GHWY Beyond Care Network No.2: CPD programme praised for best practice

Welcome to the June edition of Go Higher West Yorkshire's Care to Go Higher Newsletter. We aim to connect those working with care experienced young people across the region to Higher Education (HE) through regular monthly news, events and updates.

In this issue we spotlight the University of Bradford, bring you exciting news about two youth voice projects we have commissioned, and showcase employability resources including a new virtual work experience programme.

News

Office for Students highlights GHWY's Care to Go Higher CPD Programme as good practice

GHWY's work with key influencers of children in care has been recognised nationally as best practice by the Office for Students.

The organisation's report - 'Consistency needed: Care experienced students and higher education' - considers obstacles these students face and how they can be addressed.

Read more about our inclusion here

Click here to view the OfS report

GHWY commissions new youth voice projects

Youth Work Unit Yorkshire and Humber is delivering two youth voice projects on behalf of GHWY.

Working with young people who identify as disabled / having a specific learning difficulty and refugee and asylum-seeking young people, it is conducting a youth consultation to explore views on HE.

It is also running a social action project, where participants can raise awareness of the value of HE in their communities.

Read more about the projects here

Upcoming higher education events

8-17 June - Politics and International Relations Festival, Leeds Beckett University

12 June - Undergraduate Music Open Day, Leeds Conservatoire

17 June - Progression and HE for students with English as an Additional Language, University Centre Leeds College

19 June - Open Day, Wakefield College

19 June - Virtual Undergraduate Open Day: Live, University of Bradford

23 June - Why Leeds?, Leeds Arts University, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University and University of Leeds

24 June - In Conversation, Amelia Gentleman (Author of The Windrush Betrayal: Exposing the Hostile Environment), University of Huddersfield

29-30 June - Virtual Open Days, Kirklees College

3 July - Virtual Open Event, Bradford College

8-10 July - Chess The Musical (Live stream performed by students), Leeds Conservatoire

Spotlight on University of Bradford

The support we offer care experienced young people

Read about the support the University of Bradford provides for care experienced young people studying higher education.

Caroline Priestly, Senior Outreach and Recruitment Officer, writes about her role as a named care leaver contact and Bradford's commitment to supporting these young people.

Read more here

University of Bradford ranked number 1 for improving student life chances

A new ranking table for universities has seen Bradford come out on top for improving students social mobility.

The English Social Mobility Index was published by the Higher Education Policy Institute and is the first to measure the impact of universities on social mobility.

Read more here

Virtual tour of University of Bradford

See what it is like to study at the University through this online experience. You can watch guided video tours or explore campus interactively.

Explore the campus virtually here

Student blog: Sasha

Read about Sasha, a student at the University of Bradford. She spent time in care as a child and then was excluded from school age 15 before completing an Access to HE course at Bradford College and going on to higher education.

Read Sasha's piece here

Latest HE sector updates

Blog: If we get it right, digital and online learning will change the world, Prof. Simone Buitendijk

University of Leeds Vice Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, writes about the potential of digital transformation within the higher education sector to transform learning and increase connectivity.

Read the full blog here

Student Minds launches applications for Mental Health Chater

Higher education providers are invited to sign up for the Mental Health Charter which brings together institutions committed to creating a cultural change around mental health and wellbeing. There is also the opportunity for providers to earn awards based around good practice.

Read more on the charter here

Government proposes move to post-qualification admissions

The UK government has proposed changes to the higher education admissions process which would reform the current system so that applicants apply to providers after receiving their level 3 qualifications. However, there are concerns over whether this will improve inequalities for young people from underrepresented groups.

Read GHWY's response to the proposal here

Focus on "Employability Skills" Resources

Writing a CV workshop

Help guide young people through writing a CV, including a presentation and resources.

Visit the resource here.

Key employability skills activities

Activities to help young people break down what skills employers might be looking for.

View the resource here

LEP - Future Goals virtual work experience

An exciting new project by Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership that allows young people to undertake a virtual work experience journey.

See the programme here

View the GHWY Care Leaver Covenant

All thirteen HE partners have signed up to the GHWY Care Leaver Covenant, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to this group.

View the Covenant here

Download our resource pack here

Go Higher West Yorkshire has created a resource pack on higher education that is available for those working with children in care.

Register for the pack here

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Click here to see our Care Leaver work and previous articles