Marilyn Stowe Blog

North west children in care visit university

Fifty-five teenagers currently in residential or foster care visited Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) earlier this week to explore the campus and learn about the special support available at the university to care leavers.

The visiting children heard from both care leavers currently studying at the university, as well as care leaver graduates. They discussed the support available from the Student Advice Team and the university’s special leaver facilities.

Phil Bakstad is the university’s dedicated care leaver contact. He said:

“Research shows that educational outcomes for looked after children are consistently lower than the national average, with six per cent of care leavers progressing to higher education in 2011. Therefore, working with current looked-after children in schools and colleges is essential to ensure that this vulnerable group of young people benefit from the same opportunities as their non-looked after peers.”

He added:

“Our package of support for care leavers has been nationally recognised as ‘exemplary’ by Buttle UK so the opportunity to share the successes of care leavers who are currently studying, or have recently graduated from LJMU is key, as it shows to prospective students that they too can progress to higher education and achieve to a high level.”

The children were positive about the visit. One said:

“It was good to speak to students who have similar experiences as me, hearing about the university made me think about my future.”

Special support available to care leavers at the university includes 365 day a year accommodation and the John Lennon Imagine Awards, which provide an annual bursary and other assistance to eligible students.

The visit was part of progamme of events at the university to mark National Care Leavers Week.