SUPPORTING CARE-EXPERIENCED STUDENTS AT UWS
The Scottish Funding Council define the term care-experienced as
anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked-after background at any stage in their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked-after. This care may have been provided in a one of many different settings such as in residential care, foster care, kinship care, or through being looked-after at home with a supervision requirement.
MORE ABOUT SFC'S STRATEGY ON CARE-EXPERIENCED STUDENTS
UWS care experienced students have recently set up a SAUWS group which offers friendship, support and information on what is going on at UWS and wider afield. To contact the group email careexperienced@uws.ac.uk
There have recently been some videos produced by the group answering some questions about what it is like to be care experienced and studying at university which you can find at https://uws.mydaycloud.com
SUPPORTING ESTRANGED STUDENTS AT UWS
The Stand Alone Charity who works to support estranged students defines estranged students as young people studying without the support and approval of a family network.
UWS is committed to supporting estranged students at UWS. The University has taken The Stand Alone Pledge which helps institutions to support estranged students by providing a public commitment to improving policies and increasing support for students studying without a family network. If you are thinking of studying/or currently studying at UWS estranged from your family and would like to know what additional support might be available or for further information please contact: WeCare@uws.ac.uk
Supporting Student Carers at UWS
Carers Trust Scotland defines a carer as anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or relative who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.
There are many commitments that students who are caring unpaid for a member of their family, friend who is ill, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. UWS is currently working towards the Aim Higher Award for Student Carers though the Carers Trust Scotland.
Our named contacts for these students are Alison Hillis and Mary Young, you can contact them via email at WeCare@uws.ac.uk
UWS as a Corporate Parent
UWS is committed to supporting care experienced students. To meet this commitment, we have developed a wide range of support services to ensure that all students fulfil their potential, achieve their goals and enjoy their time at UWS. We have a strong tradition of working with care experienced applicants and students and this commitment is embedded in all of our provision. This is a strategic priority for UWS and we will continue to work in partnership both internally and externally with other Corporate Parents to provide support so that our care experienced students will have a positive experience at UWS from pre-entry to after graduation.