PILLAR ONE.
Student
Definition
At ARU, we’re on board and committed to DfE Principles for Supporting our Care Leavers and Care Experienced students.
When they join ARU as a student, our Student Experience Team becomes their main point of contact and support.
What do ‘Care Leaver’ and ‘Care Experienced’ mean?
The term ‘Care Leaver’ comes from The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000: a Care Leaver is someone who has been in the care of the Local Authority for a period of 13 weeks or more spanning their 16th birthday and is aged 25 or under. At ARU, we also include students who are aged 16-25 who have been referred to a Foyer by their Local Authority.
‘Care Experienced’ refers to anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked after. Care may have been provided in a number of ways or settings such as foster care, kinship care, residential care or through being looked after at home with a supervision requirement.
All the information and support outlined in our Care Leaver Covenant will be reviewed every year and where possible we will seek to improve and enhance our support.
Outreach
Whether CL/CE students are just starting to think about higher education, seeking advice about student finance or writing a successful personal statement, our Outreach Team are here to help.
We have a designated email address is: [email protected]
Our Outreach Team offer a variety of activities and events which are open to all, as well as activities which are exclusive to care leaver/care experienced students in Years 6-13. Some of these events need to be booked by a teacher or carer, and some students can book themselves.
- We organise for Care Leavers:
- Open days
- Subject and University taster sessions
- Campus tours and visits
- Conferences
- Talks about how to choose a course, student finance, personal statements and more…
- Our Outreach team work with local schools and Local Authorities to reach care leavers in our region.
- Pre arrival: dedicated point of contact who can help with all questions around filling in UCAS information, advice about anything related to higher education study and outreach activity.
- Pre-entry advice, support and guidance from our careers advisers
Application
Care Leaver students may get special consideration in the admissions process, and our named Outreach Officer, can support these students through the whole process, including preparing for interviews and submitting portfolios, to ensure that they are as prepared as they can be when applying to us.
We tell our CL students, it is extremely important that they tick the ‘in care’ box on their UCAS application to let us know that they have been in care for three months or more. This does not put them at a disadvantage, in fact, it puts them at an advantage as we will be in touch to advise them of all the support that is available to them once they start with us, should they want it.
Induction
To help support our CL students transition from being an applicant with the Outreach Team, to being a full ARU student with the Student Experience Team, we collaboratively arrange an annual online Care Leaver and Care Experienced Welcome transition event. This is designed to introduce our CL students to the Student Experience team, explain the support that is available and to link them up (if they choose) with other students at ARU who are also Care Leavers/Care Experienced.
If they ticked the box on their UCAS form, or contact the Outreach Team directly, they will be automatically invited to the event running just before they start at ARU.
On Course Support
Dedicated email address ([email protected]) for any questions once students arrive at ARU.
If our CL/CE students have let ARU know about their care experience in some way as they start at ARU, this information will be passed on to the Student Experience team so we can support them as they start their studies at ARU. This could be by:
- ticking the box on their UCAS form to let us know that they’re leaving local authority care
- CL/CE students or their Local Authority contacting our Outreach team directly before they arrive
- ticking the box on their ARU Registration form to say they are Care Leaver/Care Experienced
- being assessed as a Care Leaver by Student Finance England.
The Student Experience team will check in with them during their first six weeks at ARU, talk them through all the support available to them specifically, and will agree what they would like our contact to look like going forward (for example, a monthly phone call or email check in, a less regular check in, or us simply keeping them up to date with our monthly newsletter. This can be amended by our students at any time as their needs may change).
We give students information and advice about a range of support and can refer them to other specialist services if relevant and with their consent. We are here to support them through their ARU journey, and they can always get in touch with us using our dedicated email address [email protected].
We know that some students don’t feel comfortable declaring that they are a Care Leaver/Care Experienced at the start of the studies as they are worried they will be treated negatively – this is definitely not the case at ARU. They can contact us at any point in their studies and we will be happy to help.
Following feedback from our current students, each month we send out a monthly newsletter summarising the support on offer to Care Leaver and Care Experienced students at ARU.
There is so much on offer, we know this can feel overwhelming, so we use this newsletter to draw attention to specific opportunities, deadlines and events.
