Leicestershire Cares’ latest care experienced podcast, Fostering a New Approach, explores the issues surrounding care experienced young people and university.
This episode Casey and Diana speak to Kim Emenike, a care leaver and recent graduate from Loughborough University
Only 12% of care leavers make it to University compared with the 43% of the general population who participate, and once there over half of care leavers consider dropping out of university due to a mix of health problems, money worries, high workloads and personal and family issues
It can be hard, but it can also be rewarding, inspiring and life changing. So how can care experienced young people be better supported to make a success in higher education?
Main talking points
- Relying on friend’s parents to drive Kim and her belongings up to university because her corporate parent wouldn’t
- Living in a hostel at 17 with no wifi, and finding the self-belief to study for her A-levels
- Motivation - Not wanting to be a negative statistic
- Support for money is fine, but support of wellbeing can be difficult to find
- Care experienced young people do not get encouraged to go to university from their corporate parent
- Conversation at 16-18, should be about options for futures, like university, or apprenticeships, or entrepreneurship.
- Life is not a race. You don’t have to go to university at 18.
- Put yourself out there
Podcast Information
Social media:
@KimEmenike
@DianaOmokore
@_caseyarmstrong
Research for this podcast:
Why we must do more to support care leavers at university
Care leavers in higher education: how many are there and why does it matter?
Get involved in the podcast
If you have a questions for Casey and Diana to discuss on their podcast, tweet them at @LeicsCares #CEYPPODCAST or email jacob@leicestershirecares.co.uk
For more information about our Voices project contact jacob@leicestershirecares.co.uk
Find out how we work with care experienced young people
Past Podcasts
Fostering A New Approach Episode 1: Care leavers in lockdown
Fostering A New Approach Episode 3: The Exit Strategy for Care Leavers
Fostering A New Approach Episode 4: Housing and Accommodation
Fostering A New Approach Episode 5: Unregulated accommodation for children in care and care leavers