Inspiring young people in care

ta385 — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:40:38 +0000

Will Lyon Tupman, a first-year theology and religious studies student at Girton college, is just over half way through his exams and is feeling quietly confident about those he still has to sit. Taking a day off from his revision, Will has joined a team of student ambassadors involved in Realise, a ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge Widening Participation programme which encourages young people in care to consider higher education.

As a teenager, Will attended two Realise events himself, travelling from his home in North Yorkshire to discover what university could offer him. As Will recalls, those visits left a big impression

“My foster parents said I should take a photo of Cambridge and pin it on my bedroom wall as something to aim for. I did and with lots of support from them, and hard work, I got my place. I’m very happy to be here. Everyone has been so welcoming and I’ve made so many great friends.”

Will speaks passionately about his course, his Christian faith and his extra-curricular activities which include singing in the college choir, cross-country running and photography. This is the third Realise event that Will has helped run and he is determined to carry on.

“It’s just very rewarding to know that you’ve played a positive part in someone’s life”, he says.

In the morning, Will leads a group of 11-14 year-olds from Hackney, Manchester and Suffolk on a trivia trail around Cambridge. “Above the Great Gate of Trinity College, what is Henry VIII holding in his right hand?” he asks. A table leg, it turns out. “What sports are being played on Jesus Green?” Rowing, tennis, Frisbee, football and … Quidditch, everyone observes in amazement. Cambridge, it appears, is a place full of unusual opportunities.

After a tour of the fittingly Hogwartsian Magdalene (est.1428) and a much-needed lunch break, everyone heads to Cripps Court, home to the college’s 21st Century undergraduate accommodation and conference facilities.

Will gets things underway with a fifteen minute talk offering his personal perspective on making the journey from care to university. Everyone in the audience is given post-it notes so they can write down their questions and have them answered anonymously.

Will says “ ̽��ֱ��young people usually ask me about what life is like here, what lectures are like, whether we have to cook for ourselves and whether it’s hard living away from home. Their guardians are very keen to know exactly what support, emotional and financial, is available, both from the ̽��ֱ�� and local authorities. There is a really strong network of support here which includes bursaries, college and student-led welfare systems, counselling services and academic support.”

After Will’s talk, everyone heads upstairs to explore the Science Carousel, six interactive demonstrations overseen by expert volunteers, most of whom are Cambridge PhD students. One table brims with animal skeletons which Laura, a PhD criminologist and biology enthusiast, uses to discuss evolution, habitat and animal behaviour. Opposite, Surangi from the Physiology department, is setting off mini-explosions using lemon juice and sodium bicarbonate to discuss chemical reactions. Nearby, Sarah from Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, is using food colouring to explain interactions between different blood types. Meanwhile, Holly, a post-grad chemist, is unravelling the mysteries of fluorescence using a UV light, highlighter pens, sun tan lotion, a £5 note and a bottle of tonic water.

At the end of an action-packed day, Will joins project coordinator, Claire Gardner, in a wrapping-up session and encourages everyone to stay in touch.

Realise events run throughout the year and the ̽��ֱ��’s Widening Participation team is always available to offer advice and support to care leavers interested in applying to Cambridge, as well as their teachers, support workers, carers or guardians.
To find out more visit www.cam.ac.uk/care-events

A Cambridge undergraduate who grew up in care is inspiring others to aim high and realise their potential.

My foster parents said I should take a photo of Cambridge and pin it on my bedroom wall as something to aim for. I did and with lots of support from them, and hard work, I got my place.

Will Lyon Tupman

Will Lyon Tupman at the Realise Science Carousel

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Yes

Insight Day shares best practice on supporting children in care into university

sjr90 — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:31:47 +0000

Organised by the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge’s Realise project for young people in care, and hosted by Newnham College, the Insight Day included an update on student finance, a session on careers, and a tour of the College’s accommodation and study facilities.

Realise aims to support young people in care to access Higher Education by providing taster days at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, packed with advice, inspiration and support.

A typical Realise event includes academic-led sessions focusing on a particular subject area, an opportunity to explore the ̽��ֱ��, and age-appropriate talks about support for care leavers at university, student finance and careers. Student ambassadors– and if possible a care leaver - are also on hand throughout the day to discuss student life.

̽��ֱ��Insight Day was created in recognition of the important role foster carers and other professionals play in providing advice and support to young people considering whether to stay in education.

“ ̽��ֱ��adults in our lives can have a huge impact on us as we grow up,” explains Claire Gardner, who co-ordinates the Realise project at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge.

“Ensuring that professionals and carers have accurate, up-to-date information about higher education and the support available for care leavers, is crucial to young people in care considering university as a realistic option for them.”

Irene Smith attended as one of a group of foster carers from Essex. “We need to find out ourselves, because it’s changed so much recently,” Irene said. “ ̽��ֱ��information about financial support was especially helpful.

“It’s also been interesting to see the steps you take to apply through UCAS.

“These days are really good. Each time you come to one you learn a little bit more,” Irene added.

“ ̽��ֱ��Insight Day gave participants the opportunity to shared their experiences of supporting children in care in their education, and the challenges that they faced,” Claire commented.

“Everyone worked together to suggest ways forward, and I feel really positive knowing that these professionals left the event feeling equipped with the information and skills necessary to support the young people in their care to succeed in their education, and aspire to attend university.”

For more about Realise, and the support available for children in care who are thinking about apply to university, visit: www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/care

Foster carers, social workers and education professionals working with children in care enjoyed an opportunity to share best practice and find out more about supporting young people into university at the 2014 Realise Insight Day.

“These days are really good. Each time you come to one you learn a little bit more."

Irene Smith, Foster Carer

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Yes

̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Realise

Inspiring young people in care

Insight Day shares best practice on supporting children in care into university