Avolve

Home to the official Avolve page dedicated to keeping you updated with Avolve news, events and more to students, children and all others alike.

As a student led referral and networking project founded within the confines of the University of Exeter, it is a shared belief that to build a movement for change, a united network between all institutions of the care system and beyond must be established. Avolve wishes to epitomize and facilitate this, to provide a more direct advisory and supportive community for former and current looked after

24/04/2021

Evening everyone. If you haven’t already seen, we have extended nominations until the 30th April🥳🥳🥳

Avolve - Students' Guild 16/04/2021

📣UPDATE: nominations have been extended and close on the 30th April at 9am✨

🌅Good evening everyone!🌅

After careful consideration, we have decided to extend our nomination deadline for 2021/22 committee. 📅

The new deadline in Friday 23rd April at 9am!!

Hop onto our guild page for further information and to nominate yourself!
https://www.exeterguild.org/societies/32733/

Best of luck!

Avolve - Students' Guild Avolve envisions the day when every former and current looked after child is able to voice their ambitions and opinions, with both the aptitude and means to fulfil them.

Avolve - Students' Guild 02/04/2021

Nominations for our 2021/22 committee are now open! To nominate yourself, please visit our guild page:

https://www.exeterguild.org/societies/32733/

Good luck!!

Avolve - Students' Guild Avolve envisions the day when every former and current looked after child is able to voice their ambitions and opinions, with both the aptitude and means to fulfil them.

21/03/2021

Our committee elections are now open from the 22nd March!! If you would like to join our 2021 committee, please feel free to contact us or find more information on our Exeter guild website!
Nominations open from the 2nd April 2021 and close on the 16th April 2021

Good luck!
Avolve committee 2020/21

21/03/2021

Our committee elections are now open from the 22nd March!! If you would like to join our 2021 committee, please feel free to contact us or find more information on our Exeter guild website!
Nominations open from the 2nd April 2021 and close on the 16th April 2021

Good luck!
Avolve committee 2020/21

20/03/2021

Our committee elections are now open from the 22nd March!! If you would like to join our 2021 committee, please feel free to contact us or find more information on our Exeter guild website!
Nominations open from the 2nd April 2021 and close on the 16th April 2021

Good luck!
Avolve committee 2020/21

Too many children wrongly taken into care, admits chief social worker Isabelle Trowler 18/03/2021

The Times wrote an article this week with the Chief Social Worker stating: "Babies and children are still being removed from families unnecessarily".

Please take a moment to read this interesting article and let us know your thoughts.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/too-many-children-wrongly-taken-into-care-admits-chief-social-worker-isabelle-trowler-95g5ft0ss

Too many children wrongly taken into care, admits chief social worker Isabelle Trowler Babies and children are still being removed from families unnecessarily, according to the chief social worker for children and families in England.Isabelle Trowler, 53, said social work needed “a

CMA launches study of children’s social care provision 16/03/2021

It has been announced that the CMA will be launching a study into children's social care provision. You can read the Government press release below. Let us know what you think!
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-launches-study-of-children-s-social-care-provision

CMA launches study of children’s social care provision The CMA has today launched a study of children’s social care provision to establish why a lack of availability and increasing costs could be leading to the needs of children in care not being met.

15/03/2021
05/03/2021

We know this lockdown has been extremely difficult for many. For anyone who may need it, here is a list of helplines that can help you. We have also included the times which they are open.

21/12/2020

Want to know a little bit more about our mentoring? Check out this little guide! If you want any more information please do not hesitate to drop us a message.

21/12/2020

After along time organising this with the guild and various schools across Exeter, we are proud to announce our mentoring scheme!
Don’t forget to be DBS ready!!

https://www.exeterguild.org/activities/volunteering/dbs/

01/12/2020

Please look out for an email from us today explaining what you need to do to become a mentor.

We have high hopes of beginning mentoring in 2021. Completing the DBS check and online training (info will be on the email) is compulsory in order to become an Avolve mentor.

If you have any questions please pop us an email!

26/10/2020

Avocados Advocacy

What a great way to celebrate . We can’t wait to read the daily blogs this week!

Today marks the start of National Care Leavers Week 2020! One of our Directors, Katie, is releasing a blog a day for the week to support this. Please have a read and share - we hope it brings you some warmth during these uncertain times 😊 Click the link below!

https://www.avocadosadvocacy.com/blog

26/10/2020

It's the start of !

