Manchester Metropolitan University, , , University of , , , Somerville College - Oxford, and Uni For You Category: Looked After Children

The project focuses primarily on reaching out to children from care from , , Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Stoke in order to deliver two unique events to encourage young people to consider University as an option for them. This opportunity is unique and invaluable, due to, the collaborative approach from MMU, Keele University, Staffordshire University, University of Chester, University of Derby, Reaseheath College, Somerville College - Oxford, and Harper Adams University.

Uni For You works closely with the Virtual Head network from the local authorities within these regions, taking a collaborative approach to deliver bi-annual events for Looked After Children at host institutions. This allows the young people to gain a sense of the HE world around them. Having a workshop in Astronomy from Oxford University, Outdoor Team Building from MMU, Forensics from Staffordshire University or Creative Writing from Keele University and many more from the partnership can open up the possibility of making HE a choice for a young person in care. The project relies heavily on collaborative input from the Virtual Heads to provide advice and guidance for appropriate provision for the young people, including a commitment to recruit the young people to attend and buy-in from foster carers, teachers and key workers to support their young person’s attendance.

The project has been delivered biannually since 2012 by MMU, Chester University and Staffordshire University. Within the last year of project delivery we have accessed 228 young people from care from aged 11 – 18 years across the local authorities. The workshops are interactive and have received positive feedback from the learners. Another central aspect is the opportunity for young people in care to talk to care leavers who are currently at university, giving them the chance to ask questions and re-assure themselves that people from a care background can and do succeed at university.

The events are often the first chance for pupils to engage with a university. At a recent event only 20% said they had visited a university before, and 65% saying they’d not had any sort of interaction with a university. At the end of the event 95% of young people said definitely would, or would like to, go to university. The days also allow for interaction with foster carers to raise their understanding of HE and reassure them over any concerns they have, particularly with cost. They can also find out about the wide range of support available for those who progress, both from their Local Authority and from the HE providers. When asked at one event, 100% of carers agreed the day had both provided the young people with an understanding of the different things they could study, and also that it had made them feel they would be comfortable at university. 94% agreed it had shown that university was for people like them.

If you would like to learn more about Uni For You, please contact Michael Naughton on [email protected]