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Uni-Fi

The problem

The idea

There are 660 children in care in Derbyshire. Only 9.1% of these young people achieve 5 GCSE's A*-C (including English and Maths) compared to 53% of the wider population. 80% of care leavers are involved in some sort of employment, education or training but only 17 young people are attending University. This is a picture that is replicated across the Country. As corporate parents we strive to give young people in our care the best possible choices and chance to succeed as adults.

With increases in tuition fees imminent children in care are the only young people who have the opportunity to get a degree for free.

Our idea is to bring together the University of Derby and our after care provider with local, successful graduates, business people and web/app designers to create the practical support and inspiration to mentor these young people to double our care leaver graduates; adding to the local economy, challenging our aspirations for them and involving community in contributing to the Big Society in solving this long term problem.

The premise behind Uni-Fi is that young people in care from year 4 onwards will be mentored by successful business people, entrepeneurs and community leaders. This includes the design of a web based crowd sourcing application drawing together questions from young people and solutions from a range of successful, inspirational people including academics and graduates. By developing a mobile app and through fostering a support network of adults and thinkers young people can receive non-traditional support that enables them to create learning spaces suitable to their lives and needs.

The University of Derby, through open visits, seminars and development of tailored learning modules will assist in literally opening the doors to young people who historically have not felt entitled to enter higher education.

What we need

Tags

NESTACC

Derbyshire County Council