Making the case of a #HomeAtUniversity for care experienced and estranged students – whether internally for strategic backing or to an external donor for financial support – needs context, data and rationale. We’ve got you covered with material below that sets out why these students matter, the national picture of access participation and completion with current numbers and research reference points, plus who the Unite Foundation is and why our experience in this space is relevant.

#HomeAt University for Care Experienced and Estranged Students – governing body conversations 

A safe and stable #HomeAtUniversity impacts on academic outcomes, diversity and university finance (through attracting and retaining students). As such it is highly relevant to the responsibilities of university governors and to governing body conversations including on: 

Equality of opportunity 
The regulated HESA return includes a field on care-experienced students (including their numbers at your university, their progression, completion and academic outcomes). There is not currently a similar field for estranged students. 

At a national level, the HESA data finds that 18% of care experienced students drop out of university within their first year of study, compared to just less than 10% of non-care experienced students. What is the gap at your university? What interventions are in place to support care experienced students to progress and attain? How could a safe and stable #HomeAtUniversity be part of your approach? 

Place-based universities and civic duties
As anchor institutions in your local community, universities have a duty to ensure the most vulnerable in your community, including care leavers, can progress to university and achieve. At a national level 13% of care leavers are in university at 19 compared to 46% of the wider population. 

In your local authority area, what proportion of 19 year olds are care leavers? And at rates do they progress to university, including to your institution?  What role could accommodation play in attracting care leavers to your university and supporting them to complete and attain? 

Practice webinars

We’ll be holding a series of free webinars across the year for stakeholders interested in Blueprint content. Check out and follow our Eventbrite for tickets to the next one – and to get notifications as new ones are added.

All of Us Student Community

Free access for all care experienced and estranged students to All of Us, the community for estranged and care experienced students across the UK, supported by the Unite Foundation. In addition to loads of materials for your students, you’ll also find here a group for a HE Professionals Peer Network too; the perfect space to share breakthroughs and questions with your colleagues in all things community and belonging for these students.

NNECL – perspective on what works for accommodation (2025).

The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) is another UK charity dedicated to transforming the educational outcomes of young people with care experience. This paper draws on current student experiences within universities participating in the NNECL Quality Mark and concludes with recommendations for the post-16 education sector, as well as for local and national government.