The University of Winchester is passionate about seeing individuals and communities thrive; the University’s values of Compassion, Individuals Matter and Spirituality shape its approach and activities.

The University is sector-leading in its access and participation work, including achieving national recognition for its work with care leavers and was also an early signatory of the Care Leaver Covenant and is a member of the National Network for the Education of Care-Leavers. We have a long tradition of providing opportunities to those from backgrounds who might not normally have accessed Higher Education, including Care Leavers and Care Experienced scholar.

With this passion and expertise, the University of Winchester is well placed to support scholars to succeed.

This programme benefits 30 looked-after children who join as ‘scholars’ to the programme while studying at secondary school or college. It also directly benefits at least 30 foster carers, who attend sessions and receive training on how best to support the children through the programme.

The programme combines 2 on-campus residentials per academic year, taking place in April and August on the University of Winchester campus. In addition, there are monthly Saturday academic sessions throughout the rest of the year.

Academics

The programme is designed to support young people with care experience to access - and flourish in - higher education. As such we support young people academically throughout GCSE’s, A-levels, and alternative post-16 qualifications, in order that they can get the grades needed to access higher education and go on to obtain a good degree. Academically, the emphasis of the residentials is to prepare the scholars to fully engage in their education by developing fundamental skill sets required.

Life skills

In addition to the academic programming, we teach valuable life skills such as cooking and nutrition, self-soothing, and emotional regulation, financial literacy, rights, living together and self-advocacy.

Exposure to Higher Education

The third element of the programme is about exposure to, and belonging in, higher education. The scholars join in with various elements of university life such as sports and recreation. They get the chance to live on campus in the halls of residence for the duration of the residentials and are immersed in university life.

Taster sessions from a variety of subjects are offered, both at Winchester and in partnership with other universities, to support informed subject and career choices, when the time comes.

The programme started in August 2021 and runs until July 2025. The commitment needed is one Saturday a month during term-time and two on-campus residentials in April (4 days) and August (2 weeks). As we still have spaces, you can join the programme straight away and be part of this existing cohort.

To qualify for programme, scholars need to live within traveling distance to Winchester, be in Y11, and meet one of the following criteria;

• Live in or be looked after by a local authority in our catchment area.
• Have or have previously had Child Looked After status, or an edge-of-care arrangement.
• Be an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Child (UASC).
• Be in Kin ship care, or on a care plan.
• Identified by children services as on the edge of care

Referrals can be made by foster carers, Virtual Schools/Teachers or Social Workers. Applications can be made via our online application form. Once referred The First Star team will get in touch. Informal visits can be arranged prior to joining to allow scholars to have a campus tour and find out more; then they will have the opportunity to come along to the next Saturday session and try it out.

Don't worry, the First Star Scholars programme is free!

The costs of the First Star Scholars Programme at the University of Winchester have been covered by several external funders; we are therefore not asking for a financial contribution to be able to take part.

All staff have enhanced DBS checks and attend bespoke safeguarding. Directors and managers receive additional safeguarding training.

The residential accommodation is in dedicated blocks of University of Winchester student accommodation, composing of separate male and female en-suite rooms and a shared lounge/kitchen. Programme staff will also live in this accommodation for the duration of the summer & April residentials, including the Programme Director, Youth Coaches and Lead Mentors.

If you have been referred, the programme director will be in contact shortly. If you want to get in touch, University of Winchester Programme director Will Kelly can be reached at firststarscholars@winchester.ac.uk