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Young Carers & Care Experienced Students

If you identify as being care experienced then we can provide you with extra support.

Are you care experienced?

We appreciate that starting College is a big step and can bring with it a number of different challenges. However, at NESCol we are proud Corporate Parents, and are dedicated to making your experience a positive, enjoyable and supportive one.

If you identify as being:

In “Foster Care or Supported Care”
A “Care Leaver” no longer in care
In “Residential Care”
In “Kinship Care” i.e. living with a relative that isn’t your mum or dad
“Looked After at Home” with the support of your Social Worker/Local Authority
A “Young Carer” whereby you look after a friend or family member who is ill or disabled, in an unpaid capacity

We can provide you with extra support.

Focus Groups

If you have told us that you are Care Experienced you will be contacted by the Student Advice and Support Team regularly to “check in” and see if you need any support. We will also be setting up a Focus Group where you will be invited to attend and feedback to us on your NESCol Experience so that we can support you and improve our future service.

Extra support available

Pre-entry advice

We can help you choose a course that sets you on the right path to reaching your career goals.

Guaranteed Interviews

We guarantee course interviews for our care experienced applicants.

Transition and Learning Support

Our Student Advice and Support Team can help and advise you in making your transition to College as smooth as possible. Once enrolled, we can continue to help you with Study Skills Support and Additional Learning & Assessment Support where required.

Priority Funding Processing

All care experienced applicants will have their funding application prioritised.

Enhanced Funding

All care experienced applicants will be considered for enhanced funding of up to £8,100, depending on personal circumstances and course level.

Need help with your funding application? Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook for information about our upcoming funding workshops.

Academic Support

Students at NESCol will have a dedicated Academic Tutor who can support with pastoral or academic issues.

Peer Support

The Students’ Association can assist you with peer support and advice on clubs, societies and social experiences that could enhance your NESCol experience.

Employability

All our students can leave College with a CV, and advice on navigating volunteering and job markets.

Let us know

It is important that you make us aware of your caring responsibilities and/or Care Experienced background, as soon as possible.

Contact the team directly by calling 01224 612091, dropping into your local Student Advice Centre, or by emailing studentadvice@nescol.ac.uk.

For more information, download our Young Carers and Care Experienced Students leaflet.

Student Stories

Don’t take our word for it! Find out what our students think about studying at NESCol.

Beata Tetkowska

Computing

HND Technologies in Business

“I would definitely recommend NESCol to everyone who wants to study computing. No matter what age, or if this is their first course, or – if like me – you want to change your career. It’s a very friendly environment, well quipped when it comes to computing facilities and – most importantly – with very, very supportive and highly knowledgeable lecturers.”

Oliwia Lewicka

Modern Apprenticeship

Hairdressing

“When you go into hairdressing at first it may seem very easy. Although you don’t need qualifications it is so much harder than it looks. It’s commitment, it’s hard work, it’s remembering, it’s being creative, it’s always knowing what you want as a finished look. As long as you are prepared for this then I would encourage anyone to go for it.”

Madison Gillan

Modern Apprenticeship

Hairdressing

“Apart from the obvious of learning how to deal with people professionally, it has also helped me on a personal level with my own self-confidence.”

Lisa Shaw

Modern Apprenticeship

Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering

“As a mature student and a home owner I have been able to work and learn at the same time – if I had returned to full time education then I would have struggled financially. I came away from school with few qualifications and didn’t think that I would go back into education. I always wanted to, but never really had the confidence. This has shown me that I have a huge potential for learning and it’s given me more interest to pick up learning again in the future.”

Greig Johnston

Modern Apprenticeship

Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering

“For me the benefits of an apprenticeship are that you get hands-on practical experience compared to someone studying at Uni. I’m also earning a wage rather than racking up debt.”

Rebekka McLaughlin

Modern Apprenticeship

Logistics Operations

“I wanted a qualification that would prove and support my ability. I chose Logistics Operations as this is the largest part of the role I carry out. I left school and worked my way up so it’s really nice to have a qualification that proves I’m competent in this area.”

Meghan Bruce

Modern Apprenticeship

Logistics Operations

“I would love to extend my knowledge of the transport industry in the future – perhaps extra courses or learning on the job. There’s lots of exciting possibilities. From my experience I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship. You gain a qualification at the end of it and there’s all the help and support around you to make sure you succeed.”

Conor Dickie

Modern Apprenticeship

Warehousing Modern Apprenticeship

“There have been things that I didn’t think I needed to learn about that I have learnt about! It’s helped my day job dramatically – I now feel a lot more confident in what I’m doing. “

Sean Robertson

Modern Apprenticeship

Joinery Apprenticeship (CITB)

“The beauty of a construction apprenticeship it is you can join from school, so you are earning at 16. By the time you’re 20 you’re on a full time wage compared to university which is 4 years, and then you have a traineeship.”

Amy McDonald

Modern Apprenticeship

Electrical Installation – SECTT

“When I was looking for work I tried office jobs but knew that that just wasn’t for me. When I saw the electrical apprenticeship position advertised with Aberdeenshire Council I applied and was lucky enough to be chosen.”