Support for Careleaver Undergraduates
The University of Winchester provides excellent tailored support for students who have come from a background in care (looked-after children) and holds the Buttle UK Quality Mark for Careleavers in HE
The University provides tailored support to all full-time undergraduate students from a background in care, including a designated Welfare Adviser, support with financial planning and budgeting, and accommodation in University housing for the duration of their course.
The University of Winchester provides a King Alfred Scholarship of £1,750 per year (from September 2012, and subject to approval by OfFA) to support any young person entering the University who is under 25, and who has been ‘looked after’ by any local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14.
The King Alfred Scholarship may also be available to students who have been privately fostered up to the age of 16,or who have been the subject of a Special Guardianship Order and were ‘looked after’ immediately prior to the making of the order.
This is in addition to any other bursaries and scholarships to which students may be entitled.
In 2006 the University of Winchester signed a Compact Agreement with Hampshire Children’s Services to encourage more young people leaving care to progress to University. 
The Agreement presents alternative criteria for entry to the University of Winchester and gives additional credit for achievement in areas of experience other than the ones measured through usual examinations. This recognises the fact that many young people in the care system experience disruption to their education through no fault of their own, and that as a result their educational qualifications may not fully reflect their potential to succeed at university.
The Agreement extends the close partnership which has already been built between the University of Winchester and Hampshire Children’s Services. This has included training for staff at the University to meet the needs of care leavers, as well as residential summer schools, taster days and activities at the University specifically targeted at raising the educational aspirations of young people in care.
Leanne
“The University of Winchester has been very supportive. If it wasn’t for the staff at the University I would never have had the confidence to apply.
The level of support received is fantastic and it’s given me confidence to know that I have such an excellent support network behind me.”
