York St John receives stamp of approval for support to care leavers

York St John University has received further recognition for its commitment in supporting care leavers entering higher education.

Buttle UK (formally the Frank Buttle Trust) has upgraded the Quality Mark for Care Leavers in Higher Education from 'developing well' to ‘exemplary’ for the efforts the University makes to smooth the way for care leavers to gain access to degree courses. York St John University is one of only 19 universities in the UK to have currently received such a high accolade from The Trust.

The University has proudly held the Buttle UK Quality Mark since 2008 in recognition of its commitment towards care-experienced young people entering Higher Education. Support systems exist to help young people who have been in care within the last three years with arranging accommodation, finance and applying for the University’s Care Leavers Allowance. York St John University also works in partnership with the ‘York & North Yorkshire Virtual Schools for Looked after Children’, in mentoring young people in schools through the Aimhigher Associate Mentoring project.

Sue Reece, Pro Vice Chancellor at York St John University said:
“This accolade demonstrates our continued commitment in supporting care leavers to access and succeed in Higher Education. It is fantastic recognition for all the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm that staff across the University have shown in embedding the wide range of support services on offer at York St John University.”

Buttle UK is named after Frank Buttle, a remarkable man whose hard work and personal sacrifice helped to establish grant programmes, which have been helping children and young people in need across the UK since 1953. The Trust particularly helps those children for whom parental support may be lacking, and special consideration is given to the needs of children who are estranged from their parents or looked after by adoptive parents, relatives or a family friend. Buttle UK set up the Quality Mark in 2006 in recognition of Higher Education institutions which excel in supporting students who have been in public care.