Fostering A New Approach Episode 7: Going to university when you're care experienced with Kim Emenike

Leicestershire Cares’ latest care experienced podcast, Fostering a New Approach, explores the issues surrounding care experienced young people and university. This episode Casey and Diana speak to Kim Emenike, a care leaver and recent graduate from Loughborough UniversityOnly 12% of care leavers make it to University compared with the 43% of the general population who participate, and once there over half of care leavers consider dropping out of university due to a mix of health problems, money worries, high workloads and personal and family issuesIt can be hard, but it can also be rewarding, inspiring and life changing. So how can care experienced young people be better supported to make a success in higher education? Main talking pointsRelying on friend’s parents to drive Kim and her belongings up to university because her corporate parent wouldn’tLiving in a hostel at 17 with no wifi, and finding the self-belief to study for her A-levelsMotivation - Not wanting to be a negative statisticSupport for money is fine, but support of wellbeing can be difficult to findCare experienced young people do not get encouraged to go to university from their corporate parentConversation at 16-18, should be about options for the future, like university, or apprenticeships, or entrepreneurship.Life is not a race. You don’t have to go to university at 18.Put yourself out therePodcast InformationSocial media:@KimEmenike@DianaOmokore@_caseyarmstrongResearch for this podcast:Loughborough graduate overcomes the odds to complete her degree and inspire other care leavers to go to universityWhy we must do more to support care leavers at universityCare leavers in higher education: how many are there and why does it matter?Get involved in the podcastIf you have a questions for Casey and Diana to discuss on their podcast, tweet them at @LeicsCares #CEYPPODCAST or email [email protected] more information about our Voices project contact [email protected] out how we work with care experienced young people