There is currently no student voice for the care leavers attending LJMU and I think adding a care leaver part time officer would do just that.

Despite LJMU having a page dedicated to care leavers and estranged students on the website, it’s what I read before coming here, but not every student will do this or think it is there. The page says to get in contact, but it can be daunting to email staff for advice sometimes especially as a fresher. Having a student voice there will help simplify the information and get it across that there is support available to care leavers.

However, being a care leaver at university can make you feel isolated. Thinking you are the only person from care in your cohort is hard. For me personally, I moved from my hometown to Liverpool permanently when I was 18, I felt had no other choice. That transition from life in care to full independence is incredibly difficult and if you don’t have a good support network it’s hard to get by. I really found that hard to admit to people. It’s hard to look for advice from people that don’t understand your situation as they never experienced life in care themselves. I honestly wish there was someone I could have spoken to during my first year, for either advice or a chat, who understands what it is to be a care leaver.

Honestly, I never dreamed I could go to university till my last year of college. I never thought I could have had this opportunity and I’m certain it’s the same for other care leavers. I would happily share my story as a care leaver in education to get that awareness out there. Something a care leaver officer would help make easier to get started.

Having this role at JMSU could also make it reassuring for future care leavers thinking about university or to get the idea in their head. I would have loved to have gone to an open day and seen a Care Leaver Student Officer there. Just the idea of it is aspiring and makes you feel like you could belong somewhere. It would be someone like them with a bad start at life or possible bad experience with their foster family getting a higher education for their future.

I am just one care leaver who should not speak on behalf of all attending LJMU without knowing what they think and feel. I know for certain that we all experienced life in care very differently. Hopefully, this could be the catalyst for building a community for care leavers and introducing the idea of university to younger children in care.