Coventry University will be offering free
accommodation to a number of students who have experienced
care.
The new scheme will offer 10 undergraduate students
free accommodation for 52 weeks a year at Coventry
University-owned student halls for the duration of their course,
starting with new students joining in the fresh academic year in
September.
Supporting care leavers is an important part of
Coventry University’s goals to increase access to higher
education to people from underrepresented groups.
Care leavers have often gone straight from care
provision to university and may not have a home to return to in
the holidays along with limited financial support. The chance to
have free accommodation throughout their studies will help to
open doors to access higher education.
It is not yet clear if students will be allowed to
study on campus in September, but the free accommodation
in Coventry University’s own halls would
come with broadband to allow them to study remotely if
needed.
Helen Bogusz, Welfare and Disability Support Manager
at Coventry University, said: “These are often vulnerable people
as they don’t have the same level of financial support, sometimes
none at all, as most people who go to university.
“A lot of the time, they’re leaving a care situation
for good at 18-years-old and may not have a place to stay for the
holiday and this scheme will take away that worry.”
Coventry University also has a partnership with
Santander, which provides £10,000 per year to help fund the
students who are care leavers to join the university’s Global
Leaders Programme (GLP), which offers trips abroad along with
networking opportunities and workshops.
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, with international
travel halted, these students were offered a bursary of £1,000 to
help them make ends meet during the outbreak.
Guy Daly, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education and
Students, said: "Coventry University prides itself on providing
higher education opportunities for everyone who can
benefit.
“This includes care leavers, a group that is less
likely to progress onto university.
“Therefore, I am really pleased and proud that we are
providing this additional support to care leavers so that they
are more likely to take up higher education
opportunities."
Applications for the scheme are open until 20 July,
in line with the deadline for students to apply for halls through
the university’s student accommodation company
FutureLets.
