To help you make important decisions around applying to university, we have compiled resources from external partners and other sources. As well as general resources, we have also listed ones specific to your individual circumstances.

General Higher Education resources

SHUOutreach – Our colleagues in the School and College Engagement Team have created an online resource for future students.  Explore the pages to help you with your options after school or college.

HeppHUB – Our partners in the Higher Education Progression Partnership (Hepp) work across the Sheffield City Region to encourage more learners to consider higher education. Their online HeppHUB offers higher education support and signposting to useful resources.

HeppSY – Here to Help – The Higher Education Progression Partnership South Yorkshire (HeppSY) is a programme funded by the Office for Students to support learners most at risk of missing out on higher education. They work with selected schools and colleges in the Sheffield City Region. Their support has increasingly moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have put together a free set of resources for students from Year 9 to 13 of school. Please note that you will need to provide your email address to access the resources.

 
LGBTQ+ services

If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community and want to learn more about this space at Sheffield Hallam, a member of the SHU Progress team would be more than happy to chat this through with you. The following services also exist in Sheffield:

Welcome to Sheffield: An alternative LGBTQ+ guide – a guide to the LGBTQ+ scene in Sheffield including nightlife, places to eat and drink, sports, clubs and activities

SAYiT: Emotional and Wellbeing Support for LGBTQ+ Young People in Sheffield – a support service that runs regular groups for LGBTQ+ young people, with a website that holds a hub of useful resources

Sheffield Rainbow Blades: Holds sporting events and promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports – holds community football events to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion, partnered with Sheffield United’s Rainbow Blades

LGBT Sheffield – collates numerous LGBTQ+ groups and networks existing in Sheffield and the wider region

Sheffield Gender Identity Clinic – referral service based at Porterbrook clinic 

Care Leavers/Care Experienced

The Hepp guide to higher education for care experienced students  – A guidance booklet for care experienced students, created by ourselves in collaboration with our partners at the University of Sheffield and the Higher Education Progression Partnership (HeppHUB). Features insights from young carers who are currently studying at university.

EaCES Handbook – A virtual guide written by care experienced and estranged students with information and advice to help students from similar backgrounds.

Become – A charity supporting care experienced young people.

Propel – Become’s higher education section, providing information on support available at colleges and universities.

The Care Leavers’ Association – A national charity that seeks to improve the lives of care leavers.

LGBTQ+ Youth in Care – An organisation that supports LGBTQ+ young people in care and care leavers. Support includes advice, access to helpful resources, training and events.

Care Leaver Local Offer – This website allows you to search the local offers provided to care leavers  by different local authorities.

This is Us Community – a dedicated online space for care experienced and estranged students in Higher Education, or recent graduates. You can chat with others, share helpful info, arrange meet-ups, organise games-night, find existing local groups near you, run day-trips/holidays, have serious conversations, give peer-support, pose questions, etc – whatever you’d like!

Carers

Carers Trust – A UK-wide charity working with carers

Guide for Young Carers considering Higher Education – A guidance booklet for young carers, created by ourselves in collaboration with our partners at the University of Sheffield and the Higher Education Progression Partnership (HeppHUB). Features insights from young carers who are currently studying at university.

Sheffield Young Carers – A charity supporting young carers aged 8 -25 living in Sheffield.

Estranged Students

EaCES Handbook – A virtual guide written by care experienced and estranged students with information and advice to help students from similar backgrounds.

Stand Alone – A charity supporting estranged students.

Buttle UK – A charity supporting young people in financial hardship. Support includes financial help, with estrangement as a criteria for eligibility. Please check out the website for more details.

This is Us Community – a dedicated online space for care experienced and estranged students in Higher Education, or recent graduates. You can chat with others, share helpful info, arrange meet-ups, organise games-night, find existing local groups near you, run day-trips/holidays, have serious conversations, give peer-support, pose questions, etc – whatever you’d like!

Disabled Students

Disability Rights UK – A leading national charity that is run by and for those living with disabilities or health conditions.

HeppHUB – Disabled Learners – Webpage created by our partners in the Higher Education Progression Partnership (Hepp) with advice and videos featuring disabled students.

Student Minds – A national student mental health charity.

AccessAble – Website providing accessibility information for locations and venues around the country

Mature Students

HeppHUB – Mature Students – Webpage created by our partners in the Higher Education Progression Partnership (Hepp) with advice and videos featuring mature students.

UCAS – Mature Students – A comprehensive advice page by UCAS targeted at mature students

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Access and Awareness: The Higher Ed Guide for Young Migrants and Refugees – An information pack to support young migrants and refugees at school or college who may be facing barriers to coming to university.

Student Action for Refugees (STAR) – A national campaigning charity made up of students in support of refugees and asylum seekers.

Refugee Education UK – Helps refugee and asylum seeking children and young people through education.

STAR – Applying for Sanctuary Scholarships video – This video explains what Sanctuary Scholarships are, how to apply, what to include in a supporting statement and who to use as a reference.

Military Families and Service Leavers

Armed Forces Covenant – Support for families of Armed Forces personnel, including information around higher education.

Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) – An MOD programme promoting lifelong learning amongst members of the Armed Forces, providing financial support for Level 3 qualifications (A Level and equivalents) or above.

Service Children’s Progression Alliance (SCiP) – Supporting children and young people from military families in their transition to higher education as well as careers.

Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron, University Officers Training Corps Sheffield and University Royal navy Unit Yorkshire – Each strand of the Armed Forces has units local to Sheffield that are aimed at students from the universities. This is a great chance to experience the Armed Forces without any commitment, develop your personal and professional skills, and meet like-minded people and grow new friendships! Some groups will pay you to get involved with training, and you can also gain qualifications.

Support organisations and networks

Although the SHU Progress Team is here to support you throughout your time as an applicant at Sheffield Hallam, you might feel that things are not always going right and you are unable to get through to us (e.g. during evening, weekends or bank holidays). Here are a list of supporting charities, organisations and networks that you could get in touch with:

Samaritans provides emotional support to people in times of crisis and can be contacted for free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

YoungMinds Crisis Messenger offers young people experiencing mental health crises a free, 24/7 text service

Childline provides phone, 1:1 chat and email support for young people under 19

NHS England can be contacted for urgent mental health matters

Togetherall is a safe, confidential online network offering various support and self-help tools for mental health needs

Door43 is a service for young people in Sheffield aged 13-25 to support with mental health and wellbeing. The service is currently supporting young people online and by phone