Care Leavers Week 2020: Harper Adams University continues to support care leavers to enter higher education

Posted 29 October 2020

Harper Adams University is continuing its commitment to helping young people into higher education through the Care Leaver Covenant.

The extensive support network on offer to students who have had experience of the care system includes mental health support, confidence building and a contextualised offer scheme, which reduces entry requirements for those who are aged between 16 and 25 who have been in care, recognising that care leavers’ studies might have been disrupted.

Included in the pledge is a suite of careers advice and support to ensure applicants from all backgrounds are able to access higher education to enable them to pursue their academic and career ambitions. Harper Adams has also supported an online conference and is working with charities to create stronger networks of support for those leaving care.

Rachel Brookes, Widening Participation Officer at Harper Adams, said: “ As a university, it is so important that we offer all that we can to support all students, regardless of their background. Our commitment to the Care Leaver Covenant arms us with ways we can support those who are in care, becoming care leavers and those who are care-experienced. We need to get the message far and wide that we are here to help those who have been in care and that accessing university study needn't have barriers."

The Care Leaver Covenant was established to provide additional support for those who are leaving care and has been supported by a number of private and public organisations. It aims to draw on the resourcefulness of staff and organisations to offer opportunities and a new way of thinking to aid care leavers in moving forward successfully to the next phase of their lives.
School leaders wishing to know more about how Harper Adams University can support individual students in care should contact schoolsliaison@harper-adams.ac.uk

October 26 to November 1 is National Care Leavers Week. Find out more by following #NCLW2020