PILLAR ONE.
Definition
Definition of Care Leaver on Humber Grant Page
Our definition: Care Leavers are individuals who have been in care for a minimum of 13 weeks including their 16th birthday. You will be contacted if you have declared yourself as a Care Leaver and will be asked to provide evidence via your Social/ Support Worker.
If you do not fit the criteria of a Care Leaver, you may be considered to have had ‘experience of care’. If you have had experience of care please contact us for more information on eligibility.
Application
Contact with care leavers pre-arrival by designated contact. Care leavers are contacted by the Student Life Team before they arrive to ensure all questions are answered
When care Leavers apply via UCAS there is an option to let Hull know that you’re a care leaver. If Care Leavers answer yes to this question, we can make them a contextual offer which may be either an unconditional offer or a lower contextual offer depending on their predicted grades.
Induction
The University of Hull have a designated member of staff for Care Leavers.
Care leavers are contacted by the Student Life Team a minimum of twice a year to check in on wellbeing, progress on course and support needs. Care leavers can contact the Student Life Team/designated contact at any point of the year.
The University of Hull Student Life Team will help students liaise with support workers for supporting evidence on Humber Grant, as well as meetings as/when needed to support Care leavers.
On Course Careers Support
At the University of Hull care experienced students receive a bespoke leaflet which will contain our offer to them, including a one to one appointment during their first semester with their named/dedicated Careers Consultant to promote and enhance the access to opportunities for care experienced students. The students are required to attend this appointment for them to receive the second instalment of the Humber Grant.
Financial Support – Humber Grant
The University of Hull have a bespoke financial support package for care leavers. Our Humber Grant package includes:
- £750* cash paid in two instalments (December and March) (*currently)
- £250 book voucher
- £100 supermarket voucher
- Unikit code worth £200 for first year students)
At Hull we also have a Hardship Support Fund during academic year if facing financial difficulties (means tested).
Those who are eligible for our Humber Grant, are eligible to apply for summer support from the Summer Fund, which forms part of the Hardship Support Fund. The Fund recognises students without additional financial support in the summer period and is again means tested. Humber Grant students will be contacted and invited to make an application ahead of the fund opening in June, should they have a need.
Students can apply every academic year for the Humber Grant, Hardship Support Fund and Summer Fund however, cannot apply for the Summer Fund at the end of their final year
Accommodation Support
365 days of accommodation are available to Care leavers.
Graduation
Humber Grant recipients will also receive free gown hire at graduation – students will likely be contacted in advance re. arrangements however the process for this is yet to be finalised.
Progression
The University of Hull is fully committed to reducing the gaps in success and progression which exist for all disadvantaged groups, through an evidence based, insight led and data driven approach as such we support our care experienced students to progress successfully into the job market.
Examples of Bespoke Offering that has been offered to Care Leavers this Academic Year Include:
Working Wardrobe All Years: Working Wardrobe allows students opportunity to bag a preloved interview or workwear outfit for free! Allowing all students to have a fair chance at nailing that first impression.
Business Breakfast Finalists: Prior to the Careers Fairs we invite 10 employers with an EDI focus to join 10 students to have an informal networking opportunity over breakfast. This allows the WP students to chat to the company about their experience and the opportunities they may have. It allows student to make connections and gain inspiration for what life might look like after university.
Team GB Kitting Out All Years: University of Hull students can take advantage of this unique opportunity through our exclusive partnership to enable students to build up their skills and experiences, such as team work, communication and resilience by taking part in supporting the Kitting Out Event for the European Games and Olympics. Taking on roles such as Personal Shopper, Kit pickers and Packers.
Fortnightly Diversity Newsletter
Highlighting bespoke opportunities to students from a range of diverse backgrounds, including care leavers, such as jobs and internships, international travel and exclusive workshops. Students also have the opportunity to fast track through the Hull Employability Awards which demonstrates that they have developed skills that employers are looking for.
E – Mentoring
Students are encouraged to participate in our highly successful Career Bridge e-mentoring programme. This links students with mentors from the professional workplace, who can provide an insight into a particular job role or employment sector, offer support to help you maximise your chances of success and help students to extend their network of contacts.
In students one to one appointments they are encouraged to take up mentoring. However, in Academic Year 2023/24 we have invested in Push Far Mentoring Platform that will allow students to be mentored by someone in within the career they aspire to or by a certain characteristic such as BAME, Disabled or Care Leaver providing them with role models and can talk to them about their unique barriers or concerns they may have entering the workforce.
Workshops and Events
We organise an extensive programme of careers fairs, workshops, employer presentations and other events on campus and online that are accessible to all students. Details of these events can be found on our events and opportunities platform Jobteaser.
Care Leavers receive a fortnightly newsletter called Diversity Matters rom Student Futures which promote workshops and events and employer presentations that have a EDI focus or positive action recruitment focus, examples of recent articles that are promoting such things include:
- Civil Service Care Leaver Internship Programme 2023
- Experience Research at Cambridge University this Summer
- Working in the Think Tank Sector
Also, in one to one appointments students will be directed to generic workshops that the Consultant would recommend for them upon their discussion. So for example direct them to a Linkedin Workshop, Ace your Applications workshop or Part Time Careers Fair based on the discussions.
