Named Contacts

Bradford College, John Harmasch, Student Welfare Adviser, 01274 433208 / 07827884778

University of Bradford, Sally Hewitt, UK/EU Recruitment and Outreach officer

University Centre Calderdale College, Leah Murphy, Student Services

University of Huddersfield – Rebecca Hayes, Support Coordinator (Care Leavers & Vulnerable Adults), 01484 472 227

Kirklees College – Polly Harrow, College Care Coordinator

University of Leeds – Lisa Firth, Plus Programme Administrator and Care Leaver Contact

Leeds Arts University – Elizabeth Crickmore, Student Welfare Team

Leeds College of Music – Karen Joyce, Head of Student Services, 0113 222 3453

Leeds Beckett University – Sam Wainwright, Bursary and Scholarship Officer

Leeds College of Building  - Charlotte Duffy, Safeguarding Officer

University Centre Leeds City College – Andrew Ottey, Head of Safeguarding

Leeds Trinity University – Gillian Elvidge, Care Leaver Co-ordinator, 0113 283 7235

University Centre Wakefield College – Carol McArthur, Safeguarding

 

Website Support:



https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/student-services/student-support/care-leavers

 



 

 

 

http://www.bradford.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges/care-leaver-support/

http://www.llc.leeds.ac.uk/students/student-support-and-well-being/information-and-support-for-care-leavers

 



 

 

 

 

http://www.hud.ac.uk/uni-life/support/care-leavers/

http://www.hud.ac.uk/wellbeing-disability-services/wellbeing/care-leavers/

 

 



http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/128005/applying/41/care_leavers

 



http://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/about-us/progression-widening-participation/care-leavers/

http://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/about-us/progression-widening-participation/looked-after-young-people/

 

 



http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/business-and-partnerships/schools-colleges-and-teacher-services/widening-participation/care-leavers

Reach for Excellence



Run by the University of Leeds, the Reach for Excellence programme supports young people who demonstrate the potential to access a top university but who may not have considered entry to research intensive Higher Education. Students on the scheme receive a wide range of support throughout the completion of their year twelve and thirteen studies.

Support is provided in the form of subject specific taster sessions, study skills workshops, impartial pre-entry guidance, finance and budgeting sessions and a residential summer school. Throughout the two year programme, students will be given a taste of university life and gain the necessary skills and experience for a smooth and successful transition into Higher Education.

A key benefit of the Reach for Excellence programme is that it allows high-achieving students to meet and share ideas with other likeminded students from a range of different schools and colleges situated within the Yorkshire region.

The programme is free of charge to students and travel expenses are reimbursed for each event attended. The majority of events and workshops will be held at the University of Leeds.

 

Young Creatives

 



Run by Leeds Arts University, this is a vibrant and inspiring collection of arts-based courses aimed at students aged between 7-18 years old. Fee-waiver bursaries are available for looked after young people to attend Saturday Art School and Portfolio Workshops.

 

 

 

 

 



Leeds Beckett University Residentials

Places for care experienced young people are reserved of on all Leeds Beckett University summer residential programmes.

 

 

 

Leeds Trinity University offer a University Reward Sch​eme.  Regardless of your background, if higher education can help you achieve your dreams, Leeds Trinity want to help you get there.

 

The Student Welfare Advisor at Bradford College will provide support through number of methods including face to face meetings, via email and telephone in order to assist the student with the application process.

 



Calderdale College provide Care Leavers with additional support information around funding applications (e.g. proving status for independent assessment for Student Finance England).

 

 



The University of Huddersfield invite care experienced students to bespoke events and tailored IAG sessions within our Open Days and Applicant Visit days where they can meet our designated member of staff (DMS). We can provide both group and one to one sessions to help with applications and all care experienced students are contacted on application in order to offer information and advice and be invited to meet with our DMS.

 



When Care Leaver applicants confirm the University of Leeds as their first choice they are sent a welcome email and offered the opportunity for a tour of the university and an appointment with the Care Leaver contact for the University of Leeds. If they wish they can also meet a current student who will talk to them about their experiences of being a student at Leeds and take any questions which are on their mind.

 



 

The Student Welfare team at Leeds Arts University provide support where possible to students who need additional or early application support. In addition, support for care leavers is available in the form of a contribution towards the cost of their travel expenses to attend the interview. Further institutional information is also detailed on the Propel website to inform students of support available.

 



 

In partnership with Leeds City Council and the Virtual School, Leeds Beckett University, provide bespoke help with personal statements. To arrange this, or for more information, please contact the Access and Widening Participation team.

 



 

Application support is offered by Leeds College of Building, please contact their Student Services team on 0113 2226002 for further information.

