Raising the aspirations of young people in care

Inspirational Teesside University student Gemma Bottomley knows more than most about the life-changing opportunities a university degree can provide.

The 19-year-old was placed in care from the age of seven, but the experience has made her even more determined to succeed and pursue a career as a primary school teacher – helping to positively shape the lives of other young people.

Gemma, who is in the first year of a BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies, is a shining example of what young people in care can aspire to achieve.

But the stark reality is that youngsters in care still do not see themselves attaining a University education. Figures from the Who Cares? Trust show that only 6% of care leavers go to university, compared with 38% of all young people. This is despite the fact that 40% of care leavers said they would have liked to progress to higher education.

Teesside University is staging a special event in May designed to raise the aspirations of young people in care.

The event, taking place from 10.00am to 1.30pm on Wednesday 22 May, will bring together foster carers, social workers, designated teachers and local authority teams to examine ways to encourage participation, achievement and progression in education.

For Gemma, who has been placed with the same foster carers since the age of seven, going to university was something she always aspired to.

'I have been lucky in that I have been placed with the same foster family from a young age,' explained Gemma.

'Working with young people and becoming a teacher has always interested me, so as far as going to university was concerned, there was no other option.

'I have always received encouragement from my foster family and going to university was always something I wanted to do in order to create more opportunities for myself.'

Gemma believes that young people in care are often stigmatised and are not encouraged to progress to higher education.

She added: 'A lot of the time people in care are not in a stable environment – they don’t have a lot of self-worth and don’t believe in themselves.

'I talk to a lot of other young care leavers at various groups and when I tell them I’m a university student they often look surprised and say to me that they wish they had been able to go to university.

'That is why I want to become a primary school teacher – to help encourage other young people to be the best that they can be.

'Teesside University has been fantastic for me. I am really enjoying the course and I have made lots of good friends.'

Abbie English, Student Recruitment Officer at Teesside University, said:'The barriers that young people in care face often result in their education suffering and so their chances of progressing to higher education are affected.

'Research confirms that the influence and input of foster carers, teachers, social workers and other professionals can have a profound effect on their aspirations. The event at Teesside University will bring together all of these people to talk about the problems faced by young people in care and identify ways we can work together to raise the aspirations of our young people in care and help them succeed in education.'

To find out more about the event on 22 May, or to book a place, contact Abbie English on 01642 384063 or email a.english@tees.ac.uk.

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