This is the perfect chance for us to further challenge the negative perceptions which surround care leavers as well as children in care. Please join us by using this week to educate yourselves on our care system as well as the challenges faced by care leavers.

24/10/2020

Kickstart your career with our virtual careers event - sign up now!

As part of IMO - Write, Speak, Share is hosting a virtual careers event for care leavers on Wednesday 28th between 4pm and 6pm.

If you are interested in signing up for this free event you can get your ticket here: https://imohub.org.uk/kick-start-your-career-virtual-event/

imohub.org.uk Do you want to help kickstart your career and hear personal experiences from apprentices working in digital, design and more this National Care Leavers' Week?We’re hosting a virtual careers event online with global tech and consultancy firm Accenture, powered by Kidovation, where you can listen

15/10/2020

Meet the Committee 2020/21

Name: Tegen Shipp
Society position: Vice-President
Studying: Third year BSc Business Management
Fun fact: I am the worst singer ever.

Why I wanted to be part of Avolve:

Hi! I’m Tegen and I am the Vice-President for Avolve. I met our incredible President, Katie, at the beginning of my first year at Exeter University. She opened my eyes to the very real challenges which children in care and care leavers have to deal with. Since then, I have been a huge advocate for raising awareness of these challenges as well as supporting those most in need. I am committed to helping Avolve to beginning the huge wave of change which is needed in our care system. I have huge hopes and dreams for Avolve in 2020/21.

12/10/2020

Please remember to log onto the University of Exeter Students' Guild website in order to set up your 2020/21 membership with Avolve and join our journey. It's both free and easy to do!

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions. We would be happy to chat to you!

08/10/2020

Meet the Committee 2020/21

Name: Jessica-Anne Shaw
Society position: Treasurer
Studying: Third year BSc Psychology
Fun fact: I'm South African

Why I wanted to be part of Avolve:

Howzit, I’m Jessica-Anne and I’m the Treasurer for Avolve. Prior to Exeter, I mentored GCSE students at my old school for a year which I found was really rewarding. I loved seeing my mentees flourish and excel in their studies and develop socially, knowing I had helped cause this. Though there were few children in care that I mentored, I did not fully realise the impact of being a child in care had socially and educationally. Avolve has made me much more aware of the care system over my years at University, what it aims to do, and how we as University students can help. As Treasurer for Avolve, I am committed to help the society flourish, educate students amongst the Exeter community about children in care/ the care system and help provide amazing opportunities for both mentors and mentees.

10/09/2020

Meet the Committee 2020/21

Name: Jack Mercy
Society position: Mentoring Director
Studying: Second year International relations
Fun fact: I have been to hospital over 12 times in my life and been in an ambulance 6 times

Why I wanted to be part of Avolve:

Hi, my names Jack and I'm a second year student studying International Relations with a placement year. Before arriving at Exeter I had a few ideas regarding the type of societies I wanted to join; I'm a very sporty person so knew I'd join a sports club but I was also very keen to join a charity or similar type of group. After searching through a long list I found Avolve and was interested straight away. I've worked with children all over the world. I've spent time with very wealthy and privileged kids as well as incredibly poor and disadvantaged ones, but never with kids in care. Unfortunately, until I discovered Avolve I was clueless as to the situation facing these children and the harsh reality regarding the outlook the majority of these kids have for their lives after they leave the care system. Avolve seeks to change that and through my role as mentoring director I want to build a relationship with every member of the society and ensure that we enable these kids to believe and aim for a brighter future. I can't wait to meet our new members and begin an awesome year for Avolve

09/09/2020

Flying Solo Charity

What an inspirational young woman. We recognise that uni is not for everyone but this is a great story.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-53347593

05/09/2020

Are we naïve to the reality of the care system?

My younger self’s perception of the care system was very different to what it is now. My Great Grandmother fostered tiny babies (she amazingly looked after 40 babies during this period of her life) before they were adopted and bought up by families wishing for a child. So, for me, my belief was that children were put in the care system and then lovingly adopted into families which would allow them to thrive.

However, this isn’t the case most of the time. Yes, babies are often adopted very quickly, but often it is older children who have rocky experiences within our care systems. There are 78,000 looked after children in the UK. How would our lives be different if we were counted in this number?

