During National Care Leavers’ Month we’re raising awareness of the benefits care experienced people can receive at college or university if they #TicktheBox on their UCAS applications. Laurie, who was raised by her aunt and uncle, talks about her first year at university, the support she received as a care experienced person and advice she’d give to others who are applying to university.
During National Care Leavers’ Month we’re raising awareness of the benefits care experienced people can receive at college or university if they #TicktheBox on their UCAS applications. Laurie, who was raised by her aunt and uncle, talks about her first year at university, the support she received as a care experienced person and advice she’d give to others who are applying to university.
Tell us about your first year at university? Why did you choose to study pharmacy?
I originally chose to study pharmacy because I was good at biology and chemistry, not because I had a particular passion for it. However, throughout my first year, I grew to really enjoy the subject.
As well as the course, my first year was full of great experiences. I met some of my closest friends and made amazing memories that I’ll never forget and can’t wait to go back for year two.
How was the application process for you?
For me, the application process was relatively straightforward, especially with UCAS making it easy to compare courses and submit applications. One part I was worried about most was writing my personal statement, but I had a lot of guidance from my secondary school, which helped me get through it.
I also a little worried about how I’d manage my finances and budget, but Student Finance Wales provided details of my funding months before the course started. This gave me the chance to plan ahead and feel much more confident about money before moving to university.
Attending open days made a big difference too. While I focused on the course itself, I was lucky to have Rachel with me, who went out of her way to find the staff member responsible for supporting care leavers at Cardiff University. She got their contact details for me, which meant I knew exactly who to reach out to if I needed advice later. Looking back, I’d really recommend that other care leavers do the same - going to open days and connecting with the right people makes the whole process much easier.
How did ticking the box help you?
I chose to tick the box because I knew it would open up financial support and give me access to bursaries and grants. This made a huge difference as money was never a concern during my first year, which meant I didn’t need to get a part-time job and could fully focus on my course and enjoying university life with friends.
Cardiff offers care leavers a £1,000 “Together at Cardiff” bursary, plus an additional £500 for students from low-income households. That’s £1,500 a year on top of the support I already get from Student Finance Wales — money I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t ticked the box.
There were also opportunities to go to coffee mornings and events organised by the “Together at Cardiff” team, where I could have met other care-experienced students. I decided not to attend, but it was reassuring to know they were available. On top of that, I learned about a card from the Rees Foundation, which gave me one free drink a day at the Student Union. It might sound small, but it meant I never had to miss out on grabbing a coffee with friends.
Did you feel like you were in control of your personal information when you ticked the box?
I definitely felt in control of my personal information. The university respected my privacy, and only the people I personally chose to tell knew that I was care experienced.
What advice would you give to other young people with care experience applying to uni?
Go to open days and make the most of them, especially by speaking to staff about bursaries and financial support, so you know what you’re entitled to.
Don’t feel ashamed of being care-experienced. Since going to university, I’ve realised that everyone has their own challenges and while no one else will have had the exact same experience as you, you definitely won’t be alone.
Would you recommend ticking the box to other young people with care experience?
Yes, absolutely. For me, ticking the box removed all the financial stress of first year and means I won’t need a job for my entire four-year course unless I want one. It’s also reassuring to know that the social and wellbeing support is there if I ever need it.
If you’re a care leaver, you’ve already been through a lot, ticking the box is a simple way of making sure you get access to the support and opportunities available to you. I would definitely recommend it.
