Support for care leavers and care experienced students

If you have spent time in foster care, residential care, or arrangements outside of family, we can provide practical advice, information and support.

Practical and wellbeing support

Our team of Student Support Advisers (SSAs) are a key point of contact for students who identify as:

  • care leavers
  • care experienced.

Our SSAs can:

  • provide information and signposting
  • coordinate support
  • deliver support on a range of wellbeing, practical and study-related issue.

We'll invite students who are eligible for the NTU Care Leaver and Foyer Resident Bursary to a transition support meeting.

You can get support using our short support and wellbeing referral form if:

  • you're one of our students, or
  • you're a third party acting with the consent of one of our students.

For general enquiries, email the SSA team.

Arranging accommodation

Our SSAs can help you arrange accommodation in our halls of residence over the summer. If you'd like this support, complete our short support and wellbeing referral form.

You can choose to return to our halls of residence in your second and final years. Find out more about NTU accommodation.

Employability

Care leavers have access to dedicated specialists in the NTU Employability team. Care leavers are also eligible for a range of support as part of our Rise initiative.

Financial support

NTU Care Leavers and Foyer Resident Bursary

The University will be awarding an NTU Care Leaver Bursary of £1,000 to help towards living costs. This will be available to eligible students enrolled on:

  • a full-time undergraduate degree course commencing in 2023, or
  • a full-time foundation degree course commencing in 2023.

To be eligible, from the age of 16 you will have at some point been either:

  • in the care of a local authority in the UK
  • looked after by relatives who have a court order to look after you in the UK
  • a Foyer resident in the UK.

You'll also need to be under 25 on 1 September 2023.

Applications are now open. Email us for a link to the application form and guidance notes.

The NTU Care Leaver and Foyer Resident Bursary will be available for each year of full-time study. This is subject to meeting the terms and conditions.

If you're eligible, we'll arrange a session with financial support adviser. Advisers will check you’re receiving all the funding you’re entitled to. They can also offer advice on budgeting and money management.

Money management workshops

Join our money workshops and learn how to budget at university.

Find out more about financial support or email the NTU Student Money team.

Further information

You can get more information from organisations and charities proving advice and support.

The Care Leavers' Association

The Care Leavers' Association is a national user-led charity. It aims to improve the lives of care leavers of all ages. See their quick guide to rights and entitlements.

National Network for the Education of Care Leavers

NTU has become a member of the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), which supports university staff with the latest research and information to ensure Care Leavers and Care Experienced students thrive at university.

Become

Become is a national charity for children in care and young care leavers.

All of Us - The community for estranged and care experienced students across the UK

United by a flag co-designed by estranged and care experienced students using colours which represent diversity and equality, ‘All of Us’ is a dynamic student led community which helps people connect, both online and in-person, share information and feel they belong. To find out more visit the All of Us page.

  • Last updated: 12/01/2024