Issue - meetings

Officers updated the Panel with the status of the actions agreed at the previous Panel meeting.

In regards to the action in September 2020:

1 - To update the Panel with data relating to support given to young people in universities.

There was support in line with the Local Offer. Young people at university would have:

• Personal Adviser or Social Worker
• Pathway Plan
• General advice and assistance
• Visit once every two months
• The opportunity to reach out to Personal Adviser to seek support
• Vacation Accommodation - If a young person was at university and accommodation was not for 365 days a year, then they were entitled to services support. Alternatively, if the young person found somewhere for the holiday then the young person could be given up to £400.00 per month as a contribution towards rent. Other care leavers may be able to make arrangements with family members or friends and would not need support.
• Higher Education Bursary (HEB) of £2,000.00, usually paid in instalments of £666.67 over the three academic years of university
• Support to make an application to Student Finance England for tuition and maintenance loans.
• A Graduation Fund of £1000 towards the cost of gown hire, graduation photos, mortar, and so forth when graduating from university.

The support provided to young people at university was very much the support provided to young people who leave care to reside within the community.