Hi all,
Our definition is essentially the same a Terri's below. We are planning to change it however to remove the 25 year old age limit. We have 30 care leavers in total that receive our bursary. We usually get between 10 and 15 new care leavers each year that start.
In terms of the UCAS definition - certainly some tightening up on this would be good. Approximately 80% of those that ticked the 'in care' box during our last academic year were not care leavers by the legal definition or by our University's definition which is slightly wider. Having said this though - I would put the caveat that perhaps we would not want the UCAS definition to be too specific, from the point of view that Universities do have some variation in the eligibility criteria for their bursaries for care leavers and for the lost part it is wider than the legal definition that LA's go by. May be something more specific than 'have you ever been in Local Authority care' would be good though which is similar to what the current UCAS tick box currently stipulates I understand.
Best wishes
Graham
----------------------------------------
Graham Wright
Finance & Immigration Adviser
Student Advice & Welfare Services
University of the West of England
Telephone: 0117 328 5678
Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
From: For staff working with care leavers in F and HE [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Terri.Sandison
Sent: 21 February 2012 17:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Bursary info request
This is our bursary eligibility statement
* students entering higher education at the University who have a Former Relevant care leaver status. This being those young people who are under 25 years old and who were 'looked after' by the local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and which ended after the age of 16 (Children (leaving Care) Act 2000)
The Scholarship may also be available to students who have been:
Privately fostered up to the age of 16, or
The subject of a Special Guardianship Order and were 'looked after' immediately prior to the making of the order
subject to written confirmation of their status and a letter of support from their Local Children's Services Department.
Terri
Terri Sandison
Director of Lifelong Learning and Staff Development
The University of Winchester
Sparkford Road
Winchester SO22 4NR
01962 827674
www.winchester.ac.uk/wideningparticipation<http://www.winchester.ac.uk/wideningparticipation>
From: For staff working with care leavers in F and HE [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dunster
Sent: 21 February 2012 17:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Bursary info request
Hi Penelope. That requirement of a letter is a super idea. As well as you proactively seeking out the person who can supply it.
The legal definition you outline in black seems like part of the 2000 Act defining an Eligible y/p [ in care between 14 and 18 and in care ON or AFTER the 16th birthday.
The 25 presumably relates to the 2008 Act which extended financial help/ max.a ge for Uni bound care leavers from 24 to 25?
Rob
----- Original Message -----
From: Penelope Griffin<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 3:37 PM
Subject: Re: Bursary info request
Dear all
Our definition for bursary eligibility is below. Students are required to provide a letter from their local authority confirming that they have been in care for the relevant period. If students want us help them to acquire this letter, we contact the LAs to track down the person who can provide it. About 10 new students claim the bursary each year - fewer than tick the UCAS box, but more than ask for a pre-entry transition meeting.
To be eligible for the care leaver's bursary, you should normally have been in local authority care (looked after) for a period of at least 13 weeks after reaching the age of 14. The period of 13 weeks does not have to be continuous. You should also normally be under the age of 25 when entering the University. We do however aim to be flexible and respond to individual circumstances. Please contact the Financial Support Team, if you wish to discuss your eligibility.
Penelope Griffin
Dr Penelope Griffin
Head of Widening Participation
Widening Participation Team
University of Nottingham
King's Meadow Campus
Lenton Lane
Nottingham NG7 2NR
tel. 0115 951 3995
fax: 0115 84 68116
email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
web: www.nottingham.ac.uk/wideningparticipation<http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/wideningparticipation>
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From: For staff working with care leavers in F and HE [mailto:[log in to unmask]]<mailto:[mailto:[log in to unmask]]> On Behalf Of Lesley Mortimer
Sent: 21 February 2012 14:50
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Bursary info request
Dear All
FYI - I raised the question of the UCAS definition of care leaver with Mary Curnock Cook, Head of UCAS, at the HELOA conference in January. She said they would look into it.
I estimate that between 10 and 20% of entrants to Brunel who have ticked the BIC box on the UCAS form have done so in error but because we do not currently offer dedicated bursaries for care leavers (and so do not ask for verification of status for any reason) it is only by chance that these mistakes are revealed. It has always concerned me that the stats we (and others?) return to Buttle UK contain such a large margin of error.
Like Lou, we are now going to have to verify care leaver status as care leavers are a priority category for Brunel scholarships, so I am interested to see what comes out of this correspondence.
Another issue is ex-Foyer students. Some unis define these broadly as 'care leavers' and consider them for awards.
