Opening Doors Webinars for Foster Carers and Supporters is a programme of workshops that provides the tools needed to empower care-experienced young people to make the right choices for them on their educational journey.
The series is open to carers of young people of all ages, not just those who may be leaving sixth form or college over the next couple of years.
Topics include:
- Raising aspirations and supporting decision-making
- University life as a care leaver
- Understanding finance and the application process
The series consists of three online sessions which follow-on from one another. We encourage carers and supporters to attend all three sessions:
Session One – Raising aspirations and supporting decision making
Wednesday 06 November, 10:00-11:30
This first session introduces how universities in Kent and Medway are committed to raising the aspirations of children in care.
We will focus on the school experience and how universities can support your young person to make an informed decision about further study, drawing on the lived experience of current care-leaver university students.
Session Two – Raising aspirations and supporting decision-making
Wednesday 20 November, 10:00-11:30
This session looks at what it is like to be at university, what opportunities there are, and the chance to meet Designated Members of Staff to learn about specific support available for care leavers at university.
Session aims:
- Learn about support available at university
- Hear from care experienced students about university life
- Understand who the key university contacts are for care experienced students, and meet some of them in the session
Session Three – Insights into applying for university and student finance
Wednesday 04 December, 10:00-11:30
This session goes through practical guidance for researching and applying for university. We share more about the options young people have and the decisions they will be making in order to empower foster carers to support their young people when making decisions about their futures.
Session Aims:
- Learn more about researching and applying to universities
- Gain an overview of student finance
- Hear from care experienced students about their journeys to Higher Education.
The session will be led by Outreach staff from University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, and University for the Creative Arts, and supported by care-experienced student ambassadors.
Sign-up to Attend
To come to all three sessions, please sign up to each session:
- Session One – Raising aspirations and supporting decision making, Wednesday 06 November, 10-11:30
- Session Two – University life for care- experienced students, Wednesday 20 November, 10-11:30
- Session Three – Insights into applying for university and student finance, Wednesday 04 December, 10-11:30
Opening Doors
Opening Doors is a collaborative programme of activities to support care-experienced young people into higher education. the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of the Creative Arts, and Kent and Medway Progression Federation work together on the following events:
- Opening Doors Webinars For Foster Carers and Supporters: Insight into higher education for care-experienced learners
- Opening Doors CPD For Professionals: Supporting care-experienced young people into higher education
- Opening Doors Campus Days For Students: Spring School
If you have any questions about this activity or any other activities for care-experienced young people and their supporters, please contact the University of Kent’s Outreach and Widening Participation team.