Care Leavers Bursary

The University of Chichester recognises the fact that students coming to university from a care background may need additional support whilst at university. We have therefore developed a Care Leavers Package for eligible students. This optional package offers these students year-long accommodation (at current rates), a bursary and wellbeing support to help them fulfil their potential whilst studying with us.

In addition we feel that the University of Chichester is an ideal environment for students from a care background. There is a close-knit friendly community feel here, which is encouraged by a small compact campus. This environment enables our students to form lasting friendships with peers and lecturers very quickly.  We hope you will feel part of University life from the very first day you arrive.

Who is eligible?

In very general terms, you are eligible for the Care Leavers Package if you are under 25 and have been ‘in care’ with any local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14. However this is not a hard-and-fast rule and any student with a care background may apply. The University’s Review Panel will consider each application on a case by case basis.

What do we offer?

The University of Chichester’s package for those with a care background consists of:

• A Care Leavers Bursary – (£1,000 per annum)
• The offer of University accommodation 365 days a year charged at the current rate (subject to campus accommodation requests being received by our Accommodation Office by 31 May)
• A named Student Advisor throughout your stay at University.

In addition the University has appointed a Care Leavers Coordinator to provide a central point of contact. Advice and guidance is offered during the admissions process and throughout the course of study at the University.

What is the process?

If you tell us that you have at some time been in local authority care, either on your UCAS application or via an alternative entry route, your details will be forwarded to our Care Leavers Coordinator. We will then ask you for some information relating to your time in care and permission to contact the relevant local authority. Once this is received your application for the Care Leavers Package will go before our Care Leavers Review Panel who will consider such applications on an individual basis. If successful you will be offered all elements of the package each of which is optional.

Confidentiality

All communication with our Care Leavers Coordinator is strictly confidential.  We will, however, ask whether we can share this information (by means of a disclosure form), for example with our Finance and Accommodation offices. If you have any questions about this you can always discuss this with our Care Leavers Coordinator.

A discreet email address (clc@chi.ac.uk) has been set up for communication between any students and our Care Leavers Coordinator and students will also be given the name of a Student Advisor who has a designated role of working confidentially with any of our students.

For more information please contact Sue Horne, Care Leavers Coordinator on 01243 816238, or Vanessa Church, Care Leavers Administrator on 01243 793468 or email: clc@chi.ac.uk

For accommodation enquiries email: accommodation@chi.ac.uk