The Fostering Network's #TickTheBox campaign encourages people with care experience to tick the box on their UCAS application to say they have spent time in care when they are applying for further and higher education. This will ensure they get all the support they may need to enter and thrive at college or university. The campaign works with people with care experience, UCAS, National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), universities and colleges across the UK to raise awareness on the benefits for young people when they #TicktheBox.
People who have experience of care should be able to aim high and fulfil their potential, which might include going to college or university. Our nation-wide #TickTheBox campaign encourages people with care experience to tick the box when applying to study via UCAS to say they have spent time in care, so they can get the support they may need, to help them enter and thrive at college or university.
Last year, the campaign ran during care leavers week from 28 October-3 November 2024. During the week we shared how people with care experience have benefited from the support they received at college or university, as we shared stories on the topic. We heard from foster carers, professionals within education and people with care experience on the support they’ve received, or helped provide, and the difference that it’s made.
Many people got involved on social media to help us raise awareness of #TicktheBox and share inspirational stories from young people, foster carers, universities and colleges on our X/Twitter accounts @fosteringnet and @tfn_campaigns.
From 2008-2022, the number of people ticking the box more than doubled, according to a report by UCAS and Unite Foundation – but there is still a long way to go.
Why is there a campaign?
We know that people with care experience are unrepresented at higher and further education and many do not know about the support available to them and we want to change that.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of people with care experience ticking the box on their UCAS application to say they have experience of care so that universities and colleges know that they are entitled to support before and during their studies. It also aims bust the common myth and reassure those with concerns about who the information will be shared with when they tick the box, highlighting that the information will only be shared with the people who need to know to support them.
The campaign also aims to help raise aspirations for those with care experience who may or may not be considering higher or further education, showing them the possibilities open to them by sharing the amazing stories of people with care experience and their journeys at university or higher education and why ticking the box made such a difference. It is also a chance to celebrate the good practice from higher and further education institutions and encourage all to provide excellent support to people with care experience so they can enter and thrive at university.
What support is available?
The support on offer will be different at every college and university, and can range from additional financial support, in the form of a bursary, to practical support to help care leavers settle in, find accommodation or manage finances. You can find out what support you can access at each institution on Become’s Propel website.
Some universities will take care-experience into account when making an offer. This is called a contextualised or adjusted offer, and is often a grade or two lower than a standard offer. Each university has a different applications process, which they will explain on their website.
Colleges and universities will treat the information about care-experience as confidential and will not label or negatively discriminate against a student because they have been looked-after.
For foster carers
- You can also find information about how to inspire and encourage care leavers to consider college or university as an option in Become’s guide for teachers, parents and carers.
For young people
- Become offer workshops for young people on your rights and entitlements, applying to higher education and funding for higher education. Find out more and book.
- UCAS have a new apprenticeships information page for care-experienced students. Find out more about the support available
Our 2024 #TickTheBox Webinar
Our 2024 #TickTheBox webinar took place on Wednesday 23 October, 11 am-12.30pm. It was attended by over 100 people including people with care experience, foster carers, social workers and other who wanted to know more about the support available at university and higher education for people with care experience. The online event consisted of presentations from expert panellists on a range of topics. These included the application process, the support on offer from organisations working with care experienced young people and universities themselves, support for foster carers, university best practice and much more.
Panellists included:
- Nicola Turner, Senior Fair Access Adviser, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
Nicola presented on the process of ticking the box on a UCAS application, the challenges young people encounter at university and guidance for young people and foster carers.
- Sian Edwards, Programme Manager, National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL)
Sian presented on the NNECL Quality Mark, what this means for universities and colleges and what good support for care experienced people looks like at university.
- Rebecca Jones, Senior Advice and Support Officer for Higher and Further Education (Propel, Become)
Rebecca presented 1:1 the advice and support she offers to young people wanting to progress into Further or Higher Education, the Propel search engine and the wider support that Become provides to care experienced young people.
- Vanessa Conman, Access and Outreach Manager, Foster their future programme (University of York)
Vanessa presented on university support at the pre-entry stage as well as the Foster their Future programme which improves foster carers’ skills and knowledge around supporting young people through their university applications and journey.