Why Universities Should Join the Care Leaver Covenant
Joining the Care Leaver Covenant demonstrates your institution’s commitment to widening participation and social mobility.
As a signatory, you’ll gain access to best practice guidance and sector-leading resources that can help transform the experience of care experienced students at your university.
Join Over 130 Further & Higher Education Institutions Already Making A Difference
More than 130 FE and HE institutions have already signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant (as of December 2025). We’re calling on 50 more to join us before March 2026. Will your institution be one of them?
The Challenge Is Significant
%
Only 12% of care leavers go on to university, compared to nearly 50% of all young people.
%
Over half of care experienced students seriously considered dropping out.
The main barriers were financial worries, health issues, and lack of clarity about available support.
But The Impact Of Good Support Is Transformative
%
Of care experienced students said year-round accommodation was essential to their ability to study.
%
Reported that having a dedicated care leaver contact made a significant difference to their experience.
Students who received comprehensive support packages reported feeling they truly belonged at university and were significantly more likely to complete their degrees.
Membership Benefits Include
Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking to enhance existing provision, the Covenant offers guidance, resources, and a community of practice to support you every step of the way.
Connection
Connection with a growing network of institutions committed to supporting care leavers.
Resources
Access to sector-leading resources and evidence-based guidance.
Recognition
National recognition for your work through the Covenant’s platform.
Support
Practical support in implementing effective interventions.
Collaborate
Opportunities to share learning and collaborate on initiatives.
JOINING THE COVENANT
We’ll Meet You Where You Are
We understand that every university is different, with varying resources, structures, and starting points. You don’t need to have everything in place to sign up – the Covenant is about commitment to progress, not perfection.
Some universities join with comprehensive support packages already established. Others are just beginning to develop their offer to care experienced students. Both are equally welcome. What matters is your commitment to improving outcomes and your willingness to work towards best practice.
We’ll Work With You To:
- Understand your current provision and identify priorities for development
- Connect you with institutions at similar stages in their journey
- Provide tailored guidance and resources relevant to your context
- Celebrate progress and share your successes with the wider network
The Covenant is a partnership – we’re here to support your university in making meaningful, sustainable change at a pace that works for you.
JOINING THE COVENANT
What Signatory Universities Commit To
When your university signs the Care Leaver Covenant, you’re joining institutions across the country who are taking concrete action to improve outcomes for care experienced students.
There are five areas where universities can make the biggest difference – not all at once, but as part of a journey of continuous improvement.
Read more on them all by expanding the appropriate section:
Accommodation & Arrival Support
Care experienced students need stability and a place to call home throughout their studies. Signatory universities work towards providing:
- 365-day accommodation options so students always have a home
- Arrival day support to help students move in and settle
- Welcome packs with essential items and home comforts
- Early registration for immediate access to financial support and services
Financial Support
Financial barriers can prevent talented care experienced students from accessing or succeeding at university. Effective support includes:
- Care leaver bursaries with clear, accessible information about funding
- Preferential access to hardship funds with additional financial guidance
- Removal of financial barriers to full participation in university life, including academic trips, placements, and social activities
Academic & Wellbeing Support
Care experienced students benefit from staff who understand their backgrounds and can provide tailored support. Key commitments include:
- A designated named contact to champion care experienced students, with specific knowledge of their needs and capacity to navigate university systems
- Training for all student-facing staff to recognise additional needs and signpost appropriately
- Fast-tracked mental health support with long-term counselling where needed
- Individualised learning plans to address extenuating circumstances
Access & Admissions
Universities can recognise the significant challenges care experienced young people overcome to reach the point of application. This includes:
- Contextual admissions that recognise lived experiences, clearly communicated in application processes
- Pre-entry summer schools and homework clubs to break down barriers
- Care Experienced Ambassadors to support and mentor prospective students
Transition & Careers Support
The support shouldn’t end at graduation. Final-year students need enhanced support including:
- Careers advice and succession planning tailored to care experienced students
- Graduation support packages and bursaries for post-university housing
- Guarantor status to prevent disadvantage in securing accommodation
EDUCATION STRAND
Evolution & Achievements Timeline
Here is the timeline of the impact we’ve made so far.
