Care-Experienced
Edinburgh College is a proud Corporate Parent and we take our responsibility to support care-experienced students very seriously. Our role includes supporting you through the college application process, ensuring you have a positive learning experience and providing support during your studies.
What Does Care-Experienced Mean?
Care-experienced individuals may have been, or are currently in, the following situations:
- Foster care – Living with another family
- Residential care – Living in a children’s unit
- Kinship care – Living with friends or relatives
- Care leaver – Someone leaving care or no longer in care, and under the age of 26
- At home – Living with parent(s), but with formal social work involvement
Why should you tell us if you are care experienced?
If you decide to tell us that you are care experienced, you will be completely in control of your information. This is yours
to share, it’s your choice. We need to know you are care experienced to ensure you get the best learning and financial support that you are entitled to.
Who can I speak to if I am care experienced?
You can speak to student services who will then direct you to the best person to speak to, or you can email: guidance@edinburghcollege.ac.uk
Support for Care-Experienced Students
Disclosing on your application that you are Care-Experienced will allow us to contact you to tell you about the wide range of support we can offer. This support includes:
- Funding and how to apply for your Care-Experienced Bursary and other funding you may be entitled to, including Childcare and Discretionary Funds
- Putting you in touch with a member of staff who will be your key contact throughout your time at college
- Discussing any learning support needs and assessment arrangements you might be entitled to, perhaps you had extra time and/or a reader for your exams in school
- Letting you know about the range of support available at college, like our wellbeing and counselling services
- Edinburgh College Students’ Association (ECSA) – The college has a very active Student’s Association which has a dedicated page for care-experienced students. You will be invited to join this once you have enrolled on your course
Care-Experienced Bursary
If you are studying at HNC or HND level, you can apply to SAAS for your Care-Experienced Bursary. There isn’t a separate application, you can just complete the usual application and indicate on the form that you are Care-Experienced.
Visit the SAAS website for more information about the Care-Experienced Bursary.
How can the college support you if you are care experienced?
We can discuss any additional support needs you might have.
We can support you through the application process for funding, childcare, and accommodation where required.
We can allocate a named person that you can contact during your time at college who understands your individual situation and needs and can provide ongoing guidance throughout your time at college.
A point of contact for most students on full-time courses. Learning Development Tutors are responsible for supporting the development of employability and transferable skills whilst supporting the student’s progress via a weekly tutorial/drop-in and 1-2-1 meetings.
The Learning Development Tutor is a support role within the College that ensures effective partnership working both internally and externally.
We can help you to access any additional support you may need perhaps you had support in your exams at school, for example, a reader, extra time, or separate accommodation. If you think you might need this at college. You can email: learning.support@edinburghcollege.ac.uk
If you have indicated on your course application that you are care experienced, and you have submitted all of the required evidence for funding, then the college will deal with your application as a priority.
Edinburgh College’s Student Safeguarding and Welfare Lead is the designated lead for care-experienced unaccompanied young people. They provide support to students, social workers and other organisations by being the key contact at college, attending LAAC reviews and assisting with any questions, issues or problems.
This support is provided to help the students and staff involved navigate the extra processes and policies that apply to unaccompanied young people during their studies.
Please email: Kara.Tait@edinburghcollege.ac.uk
The College has a Wellbeing Team that can provide a range of options to support students who are struggling with issues such as anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, and bereavement, among others.
The options include booking a one-to-one meeting with a Wellbeing Adviser and group wellbeing sessions or workshops. There is also access to a wide range of online resources and apps to promote positive wellbeing, as well as a Counselling Service available which offers students up to 6 weekly sessions.