The University of Greenwich has been recognised for its continuing commitment to helping teenagers in care get into higher education.

The Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for Care Leavers highlights the work of institutions, which go the extra mile to support students who have been in public care. Founded in 1937 and operational since 1953, the Frank Buttle Trust is the largest UK charity providing grant aid solely to individual children and young people in desperate need.

For the past two years the University of Greenwich at Medway, in collaboration, with its partners at the Chatham Maritime campus, has staged a non-residential summer school for care leavers.
More than 20 people attended the recent summer school, which saw a range of taster subjects on offer to students. These included opportunities to learn more about courses in psychology, criminology, sport science as well as health & social care. Sessions on improving negotiating skills and confidence were also offered to the students.

Event organiser Will Calver, from the University of Greenwich at Medway, says: “Currently the national progression rate of youngsters in care going into higher education is 6% and we are keen to improve this. By getting people onto the university campus they can see the facilities on offer and the opportunities available to them here on their doorstep and help breakdown barriers they may have thought stood in their way of entering higher education.”

As well as the annual summer school, which is a joint project with the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Greenwich has taken other steps to support care leavers. These have included providing year-round accommodation, study support and mentoring for A-level students in subjects such as history and maths.

Will adds: “We have a programme of support for care leavers while they are here but we believe it is also important to help potential university students as well so there is also pre-entry help available. We are very pleased to have received the award as it is an endorsement of the work we are doing for care leavers.”

For more general enquiries about the University of Greenwich, telephone 0800 005 006 or e-mail: courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk