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24 Oct 2006 16:16:55
Young people from a care background in Luton are being encouraged to raise their academic aspirations thanks to a new project that aims to remove the barriers to accessing higher education.
Aimhigher and the University of Bedfordshire have been working with carers and support providers in Luton to develop the ‘Reach Your Goal’ project which will help young people to go to university. A special Open Day lunch will be held on Friday 27 October to raise awareness of the scheme.
Roisin Mcintyre, Aimhigher Development Officer said: “ Those from a care background often have to move around the county or change foster home during term-time and as a result change schools four or five times. In some cases, young people in care have to leave their community and move to other parts of the UK.
“This constant disruption coupled with a higher risk of being bullied by other schoolchildren means many leave with very few formal qualifications. This project seeks to reverse the situation.”
Nationally, 43 per cent of 18-year-olds progress into higher education, with just two per cent of those from a care background attending university.
The ‘Reach Your Goal’ initiative has been working with care leavers in producing a financial guide aimed at informing young people of their financial entitlements if they decide to go into further or higher education.
The project team has clinched funding from the European Social Fund to set up a Summer School in 2007 to educate those leaving care about the transition from secondary school to further and higher education. The project will also inform them about the benefits of furthering their education.
The Open Day lunch will be from 12-2.30pm at the Cntre for Excellance in Teaching and Learning (CETL) Centre on Park Street at the University of Bedfordshire.
If you would like to find out more about the ‘Reach Your Goal’ project or about volunteering opportunities, contact Roisin McIntyre on 01582 743819 or e-mail roisin.mcintyre@beds.ac.uk.
Latest news» 2006» Oct» Looked after young people aimhigher for place at uni
