Posted 28 May 2021

Care-experienced students may encounter some unique challenges in the transition from sixth form or college to Higher Education (HE). The University of Bradford offers a personalised package of support available to help you have a full, enriching and enjoyable experience. 

The University of Bradford provides one-to-one support throughout the application process, as well as arranged individual visits to campus to see our facilities and meet our academic staff and current students, including students that have previously been in care. 

The University has a number of champions within our faculties and professional services teams who are passionate about and experienced in supporting care experienced students.  

Support and guidance can be provided in the following key areas: 

• Accommodation – the University of Bradford can support you in securing year-round accommodation if needed. We can also support you financially with any associated costs of having to pay for a guarantor, if you do not have one. Please contact Clare Wilson (Student Life Specialist Adviser and point of contact for care experienced students) on careexperienced@bradford.ac.uk for further information.  

• Careers and Employability Service – the University of Bradford has a dedicated advisor who can work with and signpost care experienced students to a range of services and support offered by Career and Employability Services. Please contact Catherine McAvoy (Careers Consultant) on c.mcavoy@bradford.ac.uk for further information.  

• Counselling Service – this service is free and confidential and is located in the Student Central Building on campus, where you can speak to a specialist mental health professional. You can find their website here and book an initial intake appointment here. The Counselling Service is open all year round and face-to-face appointments, online appointments and telephone appointments are available.  

• Disability Support – the University of Bradford has a dedicated team to support our disabled students and can assist you to make required adjustments and provide you with support. Once you have registered with the Disability Service, your Adviser will  assess what support and adjustments you might need in different University settings, for example: in lectures and seminars, in the library, in exams, on placement or with the Careers and Employability Service. The Disability Service will make an appointment for you to see a Disability Adviser to discuss your needs, please contact disabilities@bradford.ac.uk if you have any questions or if you would like to arrange and appointment. 

• Financial support – a Care-experienced Students’ Grant of £1,000 (per academic year) is available to all students who have previously been in the care of a local authority as a child, or young person and currently has a household income of less than £30,000 per year. Care experienced students are also priority students to access the Student Support Fund grant, which is open for applications all year round and can assist students that are experiencing financial hardship. Please contact Clare Wilson (Student Life Specialist Adviser and point of contact for care experienced students) on careexperienced@bradford.ac.uk for further information. 

• Student Finance advice and support – Clare Wilson (Student Life Specialist Adviser and point of contact for care experienced students) is happy to be contacted on careexperienced@bradford.ac.uk to discuss any Student Finance queries or difficulties you may have.  

• One to one appointments are available all year round with our Student Life Specialist Adviser Clare Wilson who is happy to be contacted on careexperienced@bradford.ac.uk to book a face-to-face, online or telephone appointment with you to discuss any difficulties you may be facing which are impacting upon your wellbeing and/or your finances.  

• Peer mentoring – new students with experience of the care system will have the opportunity to receive one-to-one support from a Peer Mentor who will be a student currently studying at the University or a recent graduate.

• Your first few weeks at university – care-experienced students are invited to join the Step Up to HE programme at the start of the academic year. The online Step Up to HE resources are updated in August each year and can be accessed and worked through at a time and pace that suits you. The on-campus programme of workshops takes place just before the term starts in September.   

• New undergraduate students starting in September can register their interest in attending the on-campus programme via the enrolment portal.  Details will then be emailed on the activities and how to book.  Alternatively, bookings can be made directly via the online booking form. 

Further information about support for care leavers can be found on the University’s website. If you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact Chelsea Redshaw, Outreach and Recruitment Officer C.Redshaw@bradford.ac.uk 

If you have any questions regarding support available to care-experienced students at the University of Bradford, or before you join us, please don’t hesitate to contact Clare Wilson (Student Life Specialist Adviser and point of contact for care experienced students) careexperienced@bradford.ac.uk who will be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.