Caring for care leavers in HE – postgraduate Mark tells his story

Mark Cohen was fostered as a child, but now he is undertaking a Masters course… with the support of the University

YOUNG people brought up in care are much less likely to go to university.  But when they do – and take full advantage of the special support and encouragement available at institutions like the University of Huddersfield – they can become high achievers.

Mark Cohen, from Todmorden, was fostered as a child and expected to make his own way in life at a very young age.  He did train and work as a chef for several years.  But then he decided to make changes and after taking access courses at college in Calderdale he moved on to study Behavioural Sciences at the University.

He scored First Class honours.  Now, he has moved on to postgraduate study and is poised to become a professionally-qualified psychologist.

But speaking during National Care Leavers’ Week, Mark confessed that he found his first few months at the University “overwhelming”.

“I don’t think I would have made it without the support that was available,” he said.  “I was made to feel very welcome and included in all aspects of university life, it was very reassuring.”

Care Leavers at the University of Huddersfield can access practical and emotional support from the designated support for care leavers, co-ordinated by Rebecca Hayes, and equally from the wider Wellbeing Team.

“The support is available to any student of any age who has been in care,” said Rebecca, “and this support can even begin before they start at the University and extend to after they have graduated.   In essence, we try and give care leavers the reassurance that they aren’t alone,” she added.

The theme of this year’s Care Leavers Week was ‘Raising Aspirations.’  Only 6% of care leavers enter Higher Education compared with almost 50% of the general population and this is largely due to the lower qualifications that they achieve in school in the context of the disruption in their lives.  

“Changing lives is what the university does best,” said Rebecca.  “Care leavers that do enter HE and complete their degrees are just as likely to achieve a first or upper second class degree as their peers.  We want to do everything we can to redress some of the barriers and challenges that young people growing up in care have faced, so that they can access Higher Education and benefit from the opportunities that come with it.  

Mark Cohen agreed that care leavers can suffer stigma.  “I have known people in care homes who didn’t go down the same path as me and ended up in prison,” he said.

“Care leavers are already at a disadvantage by being labelled as naughty or disruptive in the education setting.  They have numerous obstacles to overcome before even considering Higher Education, and that’s where the service plays a very important role for us.”

Rebecca added that care leavers are often unable to access options, so their aspirations were not raised and they are not expected to do well in life.

Mark is one of the care leavers who has defied the stereotype and he has now followed his First Class BSc degree with a Master’s course in psychology.   For his final-year undergraduate dissertation, he researched the influence of the generational divide on the EU referendum result.  For his Masters, he will look into the clinical aspects of mental health treatment and the way will then be open to him to become a chartered psychologist, working in healthcare settings.

“I was always interested in psychology,” said the former chef.  “I like to know how people work, and watch them interact.”