University recognised for "exemplary" support for students in care

A unique advisory group set up to assist students leaving a care environment has been recognised as best practice in supporting young people.

Buttle UK has recently reaccredited Plymouth University’s Quality Mark for a further three years and rated the institution as “exemplary”, demonstrating its commitment to helping young people in care and the challenges they face when entering into higher education.

The charity has also praised several of the University’s projects as best practice examples and is due to promote them online to other organisations. These include a unique care leavers’ panel set up to assist with more complex bursary cases and the Care Advisory Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) group, an informal networking group for care leavers to socialise and share experiences, as well as build trusting friendships and receive guidance and support from staff. The University has also extended the support it offers to students progressing into life after education.

Challenges facing students in care may include financial disadvantage, lack of family support, difficulty in finding accommodation and the pressure of studying.

Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth University, said: “The University works incredibly hard to raise aspirations among groups under-represented in higher education and make education available to talented people from all walks of life.

“Receiving this Quality Mark is testament to our culture of widening participation and is fantastic recognition for the innovative schemes we have in place to support young people leaving a care environment and empower them to be successful, proactive individuals.”

The University has held the Quality Mark since 2010 and had to submit a monitoring and evaluation report to Buttle UK to be assessed for its reaccreditation.

Susan Mueller, Quality Mark Manager at Buttle UK, said: “The support at Plymouth University for students from a care background aspiring to higher education and studying is of the highest standard. There are a range of examples of best practice of which a key feature is the CAKE group.

“It’s important that support for looked-after children and care leavers is embedded in an institution's culture and policy and endorsed by senior management, and Plymouth University is an excellent example of where that has been achieved.”