support for care leavers & estranged students · students to meet their peers before the term...

SUPPORT FOR CARE LEAVERS & ESTRANGED STUDENTSYour Goldsmiths Journey

gold.ac.uk/care-leavers

care_leavers_A5_booklet_March2018.indd 1 23/03/2018 10:38

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Goldsmiths, University of London is based in New Cross, South-East London. We offer creative, contemporary and inspiring degrees in the arts, humanities, social sciences and computing. Goldsmiths is a warm and welcoming place, full of people from many walks of life. There is always someone to talk to when you have a question or need someone to listen.

We have a lot of support available for care leavers and estranged students, and want to outline what’s available at each stage of your journey with us – from before you apply right through to when you graduate.

What is meant by ‘care leaver’ or ‘estranged student’? A care leaver is defined as a person who has been in care for at least 13 weeks or more.

At Goldsmiths we also recognise kinship care – the care of children by relatives (including distant relatives) and family friends. You can find out more at buttleuk.org/areas-of-focus/kinship-care

An estranged student is defined as someone who has little, no, or negative contact with their family. You can find out more at standalone.org.uk/students

– Personalised campus tours (page 4) – Priority given for university preparation

schemes (page 4) – Special consideration of your

application (page 5) – Scholarships for care leavers (page 6) – Pre-entry careers support (page 6) – Support if you’re applying for

accommodation (page 6) – GoldStart university transition scheme

(page 7)

– Student advice and wellbeing service (page 8)

– A guaranteed place on our student ambassador assessment day [subject to application deadlines] (page 9)

– Care Leaver and Estranged Students Officer in the Students’ Union – the first position of its kind in the country (page 10)

– Access to the award-winning Open Book scheme (page 11)

Support for care leavers and estranged students at Goldsmiths


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“We are proud to welcome everyone to study at Goldsmiths – and especially so care leavers

and estranged students. This university is a true home for all who come here, providing

support and space where people can grow and learn. At the same

time, the university is always looking to learn, and this cohort

of students brings incredibly valuable experience and

perspective to Goldsmiths.”

Patrick Loughrey, Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London


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Before you arrive at Goldsmiths Open days and outreach activitiesWe understand that care leavers and estranged students may have a number of questions about university. We can offer support in a variety of ways, from personalised campus tours to extra support and advice on Open Days and Applicant Days.

We run a number of schemes that prepare students for university, and we prioritise looked after children, care leavers and estranged students who apply for a place on:

– Goldsmiths Progression Scheme – gold.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges/gps

– Realising Opportunities – gold.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges/ro

– Summer Schools – gold.ac.uk/schools-and-colleges/summerschools

If you have any questions or would like to book a personalised campus tour, please get in touch with:Peggy Cooke, Widening Participation Officer, [email protected]


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Interviews and applicationsWe understand that any applicant’s background and life experience – for example, a period of time spent in care – may affect their educational attainment, work experience and other achievements. If you identify as a care leaver on your UCAS application (or if you’ve let the Admissions team know that you’re an estranged student or experiencing kinship care) you will be given special consideration, and we will take a holistic assessment of your potential as a student. This could mean that you are considered for a place even if you have achieved (or are predicted to achieve) grades a little lower than the standard entry requirements. If you have been made a conditional offer of a place, your care leaver status will again be taken into account if you don’t meet the conditions of your offer.

UCASThe Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, UCAS, is the service that you use when applying to university. If you are a care leaver you can select this as an option on your UCAS application. If you do this we’ll be able to keep you informed about the support available to you.

There’s more advice for care leavers at ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/individual-needs/ucas-undergraduate-support-care-leavers There is not currently an option on UCAS to identify yourself as an estranged student or someone who is experiencing kinship care, so if either of these options apply to you please email our Admissions team after you’ve made an application to let them know: [email protected]


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Financial supportIf you’re studying full-time you may be eligible for a tuition fee loan. There’s more information from the government at gov.uk/student-finance

Goldsmiths scholarships We have a wide range of scholarships and bursaries available for students, including scholarships specifically for care leavers. If you’re made an offer of a place at Goldsmiths, we’ll send you more information about how to apply for our scholarships. You can also find out more about what we currently offer at gold.ac.uk/ug/fees-funding

Careers supportWe offer careers support even before you’ve arrived at Goldsmiths. Once you’ve applied for a place, you can get in touch with our Pre-Entry Careers Consultant to arrange a one-to-one meeting to discuss any aspect of planning your future. Contact the Careers Service on 020 7919 7137 or at [email protected]

Accommodation We offer a range of accommodation options – whether you prefer the supportive environment of halls of residence on or near campus, or more independent living. Rooms are priced very competitively in comparison to local London universities. All residents have access to security staff and office teams who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide a safe and secure living environment. We also have a sector-leading residence life team who provide holistic support for students.

We understand that care leavers and estranged students may have further housing barriers that they need to pass, and that the thought of organising accommodation out of term time might be daunting. Because of this, we work with these groups to organise bespoke contracts that can include the summer term. If this support is something that would benefit you just let us know when you are applying for a place in accommodation.


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GoldStart takes place on campus in September each year, in advance of enrolment. It’s a chance for undergraduate and postgraduate students to meet their peers before the term starts, and to get lots of useful advice from current Goldsmiths students. You’ll be invited to attend a day-long event that is likely to include:

– A sample lecture or seminar from your academic department

– A chance to meet academic staff – A session on study skills, including tips from current students

– An introduction to the Library and the Virtual Learning Environment

– An interactive session with your elected representatives

We’ll send you more information about GoldStart after you’ve applied for a place at Goldsmiths. You can also find out more at gold.ac.uk/goldstart

We have a dedicated team who are here to ensure that you are supported throughout your Goldsmiths journey. From the knowledgeable admin staff and supportive Campus Support Officers, through to engaging Resident Coordinators. Whether you want a coffee and a chat, help organising your rent payments, or a plan of inter-halls activities, we are here for you. As a care leaver or estranged student you’ll also be assigned someone in the team who’ll be your named contact, so you’ll always have someone dedicated to supporting you.

