30/10/2013

Foster-Care Students Urged To Seek Support

Too many young people who have spent time in care are missing out on much-needed support while at university, according to a foster charity.

The Fostering Network NI has launched its 'Tick the Box' awareness campaign to encourage students who have spent time in care to tick the box on their UCAS form saying they are care experienced.

The care offered "will vary from university to university and can range from additional financial support in the form of a bursary to practical support to help care leavers settle into university, find accommodation or manage finances," the charity said.

Margaret Kelly, director of the Fostering Network Northern Ireland, added: "The Fostering Network Northern Ireland has high aspirations for all young people in care. That is why we are working with the University of Ulster and the Health and Social Care Board to launch this campaign to ensure all those involved in a looked after child’s life enable them to fulfil their aspirations.

"That means foster carers actively supporting young people to go to university, Health Trusts providing funding and support for the young person attending university and the universities themselves offering active support and encouragement.

"The University of Ulster has done just this. The focus of the Tick the Box campaign is to empower care experienced young people to get the advice and support on offer and encourage all of those involved in their lives to support them in doing so.”

Jillian Dalton is the foster carer of a young person intending to go to university next year.

She said: "I am supporting the Tick the Box campaign because I know that as a foster carer you need to go the extra mile to support a looked after young person through their journey of education. This is especially important if you want to help them overcome the barriers they face and to enable them to succeed educationally.

"I welcome this important and positive initiative. It will help looked after young people to access and be supported through third level education, and enable them to achieve their full potential."

The Fostering Network Northern Ireland will be sending information leaflets and promotional products to all young people in care in lower and upper sixth to encourage them to Tick the Box.

The charity will also be writing to schools, encouraging them to be aware of the need for care experienced young people to 'Tick the Box'.

(IT/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 May 2022
Finance Minister To Ensure Energy Payments Are Made In NI
Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, has said that he is committed to working with Treasury to ensure the Energy Bills Support Scheme will provide assistance to citizens here given the absence of an Executive.
22 March 2022
£5m Announced For NI's Care Home Sector
A £5 million support package has been announced to help Northern Ireland's care home sector with rising energy costs. Care homes, like the rest of society, have been dealing with sharply rising energy prices. The £5m funding will be allocated by HSC Trusts on the basis of bed numbers per home.
21 February 2020
NI Charity Advocates For Youths Growing Up In Care
A local charity is calling on the United Nations to officially designate Care Day as the International Day of Care Experienced People to support children and young people who are or have been in care.
22 November 2022
Successful Project To Improve Traveller Health And Wellbeing
A project to improve the health and wellbeing of the Traveller community and improve relations with settled communities has been successfully completed by Belfast City Council and partners.
11 August 2022
UUP Welcomes Commitment To Energy Bill Support Scheme
The Ulster Unionist Party has welcomed a renewed commitment from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that equivalent support under the energy bills support scheme will be delivered to households in Northern Ireland East Belfast MLA and Communities Spokesperson, Andy Allen, said: "Since the energy bills support scheme was announced by the then Chancello