Care leavers 2015 2016 by Money Doctors

FAQs

CARE LEAVERS SUPPORT PACKAGE Money@CampusLife

This document is also available in Welsh and alternative formats such as Braille, large print etc. For further information please contact Student Services Reception. Swansea University offers extra support for students who have been in care. We have a package of support measures which we hope will help students to settle in, focus on their studies while they are with us and graduate successfully. How do I qualify? To qualify for the support package below you need to have been in Local Authority Care as a young person for at least 3 months. You are deemed to be a care leaver once you are 16, which is the school leaving age. If you have been in care and are interested in going to University you are deemed a Care Leaver until you are 21. This means that if you have been in care you can benefit from all of the support arrangements below at any time until you reach the age of 24. If and when you do come to study at Swansea University you remain entitled to the support until the completion of your course. Note: This package has been designed for care leavers whose permanent residence is in the United Kingdom and who are 'home' students for fee purposes. Applicants who are not 'home' students are welcome to contact our Money Advice & Support Office to discuss any support needs they may have.

How do I access the package? You can declare on your UCAS application form that you have been in care, or your Social Services Team can let us know that you are a Care Leaver. Either way, we want to ensure this support is in place as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can contact one of our team directly before you start your studies or once you get here (see contact details at the end of this leaflet). What about confidentiality? It is up to you how much support you need and when you choose to access it. You have ownership of all the information about your background. Any information that you share with us will be kept strictly confidential unless you choose otherwise.

What support is available? Our support package can is split into three stages:   

Pre-entry Support whilst studying Support prior to graduation

Pre-entry Support

Financial assistance to attend Open Days

Pre-entry-Support Assistance with your application to the University If you would like support with the application process, experienced University staff can help you to complete your UCAS form. In some cases, an interview with your chosen department will be required in which case we can arrange for a member of staff to help you prepare. Financial assistance to attend interviews and Open Days At an Open Day, you will have the opportunity to talk to students and staff and visit different parts of the University. Let us know if you are going to attend one of Swansea University’s Open Days. We can help organise your visit and arrange for your named contact to meet you. Don’t let the cost of getting here stop you! Travel costs can be reimbursed (this will usually include 2nd class rail travel and other public transport costs). Once you have accepted a place at Swansea University You may have questions about disability support, accommodation, funding, study skills and how much it all will cost. Your named contact will contact you to arrange an appointment to discuss these issues and any other queries you may have. This can be in-person, by phone or e-mail. The purpose of the appointment is to help you with the transition to University life and get everything ready for your arrival. At the appointment, your named contact can check your entitlement to funding including Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans and Grants as well as any Local Authority support you may be entitled to. We can also help you to complete the forms and make sure you have the correct documents to send with them. Many students have found this meeting to be really useful, particularly if they are accompanied by a Key Worker or Foster Parent who can ask questions that they may not have thought of. Care Leavers Compact Deal Swansea University offers a ‘Compact Deal’ for students who have been in care. This deal is designed to make sure that we can support you in applying, arriving and succeeding at Swansea University. As a ‘Compact Student’ you will receive a reduction in your required A-level grade (or equivalent) which will reduce our requirements by one A-level grade (or equivalent). For example, if the programme requirements are grades ABB at A-level, this will be reduced by one grade to BBB or ABC – depending on the exact requirements for the relevant degree programme. Terms and Conditions apply.

Support whilst Studying

All year round Accommodation

Money Management & Budgeting Student Loans are paid in three instalments. As a student this may be the first time you have had to handle such large amounts of money. To help you do this successfully, the staff in the Money@CampusLife Team are on hand to provide advice and guidance on budgeting. We offer a range of money management and budget planning workshops which we can deliver on a oneto-one basis. All year round accommodation Swansea University can guarantee you 365 days a year accommodation on campus for your first year at University including Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays (providing that you apply early enough). Alternatively, we will also help you to find private accommodation in the local area should you need assistance. 2

Care Leavers Bursary We offer a £1,000 grant in each year of study (in addition to any other financial support you may get). This money is to help you cover the costs of your accommodation for a full year.

Academic Support through our Academic Success Programme

Departmental Support At Swansea University we provide a range of academic support mechanisms to support students through their university experience, particularly in their initial transition to undergraduate studies and in their wider personal development. These include:  Assigning you a Personal Tutor who will be available to discuss your academic and personal progress.  Online resources such as BlackBoard – Our E-Learning environment has quick reference guides to getting started with academic skills at degree level including tips on lectures and note taking and planning essays and assignments.  Swansea University’s Information and Support Service (ISS) not only provide a comprehensive library but also offer academic support through online resources, training and specialised staff for assisting in a particular subject.  Access to free academic study skills classes through our Academic Success Programme while you are studying at Swansea University. The classes offered within the programme are designed to help you successfully manage the transition into Higher Education study, helping you to become familiar with the university system and its academic requirements, while enhancing your academic study skills. Classes include: 1. Academic Essay Writing 2. Presentation Skills 3. Critical Thinking 4. Exam Skills 5. You can also book a confidential one-to-one appointment with a tutor to discuss any aspect of your academic work. Support with childcare while you study If you have children who need childcare, grants are available to undergraduate students to help with these costs. How much you get will depend on your circumstances.

Support with Childcare Whilst you study

Support prior to Graduation

Support to find part time/holiday work and with career planning Swansea University knows and understands how important finding a job can be for all our students and recognises the additional pressures that those coming from care may experience. Swansea University’s Careers Service can help you find temporary and part-time work in and around Swansea during term-time and vacation periods. They can also help with career planning including finding paid and unpaid work experience. Financial assistance to attend your graduation ceremony Your graduation is an important occasion. It is the culmination of all your hard work during your time at Swansea and a chance for you and your family and friends to celebrate all that you have achieved throughout your university career. As a Swansea University graduate who has accessed the Care Leavers Bursary you will be entitled to a one off Bursary to help cover the cost of gown hire and photographs. 3

Financial assistance to attend your Graduation Ceremony

Free membership to Swansea University’s Alumni Association As part of the Alumni Association, you can benefit from a wide range of services: get in touch with other former students through the Buddy Board; receive news about the University and fellow alumni via regular e-news bulletins and the annual Sail Magazine; purchase items from our range of memorabilia; take advantage of discounts negotiated by the University for the benefit of Alumni, and much more. Thinking of Postgraduate Study? Securing funding is one of the main hurdles graduates face when it comes to postgraduate study, but is by no means insurmountable. As well as public funding bodies, there may be further funding sources waiting for you to discover. See the Alternative Sources of Funding webpages for further information.

£500 Care Leavers Bursary for Postgraduates

As a Care Leaver looking to study at postgraduate level we can offer a oneoff ‘Postgraduate Care Leaver Bursary’ payment of £500 if you are 24 years of age or under, to assist with course related/living costs. You will need to attend a ‘financial planning’ appointment prior to starting your course, which will look at the funding available and ensure you are in a position to fund your further study. Jessica Hughes

Rob Ellis

Email: Jessica.L.Hughes@swansea.ac.uk

Email: R.J.Ellis@Swansea.ac.uk

Money@CampusLife

Your named contacts

Ground Floor—Keir Hardie Building

Singleton Park

Swansea

SA2 8PP

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CONFIDENTIALITY: All information dealt with by the Money@Campus Life Team is done so in the strictest confidence. On the occasions that we need to consult staff from other departments, we will do so only with prior consent from you. *Information is correct as of September 2016

money.campuslife@swansea.ac.uk 01792 606699 www.swansea.ac.uk/money-campuslife