Overview: Nottingham Trent University launched and funded a scheme in 2025 to provide 10 tenancies in university-arranged halls to help care experienced and estranged students. The scheme provides rent-free rooms to qualifying students, representing significant financial relief and importantly, accommodation in locations that ensure accessibility and NTU community integration. Integration is thought to be an important element of developing student self-efficacy and sense of belonging as factors of retention.

Care experienced and estranged students were offered the opportunity to apply for the scholarship, as part of the targeted support and advice delivered by Student Support Services. The accommodation scholarship supports the transition from care into university and provides access to safe and secure accommodation suitable for all students, including those with additional needs.

Resourcing: Staff from NTU student support services oversaw the process alongside the NTU accommodation team.

Through an existing partnership with UniKitOut, care experienced and estranged students were provided with discounted vouchers to help them purchase essential bedding and kitchen items to ease the financial burden and a create comfortable living environment.

Monitoring/Evaluation: As the project is in its infancy, quantitative measurement of student success is too early to measure, however, qualitative feedback reports positive feedback from caregivers and local authorities. Students highlighted during the application process that this support would significantly reduce financial stress and allow them to focus more on their studies and university experience.

Initial findings and data, when captured, will be used to inform the strategic approach moving forward and the possible relaunch to 2026/27 applicants.

A similar study from the Unite Foundation JISC independent research on three-year scholarships demonstrated an even level between recipients of a free tenancy with non-care leavers students when examining first to second year progression. 

Overview: In celebration of its signing up to the Care Leaver Covenant, Unite Students gifted 60+ 25/26 tenancies to care experienced and estranged students across 7 city locations including Bristol, Leicester, Leeds, and Liverpool.

Students were identified via the Unite Foundation reserve list. This list of existing and incoming students were eligible applicants to the 25/26 Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme that had not been selected in the first round simply due to the scheme being annually oversubscribed. The tenancy was without cost across the range of buildings with a minimum room quality of classic ensuite.

Resourcing:  The project saw staff time principally from Unite Students’ Positive Impact manager liaising across business’ city teams to identify available rooms and make the appropriate bookings (removing cost and requirement for a guarantor). Initial contact with students was by Unite Foundation given consent by each was required for personal data to be shared to Unite Students for them to make the tenancy gift. University partners in locations also contributed in confirming student status of those young people arriving to university for the first time.

Monitoring/Evaluation: These students, alongside any Unite Students tenant, will optionally feedback on aspects of their experience throughout the year, from check-in, into the new calendar year, and to the end of the tenancy. Unite Foundation will, as with all applicants to the scholarship, include these students in the long term tracking of the scholarship outcomes.