GoldStart


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Now you’re here

Student Support ServicesStudent Support services can help you with all aspects of being a Goldsmiths student. The team is based in the Student Centre, in Room 117 of the Richard Hoggart Building. They can help you with:

– Your student finance – Disability-related questions – Your wellbeing, including referrals to a doctor/GP surgery and information about how to access Wellbeing Mentoring

– Counselling Service – Completing progress reports for your local authority

– The administration aspect of your study, such as enrolment, your exam or assessment arrangements, and your tuition fees

At the Student Centre you can also talk to us about complex matters, and we may arrange appointments for you to speak with one of our trained advisers. This may be relating to discretionary funds, adjustments for your studies, or even study skills. Anita and Shola are your named contacts within the Student Advice and Wellbeing team and they can be contacted by phone on 020 7919 7050, or by email: [email protected] or [email protected]


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Working while you study: student ambassadors A great way to earn money while you study is to become a student ambassador. We regularly recruit ambassadors to represent Goldsmiths in an interesting range of activities working with young people on and off campus. You can meet new people, gain skills, and develop your CV. Care leavers and estranged students are guaranteed a place at the ambassador assessment day if they complete the application process.

As a Goldsmiths student you can make the most of our free on-campus Careers Service. The service will help support you with all aspects of your career planning and development, and can help you enhance your employability. The Careers Service can offer:

– One-to-one advice with Careers Consultants and CV Advisers, where you can discuss anything related to careers and employability, and get feedback on your CV and applications

– Comprehensive careers information resources, and specialist staff

– Employer events, where you can meet and network with employers from a range of sectors

– Support with finding work placements (if this is offered as part of your programme)

– Support with finding jobs and paid internships

– Skills development, to help you gain the attributes you’ll need to succeed in your future career

– Support with enterprise and entrepreneurship, if you’re interested in starting your own business or social enterprise, or working for yourself

– The Gold Award, a personal and professional development programme that helps you reflect on your experiences and recognise the skills you are gaining from your co-curricular activities

– Support with recording activities on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), which provides an opportunity to gain recognition for the additional co-curricular activities you do alongside your studies

Find out more at gold.ac.uk/careers

Careers


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Students’ Union Goldsmiths Students’ Union (SU) exists to represent all students, and provides support, services, entertainment and activities where you can get to know people. It’s run for students, by students, with four full-time elected officers and a host of other current student officers and representatives who are elected annually to direct the Union and act as their collective voice.

In November 2016 a motion was taken to the SU student assembly asking for the introduction of a Care Leaver and Estranged Students Officer. This, the first position of its kind in the country, was passed unanimously and in the 2017 elections was a position open for students to stand for. The role was set up to better provide for students who are not in contact with their families.

The Union also runs a free and confidential advice service, and can provide access to a huge variety of digital resources to help break down any barriers to student life, including information on things like employment and housing.

You can find out more about the Union at goldsmithssu.org


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Open Book provides both academic and pastoral support to students who might be described as ‘non-traditional’ or ‘hard to reach’, who have experienced serious and often multiple disadvantage, particularly relating to education. Tailored support is provided and can consist of one-to-one mentoring, informal classes on a variety of subjects, formal classes leading to extended project qualification, support relating to UCAS and Student Finance England, and ongoing support – academic and pastoral – throughout a student’s

degree. A drop-in service (including tea and biscuits) is provided for members of Open Book, as well as an out-of-hours call service.

Open Book won the Guardian University Award for Student Diversity and Widening Participation in 2016, and founder Joe Baden (who graduated from Goldsmiths in 1998) has recently been appointed OBE for his services to higher education.

You can find out more about the Open Book project at gold.ac.uk/open-book

Open Book


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GraduationYour graduation ceremony formally marks the end of your time as a Goldsmiths student – a time for reflection and celebration. The graduation team can offer a range of assistance and support to ensure your graduation day is a memorable day. You can find out more about what happens on the day at gold.ac.uk/graduation-ceremonies or by emailing the team: [email protected]

Celebrating your achievements


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A collaborative alumni communityWhen you graduate from Goldsmiths, your relationship with us doesn’t end. You’ll become part of a creative and collaborative community of over 60,000 former students spanning 150 countries. You can make the most of Goldsmiths Connect – an online platform that puts you in touch with alumni all over the world. It’s somewhere you can ask former students for careers advice, develop collaborations, or find a mentor. Find out more at gold.ac.uk/alumni

Continued access to the Careers ServiceThe Careers Service is also here for you after you have completed your studies at Goldsmiths. With Careers+, you can continue to access all the support mentioned above for three years after you finish your degree, free of charge. Many of our paid internships are also aimed at recent graduates.

Find out more at gold.ac.uk/careers/working/work-placements-and-internships


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Useful contacts Your Goldsmiths contacts

Admissions [email protected]

Peggy Cooke, Widening Participation [email protected]

Anita Moore and Shola Hunte, Student Support Services [email protected] [email protected]

Graduation [email protected]

Useful websites

Buttleuk.orgCareleavers.comStandalone.org.ukucas.com


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Goldsmiths, University of LondonNew Cross, London SE14 6NWUnited Kingdom

gold.ac.uk/care-leavers


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