What support is available for care leavers?

If you are a care leaver – a student who is under 25 and has been cared for by any local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 – then you will be eligible for further support. We also support care experienced students who may not fulfil the above description, but have had care provided in one of many different settings, such as:

• With foster carers under local authority care 
• In a residential children’s home
• Being ‘looked after at home’ under a supervision order
• Living with friends or relatives in kinship care.
• We are connected to the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) enabling us to learn and share best practices and provide the best support.

The university has a range of support available to care leavers, including: 

• Financial support – including a care leaver's bursary
• Confirmation of estrangement
• Accommodation support
• Long term laptop loans
• Access to  Learning Fund
• Sports funding
• Careers and employability support
• Care Leaver Covenant

For more detailed information on the support available to you please visit our student communities page. You can also contact the MySurrey Hive team via Surrey Support to talk about support opportunities available to you.