‘Inspirational’ support group for care leavers set up by student ‘to create a sense of belonging’

Pottery classes, cookery courses and a chance to make meaningful connections with like-minded peers will all be made possible for care leavers and estranged students at the University of Chichester, thanks to a new group set up by a student.

Chrisner Josian, a second year BA (Hons) Social Work student, explained that she wanted to create a space where care leavers could come together for friendship and activities, in a bid to create a support system and avoid loneliness.

“I wanted to create more opportunities for care leavers to make friends and to do activities we may not have done before,” Chrisner said. “Things like swimming lessons or cooking. It’s also a way to get to know more people, so you have someone to spend holidays with.”

Chrisner, who is a care leaver herself, said many students leave campus outside term-time, but for care leavers and estranged students, they may not have an alternative so building their networks is important.

She decided to set up the Care Leavers Access and Support Project after a conversation with Becky Edwards, the programme lead for the Adversity to University programme (A2U), which helps people from disadvantaged backgrounds into higher education. Many care leavers have been supported into education and training through the programme, and Becky agreed that a network would be beneficial.

Becky said: “Chrisner has been instrumental in getting this group off the ground. Her determination and vision in creating this group has been inspirational. Her positive attitude and supportive, informal approach ensures that everyone feels welcomed and creates a sense of belonging that can often be missing from the lives of care leavers, care experienced young people and those who are estranged from their parents. With Chrisner in charge, I am sure it will keep getting better and better.”

It comes as a 2025 report shows only 14% of care-experienced young people progress to university by age 22, four times lower than the general population, and of those care leavers who do pursue higher education, 18% drop out without a qualification, two and a half times the rate of the general population (Pathways into and through higher education for young people with experience of children’s social care). Another report found that 48% of care-experienced students said that they felt lonely all or some of the time compared to 26% of their peers (HEPI, 2023). 

The first meeting of the network took place in February, and there are currently seven students involved – although Chrisner wants to expand the network to current students and alumni. She also successfully applied for a grant from care leavers’ charity to launch the project – and won the bid – securing funds to go towards activities like sessions at the Pottery Lodge.

The group is set to meet twice a month, and has an active WhatsApp group for the students involved.

As well as activities, the group is receiving donations for items to make accommodation more homely for students. Recently a group donated some handmade quilts for care leavers at the University.

The University provides support for care-experienced students, with a Care Leavers Bursary, Student Wellbeing Advisers and a Care Leavers Coordinator, who is a central point of contact for advice and information.

Chrisner said this support and the close-knit community is a central reason why she chose Chichester to continue her studies and hopes the Care Leavers Access and Support Project she has set up will build on that foundation to ensure the University is a supportive and inclusive space for care-experienced students.

If you would like to support the Care Leavers Access and Support Project at the University of Chichester, contact Becky Edwards on b.edwards@chi.ac.uk