Latest from the blogs

Going to university or college if you’ve been in care – our top ten tips for success

Making a decision about university or college can be tricky, and there may be more to think about if you are care experienced. There are lots of misconceptions around so this guide will help you find out all you need. And if you need more information, you can read our information and advice for care experienced students.

1: There is financial support available to help care experienced students

Everyone worries about finances, but this shouldn’t be more of a concern for students with care experience than anyone else – in fact, there is additional...

The Guaranteed Offer for Care Experienced applicants in Scotland has been a welcome addition to the admissions landscape. Whilst many institutions have been offering adjusted offers for some time, in July 2019 the Guaranteed Offer was formally launched by Universities Scotland in an event co-hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University and Who Cares? Scotland. The Guaranteed Offer seeks to provide equality of access to degree-level study for those who have experience of the care system – there’s no upper age limit and therefore anyone who has experience of care at any point in their life is eligible. Who Cares? Scotland has produced a guide to the Guaranteed Offer which guide takes you through the principles of the policy as well as answering some frequently asked questions.

Despite the Guaranteed Offer being...

1. You can make in-house apprenticeships extremely relevant to your organisation

If you’re willing to invest time and effort into engaging with the rules of running your own degree apprenticeships, you’ll see the extent to which you can embed your organisation’s goals into the programme.

Whether you’re suffering from skills shortages, or you need new energy and insight to transform an aspect of your business – degree apprenticeships are a great solution. You’ll be able to build a more diverse workforce and benefit from training that’s tailored to your business. And with funding from the apprenticeship levy, it’s a cost-effective recruitment solution.

2. There’s plenty of support to help you run apprenticeships in-house

There’s more than one...

If you are care experienced and looking to apply to higher education, there are some key things to consider when choosing your university or college. 

Does the institution have information on the support it provides for care experienced students on its website?  This should include details of a designated person, or team, who are available to guide you and help with the transition to university.   Will you receive any additional financial support?  This might be a specific bursary or priority access to other funding.  What about other services such as study skills or support for mental health and well-being?  If you are planning to move, will you be able to stay in university accommodation all year round or will other support be available to help you find a good place to live?  As well as the information available on UCAS, you can find details of many...