Care leavers supported with new partnership

Care-experienced young people across seven local authority areas will have greater opportunities to explore higher education thanks to a new long-term partnership. 

The partners - Keele University, University of Staffordshire, and Higher Horizons - have committed to delivering an annual University Experience Programme for care-experienced learners across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, Cheshire East, Derbyshire, Cheshire West and Chester, and Telford & Wrekin. 

Supported by all seven local authorities, the programme will see virtual school heads - who champion the education of children in care and care-experienced young people - work closely with the partners to identify and engage young people who could benefit from the initiative. 

The programme is designed to address some of the barriers care-experienced young people can face when considering higher education.

These include concerns about affordability, limited access to information and guidance, accommodation worries, and lower levels of progression to university.