Latest news with #careleavers
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Top universities pledge more support for care leavers to widen access to courses
Top universities have pledged more support for care leavers – including contextual admissions and bursaries – to get more disadvantaged young people into higher education. The Russell Group, which represents many of the most selective universities in the UK, has also set out a plan to improve the transparency and consistency of policies for contextual offers. In a report, the group of 24 research-intensive universities made a series of commitments to improve access for under-represented students. It comes after Universities UK (UUK), which represents 141 universities, recently called for evidence to better understand how universities use contextual admissions – which take into account a student's circumstances and background to recognise the barriers they have faced. Practices already used by universities to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds progress into higher education include reducing offer requirements and guaranteeing interviews. Russell Group universities will now launch a taskforce to develop practical methods to 'bring consistency to the language used' for contextual admissions policies across their institutions. The paper said: 'Clear and consistent language on contextual admissions practices means that future learners exploring their options for applying to higher education better understand policies across institutions, ensuring they can make better-informed decisions.' All Russell Group universities have said they will provide a tailored support package for all care leaver students – including accommodation support, bursaries and contextual admissions. Care leavers are a 'disproportionately under-represented' group across higher education (HE), with just 14% of care leavers in higher education by the age of 19 in 2021/22 compared to 47% of the wider population, the report from the group said. A lack of a stable family network to fall back on for financial help or emotional support means they may require greater pastoral care, and they may need year-round accommodation. Once in place, the Russell Group universities have said they will extend this support package to care-experienced and estranged students to help them gain access to university and deal with the additional challenges they face during their studies. It comes after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called on universities in January to 'play a stronger role' in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students. In November, Ms Phillipson announced that undergraduate tuition fees in England, which had been frozen at £9,250 since 2017, would rise to £9,535 from 2025/26. She also announced that maintenance loans would increase in line with inflation in the 2025-26 academic year to help students with their living costs. The Russell Group has repeated its calls for the Government to reintroduce maintenance grants for the poorest students in England, and review the parental income thresholds that determine how much students can borrow to help ease 'the growing financial pressures on students'. The Government is due to set out its plan for higher education reform in the summer. Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, said: 'As educational inequalities have grown at school level since the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, it's more important than ever that universities are ambitious in their attempts to close these gaps and remove barriers for students with the potential to thrive at university. 'Care-experienced students remain one of the most under-represented groups in higher education, with specific challenges particularly around finances and independent living. 'That's why we've made this commitment to make sure all our universities are offering a tailored package of support, so these students get the assistance they need not just to gain a place, but to thrive at university with the right resources.' In April, UUK announced a joint project with Ucas and the Sutton Trust to review the criteria used for contextual admissions to encourage greater consistency across universities. The current admissions system is 'hard to navigate and a barrier' which is potentially putting off young people from reaching university, UUK said. A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: 'Through our ambitious Plan for Change we will restore universities as engines of opportunity, aspiration and growth. 'We know there are baked-in inequalities and regional disparities that remain in our education system, which is why we are demanding that providers play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students. We welcome this commitment from Russell Group universities. 'We aim to publish our plans for HE reform as part of the Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy White Paper in the summer, as we fix the foundations of higher education to deliver change for students.' Katharine Sacks-Jones, chief executive of Become, the national charity for children in care and young care leavers, said: 'Care-experienced young people tell us how tough it is to get into and stay in higher education. 'So the Russell Group's expanded help is very welcome and could be a game changer.' She added: 'This is exactly the kind of step we need other universities to follow.' Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England, said: 'I hope this move from the Russell Group inspires other institutions to widen access to care experienced young people, improving their offer so they can navigate higher education with confidence.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
How housing scheme aims to help children in care
Children in care face "support dropping away overnight" when they turn 18, with some being taken to the homelessness department on their birthday, a charity has said. Become Charity has welcomed a move by Bury Council to ringfence homes specifically for care leavers as it said teenagers faced a "care cliff" when they transitioned into adulthood. Under the scheme, 44 flats or houses will be made available to care leavers on former council-owned sites across the borough. Katherine Sacks-Jones, Become's chief executive, said more local authorities should be following Bury Council's lead. The local authority is believed to be one of the first councils in England to ringfence homes specifically for care leaves. A direct let and local lettings policy will be devised, meaning that a select number of homes within each development will be ringfenced for care leavers. "Young people leaving care face a care cliff where support drops away overnight and they have to leave care and become independent," Ms Sacks-Jones said. "That can often happen on their 18th birthday. "We've heard of young people on their actual birthday being taken down to the homelessness department. "We want to see an end to the care cliff so young people get the support they need to make that transition into adulthood at a time that's right for them in a managed way." Councillor Lucy Smith said: "Starting your own home is always challenging and it can be especially difficult for our care leavers. "Finding high-quality housing to help transition into adulthood is just one of the many improvements we have recently made for our care leavers." University student Jessica-Rae Williamson is among those who would have benefited from a scheme like this had it been in place at the time. Ms Williamson, who moved out of her foster home the week before her 18th birthday, described the scheme as a "really good idea". "We all have the worry of our local authority just deciding not to support us anymore," she said. "It's happened to me before and that was ripped away from me. "So I think we all have the same worries that that support is going to be taken away before we were ready for it." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. 'We thought we were too young to be foster carers' Bury Council