 

 



The University Centre at Wakefield College is committed to supporting those from a care background who wish to enter higher education. Please get in touch with their named Care Leaver Contact, Carol McArthur for more information about the application process. Alternatively, if you have indicated on your UCAS application that you have been in care, the HE office will contact you to inform you of the support available to you, such as the Care Leaver Bursary. You will be asked to provide evidence that you meet the definition of a care leaver. This will be in the form of a letter from your social worker or teacher.

 

Bradford College recognise Care Leavers and Children Looked After as individuals that may require additional support in accessing specific course provision. In these cases the Student Welfare Advisor will advocate on their behalf and liaise directly with the relevant department(s) in order for the applicant to be accepted on to the most appropriate course.

 

Entry onto the Clinical Sciences course at the University of Bradford (either directly or via a foundation year), allows students to study science and health studies, and can lead to a career in medicine, the healthcare sciences and other healthcare professions. This collaborative course provides an opportunity for widening participation students (including Care Leavers) entering the foundation year to progress to the MBChB programme at Leeds Medical School.

 

The University of Huddersfield encourages care experienced students to make contact with our designated member of staff for care leavers to discuss specific entry requirements and to arrange tailored visits/interviews.

 

Access to Leeds is the University of Leeds alternative admissions scheme which you may benefit from as a student who has experienced time in care. You must be living permanently in the UK, have the potential to study at the University of Leeds and meet two or more of the criteria, which include having spent time in public care.

 

Leeds Trinity University Reward Scheme is a three-day residential summer school for Year 12 (or equivalent) students. Attendees receive dedicated information about Higher Education and the application process. The residential also provides the opportunity to try out your subject. After completing the residential, students receive 8 UCAS points off an offer from Leeds Trinity University.

 

Wakefield College offer contextual admissions for Care Leavers. Please get in touch with their named Care Leaver Contact, Carol McArthur for more information

 

 

* To find out more visit https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-and-resources/adviser-news/news/contextualised-admissions-and-what-it-means-your-students and https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-and-resources/supporting-care-leavers-toolkit

 

Bradford College offers accommodation through UNIPOL and has an arrangement for Care Leavers to access year round accommodation. Emergency accommodation is also available.

 

The University of Bradford offers all year round accommodation including important vacation times.

 

 

The University of Huddersfield provides information on accommodation options via their outreach team and designated member of staff (DMS), who can arrange individual visits. The DMS works with accommodation providers to ensure priority status, to help with issues around guarantors and deposits and to guarantee access to 365 day accommodation.

 

The University of Leeds guarantees year-round accommodation for care leavers. They also offer a waiver of the upfront security deposit for University-owned accommodation. Students can discuss accommodation needs with the care leaver contact at any point, who will also facilitate private sector accommodation, or whatever is necessary, by speaking to agencies and providing supporting references.

 

Leeds Arts University accommodation can offer year-round contracts upon request.  The accommodation is secure with 24 hr security on the door as well as electronic key access.

 

 

 

 

Leeds Beckett University offers year-round accommodation for care leavers.

 

 

 

 

Leeds City College students can access Leeds Beckett University accommodation, which is available year-round.

 

At Bradford College, Further Education students aged 16 – 18 would usually qualify for the premium bursary of £1200 for the academic year. Higher Education students receive a bursary of £1500 for the academic year. This is specific to Care Leavers and Children Looked After. Student Welfare Advisor will regularly negotiate with the Student Finance Teams in order to provide additional financial support if and when required.

 

 

At the University of Huddersfield, care experienced students who are supported by their local authorities and are under the age of 25 when they commence their studies are entitled to a care leaver bursary. This is paid in instalments and amounts to £2000 over 3 years. Care leavers also receive an additional £1000 in their first year through the University scholarship fund. Care experienced students also have priority consideration when applying to the University hardship fund, and can also apply for help with educational items such as laptops, books, software and placement travel costs. All care experienced students are entitled to free gym membership throughout their studies. The University of Huddersfield also offers a PhD scholarship (The Lemn Sissay PhD scholarship for care leavers) This covers tuition fees and  provides a monthly bursary of over £1000 for 3 years.

 

 

The University of Leeds offers care leavers priority consideration for £3000 per annum means tested scholarships. If the care leaver fails to apply in time they will qualify for Leeds Financial Support maximum amount of £2250. Care leavers also claim a graduation bursary for their gown and photos.

 

 

Care Leavers are automatically eligible for financial support from the Hardship Fund at Leeds Arts University, to the total value of £1,800.  This amount is divided into 3 and £600 paid termly.

 

 

 

 

Leeds Beckett University provide a Care Leavers’ Bursary (also available for estranged students).  Yr1: £1,000; Yr2: £1,500; Yr3: £1,000.

 

 

 

Leeds College of Building offers support via the college Welfare Fund. This ranges from £500 - £1,000.

 

 

 

Leeds City College offers means tested bursaries based on household income. A hardship fund is also available, this is discretionary and applications are considered based on individual need.

 

 

 

 

Leeds Trinity University offers a bursary for care leavers (£1000 per year for a maximum of three years + £50 Wilko’s vouchers).

