This National Care Leaver’s Month, the University of Liverpool is celebrating a milestone in its access and participation work, with the institution welcoming more than 100 care experienced students for the 2025/26 academic year – the highest number in the University’s history.
The University’s Widening Participation and Outreach Team has a long and proud tradition of supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable young people to access the life-changing opportunities higher education offers. Over the past decade, more than 500 care experienced students have progressed into undergraduate programmes at Liverpool, and the University holds the NNECL Quality Mark in recognition of this work.
Students accessing this support have progressed into a wide range of careers including medicine, law, teaching, engineering and postgraduate study and this academic year marks a record-breaking milestone, with 103 care-experienced students joining the University community.
Professor Gavin Brown, Pro Vice Chancellor for Education said: “We are incredibly proud to welcome a record number of care-experienced students and celebrate their achievements in overcoming significant challenges to pursue their educational goals. This milestone is a testament to the commitment and collaboration of staff across the University, who work tirelessly to ensure that every student feels supported and welcome. In particular, I would like to recognise Widening Participation Officer Ben Toleman, who is our operational lead for this work and who has personally supported many of these students into the University, helping them to settle into campus life and feel part of our community.”
Mia, a Year 5 Student Doctor said: “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.”
The University of Liverpool recognises 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. The University’s 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.
The University of Liverpool can offer any care experienced young person an extensive support package – click here to find out more.