We hired 3 current Care Leaver students to help steer our support and project work in the summer of 2021 to help us to take our work forward and check we were on the right path.
We are doing our best to continually improve the support we offer to Care Leaver and Care Experienced students at ARU and continue to learn from our students about what support they would find most valuable.
As well as the support specific to Care Leavers and Care Experienced students at ARU, they can also access all the general support on offer to all students at ARU. They can contact all of our services directly, or the Student Experience Team can support/advocate for them in making contact if they wish.
Student and Library Services – this includes the Counselling and Wellbeing Services, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, Study Skills Plus and the Welcome Buddy Scheme – and lots more.
Students’ Union – this includes their Advice Service and all their clubs and societies – and lots more.
All appropriate and relevant information concerning our CL/CE students Is kept up to date (and regularly checked) on the Propel Site.
Every year, ARU joins in celebrating National Care Leavers Week (at the end of October) to celebrate the successes of Care Leavers studying with us, and to raise awareness of the support on offer across the institution.
Finance:
Money Advice – We have a named contact within this team who can explain what care leavers are entitled to from their Local Authority, give information about grants from the Rees Care Leavers’ Foundation and explain about the ARU Care Leavers Bursary. They can also explain about funding from Student Finance England and ARU’s Learning Support Fund.
Full-time students under 25 are either classed as independent or dependent on their parents’/legal guardian’s household income. Students who are married or have dependent children at the start of their course are automatically classed as independent.
Under 25s are usually classed as dependent but, if evidence is supplied that shows that they have spent time in care or are estranged from their parents, they can be assessed as independent which usually means maximum funding.
If they have studied before in Higher Education, they should contact the Student Money Advice Service to discuss their previous study regulations and how this may impact them. Sometimes if they had to leave their previous course due to “Compelling Personal Reasons” they can be granted additional funding.
Students supported by their Local Authority as a Care Leaver or those who have resided in a Foyer prior to starting the course may be eligible for the Care Leavers Bursary via our Learning Support Fund.
This is a grant of up to £1,500 (£2,000 in final year) which can be applied for once they start their course at ARU.
We have Hardship Funds if they find themselves struggling financially during university, Care Leavers and estranged students are a priority for these.
Our Students’ Union run a fund with the aim of removing barriers to participation and engagement with Students’ Union activity for any students who may incur extra costs in order to take part. As a Care Leaver, they may be eligible to benefit from it.
We recognise that Care Leavers may also face additional financial barriers in accessing work opportunities including internships. Therefore, Care Leavers are eligible for two types of financial assistance through the Employability Service to support them to access relevant work experience.
- Internship Bursary
Primarily for students on a 4–12 week full-time internship (or equivalent) but other types of internships can be considered on a discretional basis. - Internship Interview Bursary
Primarily for those who have been working closely with their Employability and Careers Advisers in preparation for an internship position and need support to access interviews.
Accommodation:
If CL students have been in local authority care on or after their 16th birthday, they’ll be eligible for University-managed accommodation throughout their studies in Cambridge and Chelmsford:
As a Care Leaver they are also eligible for 365-day accommodation within University-managed accommodation throughout their studies (regardless of whether they are a September or January starter). However, this will be made up of two contracts each year – for example for a September starter, this would be made up of an initial let (September-June) and a summer let (June-September). Although they may be required to move rooms between lets, we assure our students that they will not be left without accommodation at any point.
To ensure they are guaranteed a room in their first year, they need to apply for accommodation by 30 June, notify Residential Services that they are a Care Leaver and provide the relevant evidence, and have firmly accepted ARU as their first choice.
If they speak to Residential Services after this date, we will do our best to accommodate them. However, we cannot guarantee a place in ARU-managed accommodation in their first year.
If they are struggling to pay the £300 to secure their ARU accommodation, they can contact us to discuss if we can defer payment until they receive their student funding.
If our CL students are planning on moving into the private sector, we are unable to move the due date for any deposits, but in exceptional circumstances we may be able to pay any Care Leaver’s Bursary early. The Residential Service can also assist care leavers to secure accommodation in the private rented sector.
There Is a named staff member in our residential team who Is the dedicated contact for all Care Leaver/Care Experienced enquiries.
