Care Experienced Learners

Application and Transition Support

Care experienced learners and care leavers are fully supported during their time at Oldham College and University Campus Oldham.

Oldham College

Oldham College works closely with care experienced learners. The Safeguarding and Wellbeing team liaises with the relevant services you are working with, to ensure you receive the appropriate support and guidance.

The team will attend if invited all Personal Education Plan meetings, Child Looked After Reviews and Team Around the Child meetings to ensure a smooth transition from school to college.

Before you start with us, we can arrange visits to our campus and taster days to help you decide on the right course. This will ensure you feel comfortable and confident in the college community environment whilst moving into post-16 education.

This support will continue throughout your time with us. All care experienced learners are assigned an allocated worker – a member of the Safeguarding and Wellbeing team – for support throughout the college journey.

Your allocated worker and the wider Safeguarding and Wellbeing team can support with bursary applications, bus pass applications, attend any meetings as required and offer emotional support.

University Campus Oldham

If an applicant discloses, either through a direct application or via UCAS, that they are a care leaver or care experienced, this information is forwarded to the named contact.

The named contact will then organise an initial assessment meeting with a member of the wider support team. This meeting begins the transition process and ensures the appropriate support is in place before you begin your studies at University Campus Oldham.

Throughout the transition process, you are given opportunities to familiarise yourself with the campus, support teams and academic staff.

University Campus Oldham also recognises students who are estranged from their families and offers specific support for these students.

Estranged students are:

• 18-24 years old
• Studying without the support and approval of a family network
• Have no contact with biological or adoptive family members for a significant period of time (12 months or more).

Estranged students do not have the same legal protections as care leavers. Local authorities have no statutory responsibility for their welfare. For more information please see UCAS – Students without parental support (estranged)

Support at Oldham College

Support for care experienced learners is in place throughout your time at Oldham College.

Financial support

The Oldham College Bursary can help with the costs of coming to college for eligible learners, and the Bursary team can provide guidance on how to apply.

Careers advice

Careers advice is available throughout the whole student journey, with key points throughout the academic year to look at progression routes and options.

Mental health and safeguarding support

Health and wellbeing plays a crucial role in succeeding. Our dedicated Safeguarding and Wellbeing team can support you with this at any point of your educational journey.

Personal development opportunities

We celebrate personal development and offer a variety of opportunities to enhance those softer skills that are vital to increasing progression and employment opportunities.

1:1 support

Your personal tutor and allocated worker will be available to offer 1:1 guidance and support throughout your time with us and to discuss your future progression options.

Support at University Campus Oldham

There is a range of support on offer for care experienced students and care leavers at University Campus Oldham.

Health and Wellbeing Support

Our dedicated Health and Wellbeing Coordinator offers support with mental health concerns, access to counselling and general emotional wellbeing. We also have a dedicated wellbeing space, the Wellbeing Hub, where students can access support informally through our Student Life Officer. Here, we offer crisis support, general wellbeing support and opportunities to participate in a range of group activities.

Financial Support

We offer a range of financial support options based on individual circumstances.

• The Cost of Living Support Fund provides financial support to help students remain on their Higher Education course and can assist with unexpected financial difficulties. Support is normally in the form of a non-repayable grant and care experienced students are prioritised for this.
• The University Campus Oldham Bursary Scheme ensures that all students with the potential to benefit from higher education have the opportunity to do so. To support this commitment, we offer the University Campus Oldham Bursary to eligible new first-year undergraduate students each year.

Find out more

• For more information on financial support, please visit University level support – Fees and finance.
• View the University Campus Oldham Propel profile on the Become website.

Contacts

These are the named points of contact for supporting care experienced learners and students, and care leavers, at Oldham College and University Campus Oldham.

Oldham College 

• Designated Tutor and Care Experienced Lead: David Littlewood, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Contact: safeguardingandwelfare@oldham.ac.uk  

University Campus Oldham 

• Named single point of contact: Laura Macmillan, Head of Support and Wellbeing Services 
• Contact: laura.macmillan@oldham.ac.uk  

National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) Quality Mark

Oldham College and University Campus Oldham are proud to have achieved the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) Quality Mark.

NNECL is a national charity that works to transform the educational outcomes of young people with experience of being in care. By connecting and empowering professionals working with people in care, NNECL aims to enable more care experienced young people to access and progress successfully through further and higher education.