Timeline last updated: Feb 2026
Learning & Work Institute
- Sector-wide expectations published for Institutions signing up to the Care Leaver Covenant
- Established early principles around the importance of committing to care leaving students
- These ideas directly informed the Covenant’s future three pillar approach
Care Leaver Covenant Established
- Education named as a core strand from the outset
Whole Institution Approach Introduced
- Three pillars created: Student, Community, Employment
- Joint publication of recommendations in “Pathways to University from Care” report with Sheffield University
Sector Partnerships Strengthen
- Collaboration with UCAS, OfS and other sector bodies
- Greater visibility for care experienced students nationally
Growing Engagement
- Significant rise in university participation
- Increasing FE interest
National Alignment Begins
- Covenant sits on the NNECL Quality Mark Development Board, helping shape emerging sector standards.
Model Consolidation
- Whole-institution approach further articulated and embedded in early Covenant guidance
HEI Engagement Approaches 70 Institutions
- Strong uptake across England
Support Tools Developed
- Practical resources introduced to help institutions embed Covenant principles
- All recommendations from “Pathways to University from Care” endorsed by the “Independent Review of Children’s Social Care”
NNECL Quality Mark Launched
- Natural alignment due to Covenant involvement in the development phase
- Strengthened expectations for consistent, high-quality institutional support
National Attention On HE/FE Shifts
- Policy focus shifts elsewhere
Covenant Maintains Momentum
- Continued sector engagement despite reduced external drivers
- Moving to a regional approach and working with large FE College Groups and overarching HE networks
Whole Institution Approach Deepens
- Students, community and employment embedded as the structural spine of education commitments
Clearer Expectations For Institutions
- Defining “what good looks like” across HE and FE in collaboration with DfE and sector stakeholders
- More coherent expectations around support, contacts and visibility
Growing FE Momentum
- Strengthened partnership with NAMSS
Improved Delivery Consistency
- Institutions increasingly adopting structured, whole-institution support frameworks
Mapping Exercise Completed
- Review of sector practice across HE and FE
- Provided a grounded evidence base for future strategy
FE & HE Engagement Intensifies
- National NAMSS engagement week held to profile care-experienced learners and improve practice
- HE institutions encouraged by Josh McAllister, Minister for Children and Families to sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant
Streamlined Sign-up
- Self-directed sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant, removing initial barrier to engagement and encouraging a more institution led approach
- Supportive review tool launched to help institutions self-assess and improve
- Onboarding and review methods simplified, improving clarity and accessibility for institutions
Education Strand Becomes A National Improvement Mechanism
- Moves beyond sign-ups to shaping consistent, evidence-led sector behaviour – over 130 FE and HE institutions currently signed up (Dec ‘25)
- Sign-up of all HE Institutions requested / expected by Central Government
Making a Difference
The Evidence
Research from the University of Sheffield, involving 234 care experienced students across England and Wales, provides clear evidence of what works. Students identified that embedded, consistent support throughout their university journey significantly aided positive transitions and academic success.
The Evidence Is Clear:When universities invest in care experienced students, everyone benefits. These students bring resilience, determination, and unique perspectives that enrich your academic community.
Download the full Pathways to University from Care Finding Report One below:
JOINING THE COVENANT
Join The Movement
Signing the Care Leaver Covenant is a public commitment that your university stands with care experienced young people. You’ll be joining over 400 organisations nationwide who are working together to ensure every care leaver has the opportunity to access and succeed in higher education.
By signing up, you’re not just making a statement – you’re taking action to break down barriers, create opportunities, and change lives. Together, we can ensure that care experience is never a barrier to achieving potential.
Every year, thousands of young people leave care and face significant barriers to accessing higher education. Only around 12% of care leavers go on to university, compared to nearly 50% of the general population. Your institution can change this.
The Care Leaver Covenant brings together organisations committed to improving outcomes for care experienced young people. By signing up, your university joins a growing network of over 400 organisations dedicated to opening doors, creating opportunities, and ensuring no care leaver is left behind.
To sign-up please complete the form here. Or for any further information you can email us education@mycovenant.org.uk