Studies and the Centre for Ethics in Medicine at the University.

The Universities UK award will be presented at a ceremony in Westminster this week, which is due to be attended by Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Education and Skills,

The event on Thursday December 15 will also see the launch of a report by Universities UK on widening participation and higher education.

Dr Richard Huxtable, Lecturer in Medical Law and Ethics, Lois Bibbings, Senior Lecturer in Law, will be travelling to London to accept the award along with Lucy Collins, Head of Widening Participation and Undergraduate Student Recruitment,.

Miss Collins said the Law Enrichment Programme was intended to raise awareness among the young women of the issues as well as promote any aspirations they may have towards higher education.

She said: “To be appearing in the Universities UK Research Report and receiving the award for best practice is fantastic.

“It showcases just one of the many projects designed and delivered by the Widening Participation team and academic departments and reinforces our commitment to working with currently under represented groups.

“The feedback from the young women who took part in the programme was extremely positive and we look forward to working with a new group of students from the pupil referral unit in January.”