1. Supporting Care Leavers into Higher Education The Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark Lesley Stokes, The University of Edinburgh

2. Care Leavers: Statistics 31 March 2007: 14,060 children in care, 8% increase from 2006 (1-2% of 0-18 population). Accommodation: - 43% at home - 15% with friends or relatives - 29% in foster care - 12% in residential accommodation Approx 50% have more than one placement. Majority of young people in care in Scotland are white with no disability. Higher proportion of boys than girls. Stats: Scottish Executive

3. Care Leavers: Prospects 20-30% of 16-21 year old Care Leavers experience homelessness before the age of 21. 2006-07: 48% care leavers beyond school age had no Level 3 qualifications. 66% had no English or Maths. Care leavers are more likely to have school qualifications if accommodated away from home. 62% of care leavers between 16-21, are not in education, employment or training. Approximately 3% of Scottish Care Leavers go to Higher Education. Approximately 7% go into other forms of education. Stats: Scottish Executive, General Register Office for Scotland

4. By Degrees: From Care to University The Frank Buttle Trust commissioned research into Care Leavers’ experiences at University. They found: - Anxiety and lack of support led to full student loans and more employment hours. - Sources of stress included: problems with birth and/or foster family, difficulty contacting Social Services regarding support, isolation at University. - Wide variations in levels of support offered by Local Authorities. - Very few Universities have specific information and support available to care leavers. - Ability and potential of Care Leavers is systematically underestimated, leading to them being deprived of educational opportunities.

5. Initial letter from Principal to the Frank Buttle Trust. Member of staff identified to oversee implementation and monitoring. Outline Project Plan - how the scheme will be implemented and monitored. Payment of £300 administration fee. Applying for the Quality Mark

6. The Commitment – Key Areas 1.Raise aspirations and achievement. 2.Have appropriate admissions procedures. 3.Provide entry and ongoing support. 4.Monitor implementation of the commitment.

7. Specific advice and guidance for care leavers. Identified as a specific target group within the University’s admissions policy. Recognised by the University’s Credit for Entry programme. Application and progression monitored and reviewed. Student evaluations. Admissions SRA and Office of Lifelong Learning Image © Newsquest (Herald and Times). Licensor www.scran.ac.uk

8. Finance And Accommodation Scholarship Office, Accommodation Services and Office of Lifelong Learning Access Bursary Hardship Funds Flexibility of deadlines 365-day accommodation where needed Guaranteed accommodation, regardless of locality

9. Mentoring and Problem Solving Mentoring Officer, EUSA, Directors of Studies Undergraduate mentor Director of Studies as “problem solver” EUSA secondary contact

10. Two Students… Student A Change of offer Finance advice First choice accommodation Ongoing contact Student B Flagged up to Admissions Contacted Ongoing support offered

11. What now? Raising Awareness, Implementation, Evaluation Statistical return to the FBT Involvement in FBT Seminars – sharing good practice Contact with 2010 applicants Continued support of care leavers at the University Social Services, Carers, Other Agencies Information and Training Materials Continued evaluation – annual reports Partnership working with other HEIs

12. Contact Details Lesley Stokes Widening Participation Project Officer The University of Edinburgh lesley.stokes@ed.ac.uk 0131 651 1755 Image © Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland. Licensor www.scran.ac.uk