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In its inaugural session of the year, which was exclusively for those from care experienced and estranged backgrounds, prospective students in Years 12-13 had the opportunity to visit the ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ campus, learn about student life and hear about the support services on offer. ÌýÌý

Students who participated in the event heard from three current ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ students, including one also with a background in care, who shared insights about their journey to ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳, their experiences of studying at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ and what their hopes are for the future. The attendees had the chance to spend time with these current students and ask questions and engage outside of the more formal setting of the classroom as they went on their campus tour. Participants and the current students also spent their lunch break together in the ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ Refectory to round off a great day of advice, guidance, and positive steps towards higher education journeys.Ìý

A student who participated in the event, said:Ìý

“My favourite part of the event was hearing about other care experienced students and their journey. It makes me feel positive about the future."Ìý

Participants heard from the ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ Access and Widening Participation team about the process of applying to university and the Access ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ contextual offer scheme available at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ for underrepresented students. The team also highlighted the various forms of student support that exist at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳, including academic support accessed at the departmental level, peer support offered by Transition Mentors, careers support and opportunities via the Careers Extra programme and the specialist mental health and wellbeing provision offered by Student Support and Wellbeing. Students also met the ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ dedicated contact for care experienced and estranged students, based in the Student Success Office, and heard from two Student Advisers about the support offered at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ for current students.Ìý

Jalal Pour, ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳’s Senior Widening Participation Officer for Priority Groups, said:Ìý

“As the first Experience ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ event of the year, we were really pleased with how things went. It was great to welcome this group of enthusiastic young people onto the ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ campus and to help them gain more confidence in applying to university and highlighting the dedicated support services that are available to those from care experienced and estranged backgrounds at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳. We hope the attendees enjoyed the day and took away some useful insights that will help inform their next steps." Ìý

This week marks ‘Estranged Students Solidarity Week 2024’ and ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ recognises the difficulties faced by care experienced students and estranged students that their peers are less likely to encounter. ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳'s Access and Widening Participation team runs dedicated initiatives like ‘Experience ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳’ to alleviate these hurdles and provide robust support to all students within these priority groups.Ìý

Further information

• Learn more about the support available for priority group students at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳
• Learn more about the Experience ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ event seriesÌý
• ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳ Transition Mentor ProgrammeÌý
• Careers Extra at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳Ìý
• Student Support and Wellbeing at ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳
• Read ×î×¼µÄÁùºÏ²ÊÂÛ̳'s Access and Participation Plan 2020/21-2024/25