The Student Funding and Access Support team are delighted to have been shortlisted in the Outstanding Support for Students category of the Times Higher Education Awards 2016. This is one of two awards the University has been shortlisted for this year, the other being Outstanding International Student Strategy.

The initial project arose from research undertaken by Advice and Information staff looking at some of the barriers students from a care background may face and how we could offer support to enable them to overcome those barriers.

This nomination recognises the enhanced support we have developed for care leavers which includes establishing a relationship with students pre-arrival and informing them about the Care Leaver Bursary, going on to provide on-course advice, guidance and referral on a range of issues, providing named contacts, one to one advice, targeted communications, awareness raising initiatives and events.

Read about Chris Hoyle’s experience of how support from the University enabled him to overcome barriers and succeed in his studies.

Another student said “My support from Sheffield Hallam has been immensely significant and of such a high standard. Every problem I have had has been talked through with me by a member of staff and has always been resolved to the best it could be…all the personal issues I have had in the past year have been lessened knowing that support was available through the care leavers team at university”

You can find out more here about the support we offer to care leavers, as well as student carers, mature students and students estranged from family. Alternatively, visit the Student Support Services Reception at Owen Level 5 City or Heart of the Campus Collegiate, call 0114 225 3813 or email studenthelp@shu.ac.uk.