What is Kickstart?
Kickstart is a community of students who received contextual offers, are care experienced, or received free school meals before they came to university. We know that coming to university can be a big adjustment, and recognise that some students will need very specific support. We hope that Kickstart is able to provide this.
Who is eligible?
Kickstart is open to all LSE Navigate students (first years), or students who are care experienced or received free school meals in the last 6 years (all years). We should have contacted you about Kickstart if you are eligible.
If you think you’re eligible but haven’t heard from us, drop us an email at su.kickstart@lse.ac.uk
What is LSE Navigate?
Find out about LSE Navigate here: https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Undergraduate/widening-participation/about/lse-navigate
What support can I get as a Kickstart student?
Kickstart students are eligible for free SU gym membership, free access to sports clubs and societies, and exclusive access to the Kickstart Buddies Scheme!
Find out more about the Buddies Scheme below. If you’re eligible for Kickstart support, you will have heard from LSESU regarding your free memberships!
Kickstart Buddies Scheme (formerly "Families")
Do you wish you had someone you knew at LSE when you started?
We know that the transition to life at LSE can be really difficult, and so we want to help! Kickstart Buddies hopes to match second and third year students up with first-years in the LSE Navigate Network to create peer support opportunities, and a wider network of students from social mobility backgrounds at LSE
We're looking for second and third year undergraduate students to volunteer to be mentor first-year students. You'll receive some training on how to support first years navigate their transition to LSE, support from the Kickstart team throughout the year, and invites to a number of social events to build your community and network! We'll also give everyone that participates a certificate that demonstrates your commitment to supporting fellow students at the end of the year.
You can now sign up to be a Kickstart Buddy for the 2026-27 academic year! Registration closes on 26th June. Click this link to register now!
If you're an incoming LSE Navigate student, we will be in touch about registering to get a buddy closer to the start of Autumn Term.
Everyone who signs up to be a mentor on the Kickstart Buddies Scheme must consent to the code of conduct.