Sports
We have just introduced a discount for care leavers who wish to take out a gym or a sports club membership. We’re making this available to both the pay-up-front and direct debit membership options and they’d receive 25% off the standard student rate.
We are also looking to Implement a sports buddy system – someone for care leavers to meet with before attending their first club or campus sport session.
Please see the discounted prices that are now available to Care Leaver / Care Experienced students in Cambridge and Chelmsford below:
| Membership | Standard Student Rate (2023/24) | Discounted Price (-25%) |
| Sports Club Membership | £80 per year | £60 per year |
| Helmore Gym – Annual Upfront | £140 per year | £105 per year |
| Helmore Gym – Monthly Direct Debit (12 month minimum term) | £11 per month | £8.25 per month |
| Helmore Gym – Monthly Direct Debit (1-month minimum term) | £14 per month | £10.50 per month |
Chelmsford
| Membership | Standard Student Price (2023/24) | Discounted Price (-25%) |
| Sports Club Membership | £80 per year | £60 per year |
| The Old Factory Gym – Annual Upfront | £190 per year | £142.50 per year |
| The Old Factory Gym – Monthly Direct Debit (12 month minimum term) | £14.50 per month | £10.88 per month |
| The Old Factory Gym – Monthly Direct Debit (1-month minimum term) | £19 per month | £14.24 per month |
Careers and Employability
High quality Careers Information, Advice and Guidance
Anglia Ruskin University is committed to supporting our students who are Care Leavers and those who are Care Experienced throughout their Higher Education Experience. This includes ensuring students are prepared for the world of work and able to access opportunities to enhance their career prospects.
In consultation with students who are care leavers, sourced via focus groups and a survey, we have developed the following support that all Care Leavers and Care Experienced students may access.
- A named Careers Adviser and offer of a one to one careers appointment within the first 6 weeks of commencing their studies
- A dedicated careers page for Care Leavers with updates on specific and relevant opportunities and information on accessing support with employability skills such as CV and letter writing, interview preparation and job searching.
- Support in exploring and managing career options through faculty and school career pages and individual career appointments
- Priority access to the Get a Career Mentor programme, giving students access to a professional contact
- Access to Career events, self-development and employer led workshops via the Handshake platform
- Prioritisation of key employability information and opportunities sent monthly via the Care Leavers newsletter
- Promotion of key Anglia Ruskin University events and programmes via the dedicated careers page and newsletter including:
Futures Festival – Two week schedule of employer-led events, interactive workshops, industry insight sessions and careers fairs to help students develop their career ideas,
Futures Festival Graduate Edition – One week schedule of employer-led events, interactive workshops, industry insight sessions and careers fairs to help final year students and graduates with their next steps
Grad and Placement Expo – Graduate employers recruiting placement year and final year students
Spring Jobs Fair – Employers recruiting students for part time, voluntary, work experience and internships
Get Work Ready – Preparing final year students for work
Shine and Shine Community – Employability community for all Black, Asian and Minority Ethic students with a programme for Home students
Anglia Ruskin Employability Programme (AREP), the employability programme to showcase employers key skills and experiences
Work Experience and Placements
Anglia Ruskin University supports students to apply for work experience and placement opportunities to enhance their graduate prospects. This includes:
- We support students in finding temporary work, part time work and internships through ARU Temps, our on-campus recruitment agency. Providing paid temporary work opportunities to our students to fit around their studies
- There is an APP funded internship scheme through ARU Temps that is for our most vulnerable students
- Students are directed to the Employability and Careers Team for additional support with their application when applying for an ARU Temps opportunity
- In development: A tick box is being added to the ARU Temps registration system for Care Leavers to request additional support with their application
- Placement support for students registered on a degree with a placement year including one to one job search and application support,
- We provide support for students thinking about starting their own business or self-employment through Anglia Ruskin Enterprise Academy. Students can join the Entrepreneurs Community to foster their entrepreneurial aspirations.
- Care Leaver applications are prioritised for the Student Employability Activator paid role
Employability Activators are students that play an important role within the Employability Service. It’s their job to help promote the professional self-development services and resources that we offer, and Care Leaver/Care Experienced students are prioritised for this paid role.
