UCB joins Fatima Whitbread’s Action Hub for care‑experienced students | News

July 2026

University joins Fatima Whitbread’s Action Hub to strengthen support for care experienced students

By Claire Huggins

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University College Birmingham is delighted to announce that it’s been welcomed as a member of Fatima’s UK Campaign’s new Action Hub initiative.

The University joins a growing national movement led by Olympian and Care Ambassador, Fatima Whitbread MBE, to improve opportunities and outcomes for children, young people and adults with care experience.

The Action Hub initiative brings together education providers, charities, employers, health organisations and local authorities committed to driving practical, collaborative change. The model aims to move beyond discussion and create sustainable approaches that can be replicated on a national scale.

Fatima Whitbread MBE

A shared commitment to care experienced young people

Welcoming UCB to the network, Fatima Whitbread MBE said the University had shown “a real commitment to understanding the needs of care experienced students and to working collaboratively to remove the barriers they too often face.”

She added that the Action Hub partnership is helping to build “a blueprint for how education, health, local authorities, charities and employers can work together to improve lives.”

This announcement follows a period of reflection and development at UCB, where the University has been reviewing how it can further strengthen the existing support available to care experienced students, throughout their academic journey.

Sean Preston, Deputy Dean (School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment) and Chair of UCB’s Care Experienced Steering Group, said the partnership will enable the University to “share best practice, develop innovative approaches, influence positive change and contribute to models of excellence that improve outcomes for care experienced students across the UK.”

"Education has the power to transform lives... Together, we are not just changing individual lives - we are helping to shape a stronger, more inclusive society for generations to come."

Fatima Whitbread MBE Care Advocate and Olympian

Supporting care experienced students at UCB

UCB already offers a dedicated package of support for care experienced and care leaver students, including:

specialist advice and guidance from the University’s support teams
help with accommodation arrangements, including support during holiday periods
financial guidance and access to bursaries where eligible
priority access to wellbeing and pastoral services
a named contact for ongoing support throughout a student’s studies.

These measures are designed to help students feel safe, supported and confident as they progress through university life. More information about UCB’s current support offer is available on the University’s care experienced student support page.

Part of Birmingham’s pioneering Super Action Hub

By joining the Action Hub network, UCB becomes part of Birmingham’s new Super Action Hub, a regional collaboration focused on improving mental health, education pathways, employment opportunities, financial awareness and access to sport, arts and technology for care experienced young people.

Birmingham is home to one of the UK’s largest populations of care experienced children and young people, creating both a significant responsibility and a unique opportunity to drive positive change. The Super Action Hub aims to bring organisations together to share expertise, remove barriers and create long term improvements across the care sector.

Haroon Bashir, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at UCB, described the partnership as “wonderful news for University College Birmingham,” adding that the University looks forward to contributing to this important national cause.

Tracy-Anne Rider, UCB’s Designated Safeguarding Lead and Head of FE Pastoral Support, said UCB’s involvement will help “empower care experienced students, strengthen partnerships across sectors and create a more inclusive future for learners with care experience.”

Looking ahead

Joining the Action Hub represents an important step in UCB’s ongoing commitment to widening participation, inclusion and student success. While further developments will be announced in due course, the partnership reinforces the University’s dedication to ensuring care experienced students have the opportunities, support and sense of belonging needed to achieve their full potential.

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