1. Student
At Edge Hill we aspire to have a collaborative, whole-institutional approach to our support for students without family support (care leavers, care experienced and estranged students). A summary of our current offers of support, and the areas we are already looking to develop are summarised below:
Financial support
We already offer:
- As a care leaver studying at Edge Hill you may be eligible* for an annual bursary of £1000 for up to a maximum of three years.
*Be under the age of 25 on the first day of the first year of the course. To have been in Local Authority care for a minimum of 13 weeks since the age of 14; Must be classed as a Home/EU student for fee paying purposes; Registered on course with the University leading to the award of: i) Undergraduate Degree ii) PGCE iii) Masters
We will be further developing:
- The eligibility criteria of our bursary, in response to research and national recommendations.
Staff Training
- We are developing staff training and a toolkit regarding Students without Family Support (care leavers, care experienced and estranged students) for all staff at Edge Hill.
Pre-entry Outreach
We already offer:
- A named Officer in the Widening Access Team who offers bespoke visits to campus, which can include one to one or small group visits as required.
- One to one or small group support to students in regard to Personal Statements, interview and application form workshops.
- Direct work with schools, colleges and with North West local authorities and virtual schools to provide information, advice and guidance regarding higher education.
- Bespoke communications are sent to prospective Care Leaver students and our partners at various points throughout the academic year.
- Students can claim for travel expenses, if they require financial help to attend our applicant visit days.
- Students can speak to our Widening Access Team on A-level results day (and post results day) to discuss their next steps.
We will be further developing:
- Our Open Day and Applicant Visit Day Support.
- A new pre-entry Transition Programme.
- The number of supporter activities that we deliver by increasing the number of events we deliver.
- Our results day support.
Student Accommodation
- Students who are care leavers, care experienced, or estranged can request a contract for a room in the University halls of residence for 365 days a year for the three years of their degree.
- For academic year 2020/21, parts of selected halls will be allocated as quiet halls, offering all students the option to choose a quieter halls of residence environment. A limited amount of same-sex accommodation is also available.
- Care Leavers can request to stay in the same room if accessing 365 halls of residence accommodation (should they wish to, and subject to maintenance) to avoid disruption.
- Students can request an early move into halls and midweek move in dates to accommodate students leaving local authority care. If their room is not available, alternative options on campus will be considered to support the students housing needs prior to start of course.
- Students can access the discretionary fund for financial support if needed over the summer period for accommodation costs.
- Care Leavers can request to leave belongings in their halls of residence room if they’re not staying over the summer, and are returning to same room in September.
Student Support
We already offer:
- A named contact in the Transitions team who is responsible for managing the support for students who are care leavers, care experienced and estranged.
- Consistent communication- keeping in regular contact with these students before enrolment and once enrolled.
- A ‘thinking of leaving service’ which identifies and supports all students, including this student group, who may be at risk of withdrawing- students can self-refer or be referred to this service. Students are then case managed and offered support to achieve success.
- A CARE Facebook group that provides an online community for those students who wish to engage.
- All parents and supporters (including local authority personal advisors) of year 1 students, living in Halls, can access the ‘Parents and Supporters’ newsletter.
- For all students, when required, the Transitions team can attend meetings with academic staff and students to mediate support.
We will be further developing:
- The co-ordination of activities and events around key stress/emotional points such as Christmas, Easter and Graduation.
- Optional graduation support, including the offer of a member of Transitions attending the student’s graduation ceremony.
Money Advice
- The Money Advice Team have a broad offer of financial advice, guidance and support for all students.
We will be further developing:
- Bespoke financial Information, Advice and Guidance for this student group where appropriate and improved targeted information of support already available.
Well-being and counselling
- The Wellbeing & Counselling team is here to support students’ health and wellbeing needs throughout their time at Edge Hill. They offer emotional and practical support, and can also help students access other services that may be relevant.
Careers
- Careers have a broad offer of support for all students at EHU. Careers also have a dedicated employment advisor for widening participation student groups. Students can receive support from the bespoke employment adviser who will raise awareness of opportunities available and help with applications for all part time jobs, volunteering, our Student Opportunity Fund, placements, and graduate roles.
We will be further developing:
- An offer of bespoke careers workshops to students without family support.
Student consultation, responding to research, and raising awareness
We are also committed to:
- Improving our consultation with care leaver and care experienced students by establishing a Students Without Family Support Advisory Panel.
- Improving the awareness of our offers of support by producing a students without family support guide that uses accessible language and clearly communicates our offer to prospective students, their supporters including local authorities and Virtual Schools, and Edge Hill students and staff.
- Responding to national research and policy reports, and our own data and internal research to enhance our support for this student group as required.
- Evaluating our support, so we can learn from what is working well, and what is not, and adapting our approaches accordingly
End statement:
At Edge Hill University, we already offer care leavers and care experienced students support pre-entry through to graduation. We aspire to continuously develop our offer further, responding to best practice and research recommendations.
2. A Robust Employment Offer
Students without family support studying at Edge Hill have a guaranteed interview to take part in paid outreach opportunities.
At Edge Hill, we will use the Care Leaver Covenant to help develop this area of our support as part of our new Equality Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
3. Community
Our Law Clinic offers free initial legal advice on most personal legal issues to students, staff and members of the wider community.
We work with Blackburn with Darwen Council, providing food parcels and Easter eggs for care leavers aged 18-24.
At Edge Hill, we will use the Care Leaver Covenant to help develop this area of our support.
