C,CE&ES Group 3: Tuesday 16th March, 10:10 - 11:10

1. 2.6 Aspire2University (A2U) - An innovative approach to supporting care experienced students into HE
2. 2.7 We Care, Do You?

2.6 Aspire2University (A2U) - An innovative approach to supporting care experienced students into HE

Melanie Harris, University of Wolverhampton 

Click to download 2.6 Aspire2University (A2U) - An innovative approach to supporting care experienced students into HE (.pptx)

Watch the recorded session

Abstract

A study undertaken by NNECL reported 12 percent of care leavers entered HE by the age of 23 and although this has increased from previous estimates of 6 percent it is still considerably lower than other young people (42%). A2U is a progressive programme specifically targeting children in care to make informed choices about HE as their educational pathway. Working in partnership with four local authorities, it supports young people from KS3 to KS5 to view university as a viable route to achieve their potential and increase life chances. 

This presentation will explore: 

• Some of the issues care leavers face and how A2U is endeavouring to address these to remove potential barriers to learning and progression. 
• The four strands of the A2U programme and how they support the young people holistically throughout the key stages. 
• Why effective partnership working is considered to be one of the key strengths of A2U. 

References  

• New national study: more care leavers going to university, but serious challenges remain > News | National Network for the Education of Care Leavers [accessed 28.01.20} 

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2.7 We Care, Do You?  

Laura Selby, Kendra Argile, Kelly Self, Lucy Scheinkonig plus Steven Brookfield and Abbie Clarke, Sheffield Young Carers, The University of Sheffield and Higher Education Progression Partnership (Hepp), Sheffield Hallam University

Click to download 2.7 We Care, Do You? (.pptx)

Watch the recorded session

Abstract

Caring responsibilities give young people incredible skills and experience but being a carer can also make studies and career choices seem completely out of reach. In Sheffield, we’ve been working collaboratively for many years to provide wide ranging initiatives for young carers/young adult carers to enable them to believe, achieve and follow their dreams.   

This seminar will give participants the chance to hear student carers’ lived experiences about what helped them on their journeys into HE and to speak to the organisations that supported them along the way.   

References

• Barnardo’s (2017) Still Hidden, Still Ignored   
• Carers Trust (2015) Supporting Students with Caring Responsibilities: Ideas and Practice for Universities to Help Student Carers Access and Succeed in Higher Education   
• Carers Trust (2015) Supporting Students with Caring Responsibilities: A Resource for Colleges and Services to Help Young Adult Carers Succeed in Further Education   
• Learning and Work Institute ‘Learn, Work, Care’ website: Advice and resources on learning and work for young adult carers and for people working with them  

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