November marks National Care Leaver’s Month and a part of this, Mia, a Year 5 Student Doctor, told us more about her experiences as a care experienced student, plus how she’s now helping other students from similar backgrounds. She explained:
“Support from the widening participation team into and during my time at the university has been invaluable. I am now in my fifth year of medicine and coming from a background that is typically disadvantaged in access to higher education, I was given the confidence to achieve my dream. I was supported from the age of 16 in applications, entrance exams, A-levels, student accommodation and much more. I have received academic, financial, practical and wellbeing support, and have even had the opportunity to work for the team as a Liverpool Advocate and support other prospective students into the university.
“The transition to university is difficult, even more difficult for those with care experience. The University of Liverpool has provided a welcoming and safe space, making the journey so much less scary. I am now helping to work on a programme supporting care-experienced medical students and I am going to be a doctor in August! I hope to be able to support people the way in which I have been supported.”
More about our efforts to support care experienced students
We recognise the social and personal challenges that many care-experienced students face throughout their lives, as well as the barriers they often encounter in accessing education. Our dedicated policies, outreach initiatives, and tailored support systems are creating clear pathways into higher education, ensuring that care experienced students can thrive and make the most of the opportunities available.
This year, we’re celebrating a milestone in our work to open up access to university to students who are care experienced by welcoming more than 100 care experienced students – the highest number in the University’s history.
The University of Liverpool can offer any care experienced young person an extensive support package – click here to find out more.