A Care Leaver is an adult who has spent time living in the care system, away from their family. This could be with a foster family, in a children’s home or supported housing service, or under another arrangement as agreed by their social worker. Young people usually leave care when they are 18 years old.

How does Bradford College Support Care Leavers?

Bradford College supports Care Leavers through their education journey.

If you are interested in finding out more about what it’s like to study a Higher Education course at Bradford College, we would like to offer you the opportunity to attend a bespoke visit to the College. We would be happy to arrange a visit for you to explore the facilities, speak to the tutors and find out more about the support available.

Care Leaver students may be entitled to additional financial support throughout their studies, including a Care Leavers Grant and Accommodation Grant. Have a look at our Financial Support section to find out more.

During your studies, you will be supported by our Designated Lead Children in Care / Care Experienced. Beverly Higgins is our dedicated Care Leaver contact:

Email [email protected]

Otherwise, you can also email [email protected]

Making an application:

If you are applying through UCAS, remember to tick the box on your UCAS application to let us know you have been in care. If you are applying to Bradford College directly, remember to tick the box on our Online Application Form to let us know you are a care leaver.

Please be assured this information is confidential, and won’t be assessed as part of your application. Instead, our team will be able to contact you to let you know about the support you may be entitled to, if you choose to study at Bradford College.

If you would like any support in completing your application, please email [email protected]

An Estranged Student is a young person who no longer has the support of their family network due to long-term breakdown in relationships and understandings with their guardians, step or adoptive parents and therefore any contact has ceased to exist. You may also be classed as an Estranged Student if your parents are deceased.

How does Bradford College Support Estranged Students?

Bradford College supports Estranged Students through their education journey.

If you are interested in finding out more about what it’s like to study a Higher Education course at Bradford College, we would like to offer you the opportunity to attend a bespoke visit to the College. We would be happy to arrange a visit for you to explore the facilities, speak to the tutors and find out more about the support available.

Estranged Students may be entitled to additional financial support throughout their studies, including a Care Leavers Grant and Accommodation Grant. Have a look at our Financial Support section to find out more.

During your studies, you will be supported by our Designated Lead Children in Care / Care Experienced. Rachel Bradbury is our dedicated Estranged Student contact:

Email [email protected]

Call 07734979550

Making an application:

If you are applying to Bradford College directly, remember to tick the box on our Online Application Form to let us know you are an estranged student.

Please be assured this information is confidential, and won’t be assessed as part of your application. Instead, our team will be able to contact you to let you know about the support you may be entitled to, if you choose to study at Bradford College.

If you would like any support in completing your application, please email [email protected]

We intend to work with all minority ethnic groups to improve access to Higher Education. We aim to provide information, raise aspirations and awareness of opportunities that are available at Bradford College, which reflect the diversity and richness of the student population. We will be targeting our activities for a number of under-represented groups.

We will continue to enhance existing outreach programmes which target young people and adults from areas of deprivation and low participation neighbourhoods. This will ensure we continue to embed and further develop our work with schools and colleges as well as developing new approaches to working with adult learners.

Undergraduate students from low income households may be entitled to additional financial support. The Undergraduate Bursary is available for both full-time and part-time Undergraduate students, who have a household income of less than £25,000. Have a look at our Financial Support section to find out more.

We are dedicated to delivering tailored widening participation and outreach activities for school students. Our virtual progression package modules aim to raise the aspirations and attainment of your pupils.

To discuss how our widening participation activities can help your students access, succeed in and progress from Higher Education, contact the team [email protected]

Community Network

The team has developed a Community Network which will be launched in February 2022. It aims to bring together a diverse group of active community members, who work and live locally in the Bradford District, to play an active role in advising the college on all aspects of community engagement.

Aspiration Raising

The College is actively engaging with previous Bradford College students within the community, who are from under-represented groups in Higher Education. We welcome the community to come and share their personal experiences of education and career achievement with our students, to help raise their aspirations for education and career progression.

Events in the community

The team is happy to attend community events, to promote what Bradford College has to offer.

If you are interested in joining the Community Network, attending an aspiration raising event, or would like us to attend your event, contact the team [email protected]

We are here to help Bradford College students find the support that targets their individual needs. Contact the team for information, advice and guidance on the support you may be entitled to, and how we can help you access Higher Education opportunities.

Email [email protected] to make an appointment.

Useful resources:

Bradford College has an active Students’ Union to help make the lives of Bradford College students’ better. Find out how you can get involved on the Students’ Union website.

Download the Bradford College + Diversity Calendar to find out how you can get involved each month.

FIKA is a free mental fitness and wellbeing app for students. To find out how FIKA can help you, download the FIKA guide

The myBradford app is a great app where students can view timetables, contact tutors, see upcoming events and receive message updates about things going on at college. Download the myBradford app now from the Apple or (android) Play Store.

If you are a Care Leaver or an Estranged Student, you may be entitled to approximately £5,500 to support your accommodation for each academic year. This may include extended cover over the holidays.

Accommodation Grants are calculated according to individual circumstances, and are dependent on approval of sufficient supporting evidence. The Accommodation Grant cannot be provided in conjunction with the Bradford College Undergraduate Bursary.

Applying as a Care Leaver:

To receive this grant as a Care Leaver, you must provide your local authority confirmation that you have left, or are leaving care.

When you apply to study at Bradford College, make sure you let us know you are a Care Leaver, either through UCAS or on our online application form. Sharing this information at this stage will help us to process an application for additional financial support quicker.

Applying as an Estranged Student:

To receive this grant as an Estranged Student, you must provide Student Finance England conformation that you have been granted independent student status.

When you apply to study at Bradford College, make sure you let us know you are an Estranged Student on our online application form. Sharing this information at this stage will help us to process an application for additional financial support quicker.

For more information about the financial support you may be entitled to, please contact [email protected]

If you are a Care Leaver or an Estranged Student, you may be entitled to £500 to support your studies for each academic year.

The Care Leavers Grant will be divided into two £250 payments, one as soon as possible on Enrolment and a second one in February. The Care Leavers Grant is dependent on approval of sufficient supporting evidence and cannot be provided in conjunction with the Bradford College Undergraduate Bursary.

Applying as a Care Leaver:

To receive this grant as a Care Leaver, you must provide your local authority confirmation that you are classed as a Care Leaver.

When you apply to study at Bradford College, make sure you let us know you are a Care Leaver, either through UCAS or on our online application form. Sharing this information at this stage will help us to process an application for additional financial support quicker.

Applying as an Estranged Student:

To receive this grant as an Estranged Student, you must provide Student Finance England conformation that you have been granted independent student status.

When you apply to study at Bradford College, make sure you let us know you are an Estranged Student on our online application form. Sharing this information at this stage will help us to process an application for additional financial support quicker.