Best wishes
Lesley
Brunel University
From: For staff working with care leavers in F and HE [mailto:[log in to unmask]]<mailto:[mailto:[log in to unmask]]> On Behalf Of Susan Mueller
Sent: 21 February 2012 11:47
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Bursary info request
Hi Lou
Just to pick up on the UCAS definition: I will be liaising with UCAS to review the definition of care leavers and if this can be tightened up.
Best wishes
Susan
Susan Mueller
Quality Mark Manager
Buttle UK
Audley House, 13 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HX, England
Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Tel: 020 7798 6225
On 21 Feb 2012, at 11:36, Dunster wrote:
Thanks for clarifying what criteria you use to operate Bursaries. Tell me, are you bound by the U.C.A.S. definition ?
And excuse my ignorance but who funds the Bursaries? Have you flexibility.? Buttle Uk were liaising with U.C.A.S. to tighten the def'n. Have you the Buttle Q.M. at Trent?
L.A.'s have a duty to liaise with Unis their y/p go to. However I am happy to concede in reality this will be sometimes hit and miss.
They support Y/P who have a Pathway Plan under that law I mentioned [ forgive me if this is old hat!] with financial help [ less generously now with the fees hike]. If hardship occurs the y/p is cutting their own throat if they don't tell the L.A. but I agree they may need your moral support sometimes so to do. It's ironic you may end up paying when help is available in their home authority!
The best practice I have come across and been party to [ In Warwickshire] had 3 way meetings with L.A. , Y/P and Uni to sort things.
Rob 07751 046256
----- Original Message -----
From: Silver, Louisa<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: Bursary info request
Hi Rob
Thanks for your reply. I'm aware that the law is clear, but the UCAS definition is incredibly loose and applies equally to those who have spent any time in care at any point in their life. Our current approach enables us to support students more flexibly and generously, based on individual need, than if we had a defined bursary with strict eligibility criteria. Any bursary we might introduce would therefore be in addition to this and probably more relating to incentive than support (which we already offer), which is why we need to carefully consider affordability. Hence requesting stats from other HEIs.
I'm really interested in your suggestion of going to the LA to assess level of need, as I don't know of any HEIs who do this. Are you suggesting that rather than just asking for proof of care leaver status (as most HEIs do) we also ask the LA for information on the student's level of financial need, ie maybe offering varying levels of bursary according to their response? Interesting...
You are right that not all students we have supported are happy for us to liaise with their leaving care team, even if that is to their detriment, which is both frustrating and saddening.
Best wishes,
Lou
Lou Silver | Development Officer | Student Support Services | Nottingham Trent University | 0115 848 6346 |
www.ntu.ac.uk/student_services<http://www.ntu.ac.uk/student_services>
From: For staff working with care leavers in F and HE [mailto:[log in to unmask]]<mailto:[mailto:[log in to unmask]]> On Behalf Of Dunster
Sent: 21 February 2012 10:57
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Bursary info request
Hello Louise.
The law about who is a care leaver is pretty clear insofar as the Local Authority is concerned. And it is to the L.A. you should go for liaison and information on need [hardship if you prefer?] .
The Leaving Care Team or equivalent should be glad to help and form a working relationship with you. If your student does not want you to do this. he/she is cutting off a potential source of help, even in these troubled times.
Also 'Care leavers' in their late '20's may never have been ' in care/leaving care' a/c to the Children [ Leaving Care] Act 2000 and indeed may have been only in care a few weeks and long ago. There is genuine hardship and a genuine Corporate Parenting approach by L.A. and Uni would help.
Rob Dunster
Convenor.
West Midlands Network of Leaving Care Managers.
----- Original Message -----
From: Silver, Louisa<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 10:37 AM
Subject: Bursary info request
Apologies for cross-posting
Dear All,
I was wondering if anyone would be willing sharing the number of recipients of your care leaver bursary for the past few years, and what your eligibility criteria are?
We are exploring the possibility of re-considering our position on bursaries, but as we don't currently offer one we've never whittled down our care-experienced intake to find out just how many would be eligible for a bursary, so I'm unable to estimate costs.
I'd be very grateful for anything you can share, even it's just a brief "usually between 6-8 people, using legal CL definition" or similar.
Our current position on bursaries is that having eligibility criteria does not always target those in most financial need, e.g. a care leaver in late 20s with more outgoings and maybe a family to support. Also our money advisers have indicated that care leavers (as per the legal definition) are not presenting with financial hardship issues. As such, our current position is to support and prioritise ALF applications for care-experienced students in financial hardship.
I'd be really interested in any thoughts or views on this issue more generally.
Many thanks,
Lou
Lou Silver | Development Officer | Student Support Services | Nottingham Trent University | 0115 848 6346 |
www.ntu.ac.uk/student_services<http://www.ntu.ac.uk/student_services>
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