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
How housing scheme aims to help children in care
Children in care face "support dropping away overnight" when they turn 18, with some being taken to the homelessness department on their birthday, a charity has said. Become Charity has welcomed a move by Bury Council to ringfence homes specifically for care leavers as it said teenagers faced a "care cliff" when they transitioned into adulthood. Under the scheme, 44 flats or houses will be made available to care leavers on former council-owned sites across the borough. Katherine Sacks-Jones, Become's chief executive, said more local authorities should be following Bury Council's lead. The local authority is believed to be one of the first councils in England to ringfence homes specifically for care leaves. A direct let and local lettings policy will be devised, meaning that a select number of homes within each development will be ringfenced for care leavers. "Young people leaving care face a care cliff where support drops away overnight and they have to leave care and become independent," Ms Sacks-Jones said. "That can often happen on their 18th birthday. "We've heard of young people on their actual birthday being taken down to the homelessness department. "We want to see an end to the care cliff so young people get the support they need to make that transition into adulthood at a time that's right for them in a managed way." Councillor Lucy Smith said: "Starting your own home is always challenging and it can be especially difficult for our care leavers. "Finding high-quality housing to help transition into adulthood is just one of the many improvements we have recently made for our care leavers." University student Jessica-Rae Williamson is among those who would have benefited from a scheme like this had it been in place at the time. Ms Williamson, who moved out of her foster home the week before her 18th birthday, described the scheme as a "really good idea". "We all have the worry of our local authority just deciding not to support us anymore," she said. "It's happened to me before and that was ripped away from me. "So I think we all have the same worries that that support is going to be taken away before we were ready for it." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. 'We thought we were too young to be foster carers' Bury Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
How Bury Council housing scheme aims to help children in care
Children in care face "support dropping away overnight" when they turn 18, with some being taken to the homelessness department on their birthday, a charity has Charity has welcomed a move by Bury Council to ringfence homes specifically for care leavers as it said teenagers faced a "care cliff" when they transitioned into the scheme, 44 flats or houses will be made available to care leavers on former council-owned sites across the Sacks-Jones, Become's chief executive, said more local authorities should be following Bury Council's lead. The local authority is believed to be one of the first councils in England to ringfence homes specifically for care leaves.A direct let and local lettings policy will be devised, meaning that a select number of homes within each development will be ringfenced for care leavers."Young people leaving care face a care cliff where support drops away overnight and they have to leave care and become independent," Ms Sacks-Jones said."That can often happen on their 18th birthday."We've heard of young people on their actual birthday being taken down to the homelessness department."We want to see an end to the care cliff so young people get the support they need to make that transition into adulthood at a time that's right for them in a managed way." Councillor Lucy Smith said: "Starting your own home is always challenging and it can be especially difficult for our care leavers."Finding high-quality housing to help transition into adulthood is just one of the many improvements we have recently made for our care leavers." University student Jessica-Rae Williamson is among those who would have benefited from a scheme like this had it been in place at the Williamson, who moved out of her foster home the week before her 18th birthday, described the scheme as a "really good idea"."We all have the worry of our local authority just deciding not to support us anymore," she said."It's happened to me before and that was ripped away from me."So I think we all have the same worries that that support is going to be taken away before we were ready for it." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Care leavers to get free bus travel in and around Bristol for longer
People leaving care will now be able to use buses across the west of England for free until they turn 26 years 2023, a scheme has been in place allowing 18-21-year-old care leavers free bus travel across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South has now been extended to cover care leavers until their 26th birthday, which could save each of them up to £1,050 a year, according to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca)."We've got many more care leavers at risk of homelessness, health, addiction or mental health issues so this is really important," said Weca's mayor. Helen Godwin used to be a cabinet member for children's services at Bristol City Council, before she was elected as Weca mayor on 1 explained care leavers "often don't have the same outcomes" as young people who have not been in care. "We have many more care leavers who are not in education, employment or training," she scheme is being subsidised as part of a £16m bus grant secured by North Somerset Council and Weca, which takes in the local authority areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire."We've always tried to support our care leavers up to the age of 25, just because sometimes when life is more complicated it can take a bit longer for young people to get themselves into a situation where maybe there are in regular work or able to study," Ms Godwin added. The charity Barnardo's called for free bus travel for care leavers in 2023, following a pilot scheme in Cornwall. At the time, the charity's director of children's services, Hugh Sherriffe, said: "Leaving care is a very challenging time and having access to free travel can have a positive and powerful impact on so many areas of young people's lives, helping them to take up opportunities that might otherwise have been denied them."Leaders in the west of England have welcomed the extension, including South Gloucestershire Council's leader Maggie Tyrrell."The investment will make a real difference to some of our most vulnerable young people and help them access education, jobs and vital support networks," she said.