The Activators are vocal about sharing their personal experiences and thoughts on the importance of building employability skills while at university. They encourage their peers to focus on their future by preparing to enter the workplace or going on to further education.
At ARU, we have a team of Student Ambassadors and Senior Student Ambassadors that support prospective students who are thinking about applying to ARU or make informed decisions about their future.
Our ambassadors are responsible for supporting our on campus and virtual events by giving an insight into life as a student at ARU. This role is paid and flexible to fit around their studies and supports them in developing their skills in public speaking, delivering subject sessions and communicating with a range of students from different backgrounds.
We seek and prioritise Care Leaver students to join our Ambassador team to help support students making their application to ARU and by creating a reassuring and encouraging transition to university.
Anglia Ruskin University Collaboration
The Employability Service also attend and contribute to the Care Leavers working Group organised by the Student Experience Team, to ensure different areas of the university are working collaboratively and seek insights and new ways of working. Through this partnership:
- The Employability Service promotes the support it offers to prospective students through the Schools and Colleges team. Information is shared with applicants who disclose they are Care Leavers
- The Employability Service support has been included in the introductory information shared with students by the Student Experience Team when they join the university
- The Employability Service contributes to the Care Leavers monthly newsletter
- In development – The Employability Service would like to access Care Leavers who graduate each year, in order to contact them directly and offer continued employability support. This is currently being explored in relation to GDPR. We are also working to better our understanding of Graduate Outcomes for our Care Leavers and track their progression through this process.
Graduation
We have looked into a graduation package in the past to celebrate our CLs who complete their degree:
Areas we were looking at were gown hire, pictures, a staff member to accompany them, a graduation gift.
Conversations looked promising but were put on pause when the team went out to tender for a new gown hire company. We will pick this up again In the near future.
Another thing is the Ask Jan membership: https://www.reesfoundation.org/ask-jan-membership.html
CLs tell us that often graduation feels like a cliff edge where they lose a lot of support. Therefore we now have a named contact In the Employability team who will continue to offer our students support post graduation.
Alumni:
Being an ARU Alum, gives lifelong free access to our Alumni Careers Centre resources which include: graduate job searching function, e-learning materials, Labour Market Information tool, dedicated graduate scheme page and a wide range of events, webinars and workshops to support ARU Care Leaver/Care Experienced Alumni through their career development.
For recent CL/CE graduates we offer:
- Careers advice, including one-to-one appointments with a dedicated Graduate Development Employability Adviser
- Help with their CV, job searches, applications and interview preparation
- Job Fairs, Webinars, Networking
- An online Careers Centre packed with useful careers resources
- Care Leavers are introduced to a dedicated Graduate Development Employability and Careers Adviser in their final year via a dedicated Care Leavers newsletter.
- Care Leavers receive an email from the Student Experience Team upon graduating, to advise them of the ongoing support available through the Employability Service
PILLAR TWO.
ARU invests in the development of its people to continually develop our inclusive, innovative, and supportive culture. Care leaver colleagues can access a range of in-house learning and development opportunities including productivity, financial awareness, building resilience. In addition, care leaver colleagues can access professional development through the organisation’s membership to LinkedIn Learning.
The University is currently reviewing its commitment in this space and will update in due course.
PILLAR THREE.
Venue hire
We can offer meeting room spaces for free for Care Leaver charities although further work needs to be undertaken to ascertain who within ARU would have responsibility for arranging the logistics.
Facilities access
We have just initiated a reduced pricing structure for our Care Leaver/Care Experienced students to access our gym and sports facilities. There Is a commitment to expand this to Care Leavers In the community (for our Chelmsford gym) but this will hopefully be within the next 12 months.
Care Leavers aged 18 or over can join ARUs library as a reference member and use the study spaces. The cost of this Is £5 for a membership card.
Events – tickets, targeted marketing for events
ARUs Community Engagement team occasionally have tickets for events like Chelmsford Half Marathon and Essex Book Festival and have agreed to prioritise Care Leavers In their distribution.
They will share tickets to events with our student network teams and have agreed to make more of a conscious effort to collaborate with other organisations within the community that have access to care leavers (for example YMCA and local libraries).
