Care leavers get great support at Huddersfield, says graduate Vanessa

Graduate Vanessa Rodgers has praised the University of Huddersfield’s support for her as a care experienced student.

Vanessa graduated in Childhood Studies having benefitted from a range of educational, practical and emotional support from the University’s Wellbeing Team and staff on her course.

A care leaver is someone who spent time in the care of a local authority when they were a child, with foster families, in residential homes or other arrangements outside of their own family.

Vanessa lived in care from around the age of four and had settled with her foster family by her early teens when they moved from the south coast to Yorkshire, something that a positive effect on Vanessa.

“My previous school had offered very little support to me as someone with experience of living in care, but the school I moved to in Yorkshire were incredibly supportive,” she says. “Things improved for me so much that I achieved eight GCSEs, but college afterwards was a bit of a struggle.

Discover more about the University's support for Care Leavers

“I don’t think ‘academically’, I am more about learning about physical, tangible things and I did animal management which I loved. I then worked in a nursery for two years, and I discovered that really loved working with children. But because I didn’t have qualifications, I was not taken as seriously as I wanted, so I returned to college to do an access course to get the UCAS points I needed to get onto the degree.”

Her time at the University coincided with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which coupled with some anxiety on Vanessa’s part saw her receiving support both from her tutor Dr Lindsey Watson and Rebecca Hayes and the Wellbeing team.

'Amazing' support from Wellbeing Team

The team’s help ranges from guidance on financial help available to educational support, as well as friendly faces to turn to when the step up to university life becomes overwhelming.

“Rebecca and the wellbeing team’s support was amazing. At an open day before I joined the University, we asked about support for care leavers and we found out about the support they offer from a very early stage.

“In my first year, and at a late stage, Rebecca arranged some support sessions for me as I was struggling to get work in on time. I had weekly support sessions that kept me on track for a few months that were really helpful. She also sourced laptops through a fund they have access to, and then found me an even better one further into my course.

“My tutor Lindsey’s help was great for me as well. She really kept me on track, and when I struggled she’d help me clean up the mess, get everything in. I was overwhelmed a bit at times, and she’d tell me off a bit at times but then she would help me get cracking and she was just amazing with me.”

The University can offer support that is specifically tailored to the needs of each student, and can help with:

• Information and support with enrolling/registering
• Support with applying for a care leaver bursary
• Both academic and personal support
• Assistance liaising with accommodation providers.

Students can also access our range of free Workshops and groups and when appropriate, and can get additional support with other services across the University.

If you would like more details about the support available for care experienced students, please contact Rebecca Hayes - r.hayes@hud.ac.uk