Pillar 1 – Student

Definition

Bucks New University (BNU) recognises care leavers as students who have been in the care of a UK Local Authority or Health Trust during childhood. We are committed to supporting care experienced students throughout their entire student journey, from initial outreach and application through to graduation and alumni engagement. Our approach is grounded in our mission of “Breaking Barriers, Building Futures”, ensuring that students are supported to access higher education, succeed during their studies and progress into meaningful graduate destinations.

As a widening participation institution, BNU is committed to reducing barriers created by social, economic, or personal circumstances. Support for care experienced students is embedded within our student-first approach, which focuses on personalisation, flexibility, inclusion, and student success.,

Outreach

BNU works in partnership with schools, colleges, Local Authorities, Virtual Schools, Designated Teachers, Personal Advisers, and regional widening participation networks to engage care experienced young people and raise aspirations towards higher education.

BNU is part of Future Pathways, a programme delivered through the Study Higher Uni Connect partnership. Future Pathways supports care experienced young people aged 13–19 to explore their education, training and employment options through sustained outreach, mentoring, university experiences and employer engagement.

Through the programme students experience university visits, college taster days, employability workshops, employer visits and residential summer schools, participants gained first-hand experience of higher education and future career opportunities. The programme enables young people to meet care experienced role models and current students, helping them to understand the opportunities available through higher education and build confidence in progressing to university.

Application

BNU is committed to identifying and supporting care experienced students as early as possible. Applicants are encouraged to disclose their care experience during the application process so that support can be coordinated before enrolment. Early identification enables the University to understand individual circumstances and provide tailored advice, guidance, and transition support.

The Outreach Team provide personalised support with UCAS applications, personal statements, interviews, auditions, and portfolio preparation. Applicants can also receive guidance on finance, accommodation, and the support available throughout their studies.

Prospective students are encouraged to attend Open Days, Applicant Days and Campus Visits, providing opportunities to explore teaching facilities, accommodation, and social spaces, meet academic and professional services staff, and gain an understanding of university life. These activities help care experienced students build familiarity with the campus environment and make informed decisions about their higher education journey.

Our aim is to ensure support is available from the point of application and continues seamlessly into enrolment, transition, and ongoing study.

Induction

On entry, care experienced students are offered enhanced transition support, including induction programme, peer mentoring opportunities, buddy scheme and access to a named point of contact who can help them navigate university systems and services.

Named Care Experienced Student Contact

Emily Crawshaw

Email:
Emily.Crawshaw@bnu.ac.uk

On-Course Support

Dedicated Student Support and Coordination

The Student Hub serves as the central point of contact for care experienced students, providing a single, accessible route into support services across the University. The Student Hub works proactively with students to coordinate support, address barriers to engagement and ensure that students can access the assistance they need at the right time.

Support includes:

• A named point of contact for advice, guidance, and support.
• Regular wellbeing check-ins and proactive contact to monitor student engagement and wellbeing.
• Information and advice regarding bursaries, hardship funding and student finance.
• Referrals to specialist services including counselling, mental health support, disability and inclusion services and academic support.
• Coordination of support across University departments to ensure students receive joined-up support for multiple and complex needs.
• Guidance on University processes and practical support throughout the student journey.

Personal Tutor Support

Every student is allocated a Personal Tutor who provides consistent academic and pastoral support throughout their studies. For care experienced students, the Personal Tutor can play an important role in building confidence, promoting belonging, and supporting academic success. Personal Tutors:

• Act as a regular and trusted point of contact within the academic community.
• Support students in understanding academic expectations and assessment requirements.
• Help students interpret feedback and develop effective learning and study strategies.
• Monitor academic engagement and progress.
• Provide pastoral support and opportunities to discuss issues affecting academic performance or wellbeing.
• Signpost and refer students to specialist support services where appropriate.
• Support students in navigating academic processes, helping them remain engaged and on track to achieve their goals.

Wellbeing, Mental Health, and Inclusion Support

BNU is committed to ensuring that care experienced students can access timely and appropriate wellbeing support. Students can access:

• Specialist Mental Health Advisors who provide personalised support and intervention planning.
• Professional counselling and therapeutic support services.
• Priority access to wellbeing support where appropriate.
• Support in accessing external healthcare services and referrals.
• Disability and Inclusion services, including reasonable adjustments, SEND support and advice on external funding arrangements.

Academic Skills Development

To support academic achievement and confidence, students can access dedicated academic skills support, including:

• Academic writing and assignment support.
• Research and referencing guidance.
• Critical thinking and study skills development.
• Note-taking, academic confidence and independent learning support.

Student Union Big Deal

BNU’s Students’ Union delivers The Big Deal, a sector-leading initiative that provides all students with free access to a wide range of extracurricular, wellbeing, employability, sports, and social opportunities. BNU is recognised as the only UK university offering this breadth of free student engagement activities through its Students’ Union.

The Big Deal is designed to remove financial barriers and ensure that every student, regardless of background or circumstances, can fully participate in university life. Students can access free societies, competitive and recreational sports, skills workshops, employability training, volunteering opportunities, social events, and student representation roles. These activities help students develop confidence, leadership skills, social connections, and career readiness.