 

 

 

Wakefield College offers a care leavers bursary. This award will be made to any home student who has left local authority care in the 2 years prior to enrolment on the first year of study, irrespective of postcode. This is a non-means tested bursary of £1,500 per year of study.

University of Bradford: Access to support services including Counselling, Childcare, Disability and Careers Guidance.

 

 

All care experienced students are invited for individual visits before they start at the University of Huddersfield. Post enrolment, the dedicated member of staff (DMS) works in partnership with local authorities to ensure a smooth transition into University life. All care experienced students are invited to our specific induction day for care leavers which covers all aspects of University life including finance, disability, careers, SU activities, and the Student Ambassador scheme. All care experienced students are entitled to access a learning mentor who can help bridge the gap between college and University study. From September 2017 all care experienced starters will be offered a ‘buddy’ from our existing group of care experienced students. There are a number of social activities for care experienced students throughout the year. For example, in the year 2016/17 care leavers have been offered trips to watch the football, theatre trips and a number of meals out.

 

Care leavers starting at the University of Leeds, are offered a buddy in the second year who is also a care leaver. Starting at university can be particularly stressful for care leavers and so it may be helpful for them to talk to someone who is in their situation last year. They are also sent details of the propel website which details information which may be useful to care leavers during the time of the study. One to one appointments available with Care Leaver contact. The University of Leeds Plus Programme, for which experience of care is a qualifying criterion, also provides tailored support including: Fresher’s week social activities, a Food Crawl around Leeds, Academic Writing and Time Management workshops, Careers Centre sessions, Student support and opportunities fresher’s fair, and Email alerts to fantastic job opportunities, including the Student Host role.

 

Bradford College offers an impartial careers guidance service for all students and the general public. The Named Contact will refer all students to this service if and when needed. The Named Contact also shares any opportunities that are available for Care Leavers such as those offered by the Learning and Work Institute

 

The University of Huddersfield provides a designated adviser from the employability coaching team for care leavers. This member of staff attends the initial induction day for care leavers ensuring contact with the employability service from the outset of the student lifecycle. She tracks progression with the employability service from this group of students and ensures timely communication and invitations to employability events. Care experienced students are encouraged to become student ambassadors. This can both help immerse them in student life and to develop skills that will enhance their employability. The designated member of staff works with all academic schools to organise work experience placements and personal development opportunities for care experienced students. As well as access to a learning mentor care experienced students can access a mentor from the senior management team within the University.

 

The University of Leeds Plus Programme offers tailored support in terms of developing employability skills and facilitating careers appointments with the Careers Centre.

 

 

The Careers Enterprise and employability events at Leeds Arts University are open to all students, but Care Leavers are particularly encouraged to engage with this support.

 

 

 

 



Leeds Beckett University provides opportunities for care leavers to join the Student Ambassadors scheme.

 

 

 



Leeds College of Building try to offer care leavers work placements where possible.

 

 

 

 



Care Leavers studying at Leeds Trinity University are offered automatic shortlisting for Student Ambassador recruitment each September.

 

 

Bradford College is committed to raising awareness of Children Looked After and Care Leavers and we do so by organising numerous events throughout the years in partnership with the Care Leavers Association, the Local Authority and the University of Bradford.

 

 

The University of Huddersfield is working to set up a Care Leaver Forum comprised of ‘care leaver champions’ from each University academic school. This forum will meet termly to raise awareness of the experiences and needs of care leavers and to take forward the work undertaken with our care leaver population. Targeted training sessions around the experiences and issues faced by care leavers will be rolled out within learning and development for all University staff during the year 2017/18. The University of Huddeersfield also regularly invites care professionals to events such as conferences, Q & A sessions and specific talks designed to enhance their understanding of HE and how to navigate their way through HE processes with the young people they are supporting. We invite PAs to attend our specific induction day with their young people and care professionals are very welcome to attend targeted events within our Open Days, Applicant Visit days and Taster Day sessions.

 



The University of Leeds gives presentations on working with care leavers to its staff via the Educational Engagement Lunchtime Briefing Sessions.

 

 

 

At Leeds Beckett University, Sharon Pinkney, Gary Walker in the Carnegie School of Education are carrying out research into the HE achievement of care leavers.

 

Website Support:



https://www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/student-services/student-support/care-leavers

 



 

 

 

http://www.bradford.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges/care-leaver-support/

 



 

 

 

 

http://www.hud.ac.uk/uni-life/support/care-leavers/

http://www.hud.ac.uk/wellbeing-disability-services/wellbeing/care-leavers/

 

 



http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/128005/applying/41/care_leavers

 



http://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/about-us/progression-widening-participation/care-leavers/

http://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/about-us/progression-widening-participation/looked-after-young-people/

 

 



http://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/business-and-partnerships/schools-colleges-and-teacher-services/widening-participation/care-leavers