Student Financial Support Conference – March 2015

A third sector approach:Supporting care leavers and estranged students through accommodation based scholarships

Jenny Shaw – Unite Foundation

Kath Bridger & Claire Anderson – BSV Associates

BSVAssociates

1

Unite Foundation Scholarship Package:

• Provides scholarships to “students for whom a secure home is of particular significance”.

• Free accommodation and a cash bursary

• Awarded for the duration of the student’s undergraduate programme of study

• 7 HEI partners / 90 scholarships awarded to date

2

BSVAssociates

The research study:

• Mixed method study

• Survey of all current scholars

• Qualitative interviews with 5 students and 16 HE staff

• Qualitative review of the operation and outputs from the scheme

Limitations:

• Relatively small scale

• 30% response rate to survey

• Early days in development of the scholarship offer

3

BSVAssociates

Access to university

4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

The scholarship made itpossible for me to go to

university

Without it I would have had towork term time to meet basic

financial commitments

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree or disagree

Disagree

BSVAssociates

Source: Unite Foundation Scholars Survey 2014

“I couldn’t afford to go to university without the scholarship”

Stated by all students interviewed in the qualitative study

5

BSVAssociates

Retention

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Without the scholarship Imight have had to drop out

The scholarship made itpossible for me to stay at

university

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree or disagree

Disagree

6

BSVAssociates

Source: Unite Foundation Scholars Survey 2014

“Before I received my scholarship it got to the point where I had to choose between travelling to a

lecture or food”

Student in receipt of Scholarship

7

BSVAssociates

Academic Achievement

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Without the scholarship Imay not have done so well

academically

Knowing my living costs arecovered helped me to focus

on my academic work

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree nordisagree

8

BSVAssociates

Source: Unite Foundation Scholars Survey 2014

Well being

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

It has enabled me to volunteer

It has made it easier to participate in clubs/societies/ activities

It has made it easier to socialise

I don't have to worry about money while atuni

Without the scholarship I would have feltstressed

Neither agree or disagree Agree Strongly agree

9

BSVAssociates

Source: Unite Foundation Scholars Survey 2014

“I was sick of moving house”

Student in receipt of Scholarship

“All anxieties and concerns are lifted off their shoulders”

Member of HEI Staff

10

BSVAssociates

The staff perspective:

• Provision of meaningful support to students who might otherwise “fall between the cracks”, eg estranged students

• Alleviation of financial and housing pressures for a cohort of students with a particular set of circumstances / needs

• Liberating - “the difference between a positive outlook and merely surviving” (HE staff member)

• Enables recipients to participate fully in university life

11

BSVAssociates

The university experience

Without the scholarship I would not be able to get as much out of my time at university

Strongly agree

Agree

Neither agree or disagree

12

BSVAssociates

Source: Unite Foundation Scholars Survey 2014

• Facilitation of access to university for target cohort

• Supporting retention of students on their programme of study

• Assurance of wellbeing of students

• Potential for impact on academic achievement

Indicative impact:

13

BSVAssociates

Where next?

• Investigating potential for longer term impact

• Need to understand benefit of a targeted approach which addresses specific need

• Explore the potential for developing post graduation approaches to social mobility

14

BSVAssociates