Career Support Post- Graduation
We are committed to supporting graduates from our institution with careers information, advice and guidance for life. They also retain access to Jobteaser.
Unlike many universities, we do not place a time limit on our careers and employability support. Whether it has been six months’ or six years’ since your graduation, Student Futures team are here for their Alumni. This is promoted in their Graduation booklet.
Students also have access to JobTeaser (opportunities platform) for life.
Graduates for a year after graduating receive a fortnightly vacancy bulletin with live vacancies on.
Finalist Care Leavers also get a direct email from the named contact within Careers about our Internal Internship Scheme. These Internships take place at the University of Hull for around 3 months. We have included an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion statement that allows specific cohorts the ability of a guaranteed interview if they meet the minimum requirements on the job description and attend the support workshop.
Could you give any broader information on how or if any are targeted to a care leaver / experienced audience?
Much like “progression” could you just give a bit of information about the particular support for care leaver/experienced students?
PILLAR TWO.
We plan to set a review and respond accordingly.
PILLAR THREE.
Community
The University of Hull runs and supports several local community events across the year, and we aim to actively promote these events to looked after children and care leavers in the community through our relationships with local authorities and outreach provision. The following is an example of the University’s engagement with the community:
Hosts of Humber Science Festival
We’re currently pulling together an exciting programme of demos, workshops and shows for all the family.
The Festival will be held between Thursday 7 and Sunday 10 September 2023, with events being held on the University’s campus, as well as at venues across the city.
The Festival celebrates science in its broadest sense, including maths, medicine, engineering, technology, innovation and history of science. Anyone can propose an event.
Hull Sport Community Partnership Project
Hull Sport is part of an exciting outreach sports project called the Community Sports Partnership project. The partners involved in the project are the Archbishop Sentamu Academy Scholarship program, Hull FC Foundation, Hull KR Community Trust, and West Hull Rugby Club.
Hull Sport will be coordinating a range of sport-specific sessions involving professional staff from the University of Hull as well as students. This is to deliver sessions in Strength and Conditioning, Sports Coaching, Sports Performance and Nutrition to provide an insight into what it is like studying sport in Higher Education.
The overall purpose of the project is to raise aspirations amongst young learners in Hull to inform them of the fantastic opportunities that are available for them if they go to University.
Hull Sport Partnership plans for a Rugby League Performance, Education and Community Hub
Based at the University of Hull, the hub will unite Hull FCs rugby pathways from first team to grassroots for the first time, as well as see University of Hull students offered work placements in key fields such as sports science, coaching, analysis and media.
The £1.5m project, which has also received financial support from Hull City Council and other key stakeholders, will create an unrivalled home for the club’s various teams and community rugby league activity as well as enhance the University’s first-class sports provision further.
The funding will also enable an extension to the existing University sports Pavilion to provide a home for the club’s first-team squad, development pathways and community activity – set to open in autumn 2023.
Children’s University
We work collaboratively with the Children’s University to offer the Step Up Move On project, which is a rolling programme, supporting a small group of children who are looked after throughout their secondary and higher education to help build confidence, self-esteem and support them to achieve their future aspirations.
Students are referred on to the programme by our Letterbox Coordinators, the Virtual School Team, or their educational setting. The Children’s University work closely with the University of Hull to tailor each session to help the young people on the programme to consider trying new experiences and inspire them to discover new opportunities. In addition, they can receive nurturing support, meet new people, and have fun.
The aim is for approximately 10 – 12 young people to begin the programme in Year 7 and attend at least three sessions a year: two at the University of Hull and one at another college or educational establishment. Each academic year, the students then move up through the programme, developing new strengths and skills to help support their studies and well-being. When they reach Year 11, they will receive support to help them on their chosen college or career pathway and move forward in Year 13 with their transition to university if they so require.
During the summer holidays, the students may also have the opportunity to attend our other fun Learning Experiences. Recent activities include: Welton Waters, Go Ape, Archaeology Dig, RSPB Bempton Cliffs visit, Yorkshire Water’s Tophill Low Nature Reserve, Drama Workshops, Soccer Kings, Cook Stars, London visits and lots more.
Letterbox
Similarly to the Children’s University, we also work together to fund one of the Children’s University Letterbox co-ordinators posts to work with CLA children in 4 of our local primary schools. This is for children who may have gaps in their education and are below their reading age to help develop a love for reading and improve their reading ability and comprehension.
Hull Pride
As a previous gold sponsor, we had a stall at the Pride festival, which was attended by our colleagues in Student Recruitment and Marketing, the EDI team and Hull University Students’ Union. The stall handed out University T-shirts, tote bags, flags and stickers.
Being part of Pride in Hull is a fantastic way to show our support for our LGBTQ+ colleagues, students and local community.
Law Clinic
The Legal Advice Centre provides free, confidential and independent legal advice to the local community. This gives Law School students the chance to gain practical experience of the legal profession.
The Centre is staffed by law students under the supervision of qualified staff. All Student Advisers are final-year law students who have been professionally trained to help with a range of issues.
The Legal Advice Centre are able to provide legal guidance to care leavers, including their rights.
Chaplaincy
At Hull we value the diversity of our university community and aim to ensure all our community can participate in the wide variety of faith groups across Hull.