The Big Deal is particularly valuable as it promotes inclusion, belonging and wellbeing by providing opportunities to build support networks, engage with the university community and gain transferable skills without additional cost. Free access to activities reduces the financial pressures often experienced by care-experienced students and helps ensure they can benefit from the full student experience.

The Students’ Union also provides independent advice and support on accommodation, finance, academic issues, and personal matters, further strengthening the network of support available to students throughout their time at BNU.

Careers and Future Progression

Care experienced students are supported to achieve successful graduate outcomes through access to:

• Careers education, information, advice, and guidance.
• Mentoring and employability development opportunities.
• Internship, placement, and work experience opportunities.
• Support with CV development, applications, and interview preparation.
• Development of independent living and workplace skills to support transition into employment or postgraduate study.

Through this integrated approach, BNU seeks to ensure that care experienced students are able to access the academic, practical, and personal support needed to thrive during their studies, achieve positive outcomes and realise their full potential.

Finance

BNU offers a dedicated Care Leaver and Estranged Student Bursary of £1,100 per academic year for eligible undergraduate students. This non-repayable bursary is intended to help alleviate financial barriers and support students throughout their studies. The bursary is available to students each year of the programme and includes repeat years.

Students can also access:

• Financial Aid and Hardship Funding.
• Budgeting and financial management support.
• Additional bursaries and scholarships, where eligible., including practical support though our Food Bank and Bucks New Usage Scheme where students are able to access a range of household equipment and goods to support their independent living.
• Free gym and gym classes for BNU students

BNU’s commitment to supporting students through financial challenges has been recognised nationally through its shortlisting in the Times Higher Education Awards 2026 for its work supporting students during the cost-of-living crisis.

Accommodation

BNU recognises the importance of safe and stable accommodation for care experienced students.

Eligible care leaver students can access:

• Accommodation for up to 365 days a year.
• Early engagement with the Accommodation Team before enrolment.
• Support throughout the accommodation application process.
• Ongoing consideration of flexible accommodation arrangements and support for students who may not have access to guarantors.

This provision helps provide continuity and stability throughout the academic year, including holiday periods.

Pillar 2 – Employment

Careers and Employability

Careers support is a key element of BNU’s strategic commitment to careers-linked learning. The University aims to ensure all students develop the skills, experience and confidence needed to succeed in graduate employment.

The Career Success Team provides:

• One-to-one careers guidance.
• Career planning and employability coaching.
• CV, application, and interview support.
• 24/7 access to MyBNUFuture – a career development resources platform, featuring a wide range of bite-size, multi-media content focused on building employability whilst studying and securing graduate employment following graduation..
• Access to a range of employer events across the academic year e.g. ASPIRE Careers Fair
• Mentoring opportunities with industry professionals.
• Support accessing placements, internships, and graduate opportunities.

Named Careers Contact

Career Success Team

Email:
Careers@bnu.ac.uk

Job Shop

The Students’ Union JobShop provides access to local part-time employment opportunities that can fit around academic commitments, helping students earn an income whilst developing valuable workplace experience. In addition to advertising vacancies, the JobShop promotes employability skills development, training opportunities and workshops designed to enhance students’ future career prospects.

Care experienced students are also encouraged to apply for a range of paid employment opportunities within the University and Students’ Union, including:

• Freshers’ Helpers, who support new students during induction and welcome activities, helping them navigate university life and settle into the BNU community.
• Student Ambassador roles, which provide paid opportunities to represent the University at outreach activities, applicant events, open days and student recruitment initiatives while developing communication, leadership, and professional skills. These roles align with the Care Experienced Audit recommendation to promote student employment opportunities to care experienced learners.
• Students’ Union employment opportunities, including roles within The Venue and other Students’ Union services, such as front-of-house, events, hospitality, bar, customer service and student representative positions. These opportunities enable students to gain work experience in a supportive environment whilst earning an income and developing transferable employability skills.
• Paid Student Representative and leadership roles, providing opportunities to influence the student experience, represent the views of fellow students and develop skills in communication, advocacy, and leadership.

The University and Student Union have committed to offering guaranteed interviews for care experienced students in recognition of the importance of employability for supporting personal and professional development.

Graduation

BNU celebrates the achievement and success of care experienced students and recognises the resilience often required to complete higher education.

Graduating students continue to receive support through:

• Career planning and progression support.
• Guidance relating to postgraduate study and further learning opportunities.
• Access to relevant financial support (including support with gown hire and
• Graduates can continue to access Career Success services for up to three years after graduation, including careers advice, employability support, graduate recruitment opportunities and professional development guidance.

Alumni are also encouraged to remain engaged with the University community through mentoring, ambassador activity, networking, and opportunities to support future care experienced students.

Pillar 3 – Community

As part of its ongoing commitment to care experienced learners, BNU will explore opportunities to increase awareness and access to University facilities, services and learning opportunities for local care leavers. This may include:

• Promoting access to open days, campus visits and transition events.
• Providing opportunities for local Alu to engage with University outreach activities and taster sessions.
• Increasing awareness of careers resources, employability support and progression opportunities available through the University.
• Exploring opportunities for care leavers to access public lectures, workshops, skills development activities and community engagement events hosted by the University.
• Promoting pathways into higher education, apprenticeships, employment and professional careers through engagement with University staff, students and alumni.