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Care Leavers

Aston University has been awarded the Buttle UK Quality Mark for it's commitment to providing support to students from a care background. Below you will find a summary of some support that may be available to you.


Buttle Quality Mark

If you have been in care a Foyer Residence or been homeless prior to coming to university you may face challenges in addition to those which the majority of students in Higher Education face.

The Student Funds Administrator in The Hub may be able to offer you help if you are experiencing difficulties with your finances or are considering leaving Higher Education because you are finding it difficult to budget your day-to-day living costs and rental payments.

Coming to university should be an enjoyable experience and we are here to ensure that limited finance is not a barrier to your participation and the successful completion of your chosen course of study.

Care Leavers Bursary / Higher Education Bursary

Young people from care who are entering university from September 2009 and onwards will be entitled to apply for a
one-off £2,000 Care Leavers Bursary from their Local Authority this Bursary can be accessed via the young person’s
social worker / personal adviser. 

To find your Local Authority please click here.

If you live in Birmingham the contact details are:

16+ Careleavers Service
Eve Brook House
15 Acorn Grove, Ladywood
Birmingham B1 2PL
Tel: 0121 464 1229

Email: SCHAftercare@birmingham.gov.uk

The following online tool from Voice will assist you in discovering what financial support is available to you by answering
some simple questions.

http://www.voiceyp.org/young-peoples-zone/are-you-care-leaver

Foyer Bursary

If you have been living in a Foyer Residence prior to attending university and you are 25 or under, you may be entitled to a Foyer Bursary of up to £1,000 which is awarded by Aston University via the Access to Learning Fund.  This bursary is awarded in the first term of each new academic year that you are attending the University.

If you are a Foyer resident, and are thinking of going to university this year, contact Tom at the Foyer Federation on telephone number 0207 430 2212 or tom@foyer.net who will provide you with the application form you need to complete and bring to The Hub when you first enrol at Aston University.

Further detailed information about the Foyer Bursary can be found here.

Aston University Accommodation

As a care leaver the University guarantees you a room within the on-campus halls of residence for 52 weeks of the year and for the full duration of your course.  Please contact accom@aston.ac.uk for further information and details of how and when to apply.

The Buttle Trust UK Grant Scheme

If you are a young person who is estranged from their family and you are entering higher education, you may apply for a grant from the Buttle Trust UK.  Grants are awarded to assist students with their living costs and ultimately to assist you in gaining an academic qualification.

Further information can be found at the Buttle Trust UK website http://www.buttleuk.org/pages/help-for-young-people.html





We hope you find this information helpful, for feedback or comments please email fau@aston.ac.uk

Page checked and updated PC 22/05/2012