Care leavers and care experienced further education students

• Accommodation is available throughout the year, 365 days a year. This means you can stay in University accommodation during holiday periods, throughout term time and when the University is closed during the summer.
• Through Housing Hand, you may be eligible to apply without a guarantor and receive a 35% discount on its fees. To apply for this service, please use the UCB dedicated link.
• There is a monthly timetable of social events and activities, including during holiday periods and University closures, giving you the opportunity to meet other residents within the community. You can find the timetable, along with useful information about living at The Maltings, by following UCB Accommodation on Instagram.
• Advice and guidance are available from the Residential Community team at The Maltings. The team is fully trained and available to support you from the moment you know you are coming to UCB, when you move in and throughout your time with us.

Additional support for care leavers

• Four weeks of free accommodation at the beginning of Semester 2, equivalent to £632.
• A £50 UniKit voucher, which can be used to purchase starter-kit essentials through the UniKit website. UniKit also provides an additional 10% discount on the price of its items.

Our accommodation is available to Further Education students who are over the age of 18.

If you are coming to study a college course at Level 3 or below, you may be eligible for support through our 16–19 Bursary, depending on your household income.

Support may include:

• An NX Bus West Midlands travel pass
• Help towards the cost of your uniform and equipment
• Free meals at college

Care leavers are also given priority when laptops are allocated on loan.

As a care leaver, you may be eligible for a contextual offer. This will normally be one grade lower than the standard entry requirements shown on our course pages or in our prospectus, although the offer may vary depending on the course you would like to study.

If you have any questions, please contact our Admissions team by calling 0121 604 1040 or emailing admissions@ucb.ac.uk.

We have a dedicated team, led by Tracy-Anne Rider, Designated Safeguarding Lead and Head of FE Pastoral Support, who provide advice and guidance for care leavers, care experienced students and their advisers.

If you are considering a college or sixth-form programme at UCB, the team can answer your questions, explain the support available and connect you with the most appropriate service to help make your transition to UCB as smooth as possible.

You can also attend a Transition Day before starting your studies. This gives you the opportunity to tour the campus, meet students with similar life experiences, visit our halls of residence at The Maltings and, if you choose, stay overnight free of charge.

To contact Tracy-Anne and the team, email careexperienced@ucb.ac.uk.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Team

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Team provides counselling and mental health and wellbeing advice. They offer booked appointments for students, and you will be given priority.

To book an appointment for mental health and wellbeing support, you will need to complete the online registration form and share your care leaver or care experienced status. This can be accessed through the UCB Portal.

Once the team receives your application, you will be contacted by email with a date and time for an assessment, based on the availability you provide on the application form.

As a care leaver or care experienced young person, you can also arrange a meeting with a Mental Health and Wellbeing Adviser to discuss your needs, progress and how the team can support you holistically. Your personal adviser can also attend the meeting if you wish.

Speak Out and Support

Our Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Support Service provides a safe, confidential space where you can talk and be heard. Specialist advisers offer free, non-judgemental support to students who have experienced sexual misconduct and harassment, stalking, spiking and domestic abuse.

You can speak in confidence with one of our advisers, who will listen without judgement, respect your choices and support you at your own pace. They will help you explore your options and make informed decisions about what comes next, whether you choose to report or not.

You can find out more information or make a referral through our Speak Out and Support page, or email studentcases@ucb.ac.uk.

Careers and Employability Support

At University College Birmingham, we recognise that care leavers and care experienced students may face additional challenges when planning their careers. Through HIRED, our dedicated employability, careers and placements service, we offer inclusive, personalised support to help you build confidence, develop your options and progress into employment or further study.

Our experienced team provides impartial careers advice and guidance tailored to your individual circumstances. We are here to support you from the start of your studies, helping you prepare for your next steps as you transition into employment, an apprenticeship or further education.

How HIRED can support you

Care leavers and care experienced students can access additional, flexible support to help you:

• Explore and develop realistic career options that reflect your goals and strengths
• Plan and access work experience, volunteering and placement opportunities
• Develop employability skills, including CV writing, applications and interview preparation
• Build confidence in professional environments and recruitment processes
• Explore progression into further study, training, apprenticeships or employment

Support can be adapted to your needs and accessed through one-to-one guidance, workshops and employer-focused activities.

Further Education students

For Further Education students, HIRED works alongside pastoral and curriculum teams to provide early careers guidance, skills development and progression planning. This can support your transition into employment, an apprenticeship or further study.

FE HIRED also offers personalised, one-to-one sessions to help ensure appropriate support arrangements are in place before you begin a placement.

If you identify as a care leaver or care experienced student, you are encouraged to let the team know so we can ensure you are aware of and able to access the full range of available support.

You can contact the team by emailing hired@ucb.ac.uk.

• Access the Estranged and Care Experienced Students (EaCES) Handbook. This virtual guide was written by estranged and care experienced students and brings together information and advice to support other students from similar backgrounds.
• You can search for support offered by individual local authorities through the Care Leaver Local Offer.
• Coram Voice can help you have your voice heard, understand your rights and access support, including help when working with a social worker.
• The Rees Foundation is a lifelong support network offering help and advice to care experienced individuals about a wide range of concerns. The foundation also runs a number of projects that celebrate personal and professional achievements.