ONE.
Student
Bishop Grosseteste University uses the term ‘care experienced’ in recognition that care experienced students are vastly under-represented and more likely to enter higher education via a non-traditional route. This definition widens the legal definition of a care leaver as it is not limited by age, or by the time a person has spent in care.
Outreach
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has links with the local Barnardos Leaving Care Service in order to provide outreach services to looked after children in the Lincolnshire area and to help encourage aspirations towards Higher Education. A member of the Student Advice team coordinating this outreach activity is a former member of the Barnardos team and their experience of working with young people in care is a valuable asset in delivering effective 1:1 support as a named contact to individuals aspiring to Higher Education.
Both the Student Advice, and Admissions teams within the University are members of the NNECL network, and regularly attend regional meetings and annual conferences.
Admissions
The BGU Admissions team makes contextual offers available to care experienced applicants, in order to both encourage entry onto their programme of study, and take the pressure off final results.
Accommodation
BGU is committed to making 365 day accommodation available to care experienced students. A number of options are available, offering en suite, or non-en suite Halls of Residence, or private housing (by arrangement with local landlords).
A BGU guarantor scheme is available whereby the University will act as guarantor for care experienced students, should this be a requirement of the property in which they plan to live. Assistance with securing accommodation is available from the BGU Accommodation Office.
Care experienced students will receive a welcome pack (including bedding, and store cupboard staples) together with a welcome letter from the Vice Chancellor.
Student Support Services
BGU offers a free, independent Counselling Service (with no waiting list to date) using a local counselling practice with a team of 15 counsellors – each with their own specialisms/experience. A Mental Health Advice team offer support during office hours and in the twilight hours up until midnight. The University’s Student Advice service, Students’ Union and Centre for Enhancement in Learning and Teaching work together on a number of wellbeing focused events each year.
Financial Support
BGU has a long-established Enhanced Bursary for care experienced students, worth £3,600 per year. The Bursary is non-repayable. A letter from the student’s leaving care service (or similar) is sufficient for the bursary to be allocated.
The Student Advice team is highly experienced in advising students on applying for, and their entitlement to student finance. The service will contact student finance services directly to assist students, if required.
Financial assistance is also available with the costs of Graduation (gown, photograph, meal, and Graduation Ball ticket)
Information on website – URL; available via Propel:
- And further information is also available on the Propel website: https://propel.org.uk/Details/bishop-grosseteste-university-lincoln
Strategic Plans
TWO.
A Robust Employment Offer
BG Futures (Careers, Employability and Enterprise at BGU) is keen to further develop services for care experienced students.
Historically we have offered work experience to care experienced students via the Care Leavers Apprenticeship Programme run by Barnardos. We are able to offer bespoke careers advice and guidance to any prospective students who are care experienced and have an open offer for all BGU students, and alumni to access our support after they have graduated.
BG Futures are in the process of developing targeted leaflets which will include our offer to care experienced students:
- a one to one appointment during their first semester
- support to look for part-time work at University
- awareness of supported programmes such as the Graduate Skills Builder which provide students with opportunities to gain project work experience in the labour market alongside gaining a bursary
We will ensure that our care experienced students are supported after they leave and that they are aware of initiatives such as the Cathedrals Fund Grant Programme, should they need support into further learning or employment.
The BG Futures team has launched a pilot scheme for coordinated support of campus services for students in non-traditional or vulnerable groups. Care experienced students were selected as the pilot group for the scheme, which is aimed at offering pro-active support to students, rather than relying on them to access services themselves.
THREE.
Community
BGU is first and foremost a community focused university with strong ties to local schools due to its long history of providing Initial Teacher Education. BGU has a strong ‘widening participation’ ethos and many of its students are from widening participation backgrounds.
BGU provides outreach opportunities to assist transitions into Higher Education (its First Steps 2 Study and Next Steps 4 Study programmes are offered in partnership with a network of local schools) and links are in place with Lincolnshire’s Virtual School for looked after children.
Information relating to BGU’s support package to care leavers is hosted each year on the ‘Propel’ website. Local networking with the Barnardos Leaving Care team allows for 1:1 contact with individuals interested in higher education study, so that they are aware of the support available via BGU.