The truth of the care system isn’t broadcasted. The ins and outs of foster care, lack of support and poor education often isn’t on our radar. It’s just something that many don’t think about unless faced with a situation. But maybe we should consider whether we would have the same prospects in life if we had spent our childhood in and out of the care system. Would we have got that internship? Would we have made it to university? Would we be on track to be promoted at the best company in our field? Or even, would we be living in a safe, warm home?

Care leavers make up just 0.1% of undergraduates. That is just 6% of care leavers going to University. The Centre for Social Justice pledged to double this number by 2024 and there is a lot of work to be done to change the brutal fact that “a care leaver is more likely to end up in a prison cell than a lecture theatre”. As well as this, one in four care leavers are homeless at the age of 18, with 14% sleeping rough on the streets, reducing their opportunities as well as having detrimental effects on their mental health.

I think it can be easy to dismiss the problems we face with our care system in the UK. It’s easy to forget that some children do not have the same childhood experiences as the majority. For some, the care system is a very real, and scary, reality. This is why, at Avolve, we want to create change and provide opportunities for children in the care system. This starts with Exeter, with the hope of a ripple affect across the country.

Tegen
Vice- President

01/09/2020

Our Term 1 memberships are now live! Find everything you need to know about Avolve on the Guild page or click the link below:

https://www.exeterguild.org/societies/32733/

Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions! We can't wait to welcome you all 🥳

01/09/2020

Meet the committee

MEET THE COMMITTEE 2020/21

Name: Alyssa Callaway
Society position: Schools Officer
Studying: Third year Law student
Fun fact: I have an identical twin sister!

Why I wanted to be part of Avolve:

The reason that I wanted to be part of Avolve stems from my parents being foster carers. Through this I have seen the disadvantages that Children in Care face. This includes many missing school time and their academic levels being below their peers. Thus, many are reluctant to even contemplate University. Avolve is here to help give Children in Care someone to talk to about the process of applying to University and is something I believe is super important. My further role as a Schools Officer will help ensure that Avolve can have access to more schools so more Children in Care can be reached

27/08/2020

Widening Participation Funding - Students' Guild

This is amazing news for all care leavers and estranged students!! We are so happy to hear this ❤️

exeterguild.org Widening Participation Funding Widening Participation Funding We are delighted to announce that we have secured additional funding from the University to ensure that care leavers, care experienced students and estranged students can get their time at Exeter off to the best possible start!   What’...

25/08/2020

Flying Solo Charity

Please take a look at what these internships could offer you!

Time to get those applications in if you’re interested. If you need any help with applications please do get in touch.

https://www.careleaverinternship.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR0NF2U8q3x0romi-8l57SET4U7xDoH0z5-N7woIovjZH9saMoKcqvo371k

13/08/2020

We want to congratulate everyone who received their A level results today! We hope to meet and great the new freshers who will be joining us in September. We all know how stressful exam season is, and how important it is to reach our full potential so well done to all A level students!

Are you interested in how A level results are impacted by your background? How the division between private schools and non-private schools may affect exam results? Check out our new blog below!

https://www.avolve.info/post/addressing-the-importance-of-a-levels

13/08/2020

Congratulations to everyone receiving their A level results today! We can't wait to meet you all!

Did you know that only 6% of care leavers go into higher education? Why not help out children in care system through providing academic mentoring in schools around Exeter! It is a great way to help out others and give care leavers a boost into higher education!

Keep updated through our page and Twitter page , and take a visit to Instagram
Or check out our website at www.avolve.info

Love Avolve soc xx

02/06/2020

Hello everyone,

Avolve stands in solidarity with all those who are fighting and protesting against the horrific death of George Floyd and the countless others who have died at the hands of police brutality. Avolve stands in solidarity with those fighting against the racism that is systematic and inherent in the judicial and policing system. It is our responsibility as allies and as a community which seeks to support those who need to be heard - whether that be children in care, or people of colour - to remember that these inequalities have existed for hundreds of years and exist not only in America, but in the UK and worldwide. It is not enough to just show support through online statements, we must continue to educate ourselves and support communities and organisations through action.

Attached below is a google document which compiles a large range of ways we can support the Black Lives Matter movement (not only financially). Please consider joining this fight.

https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/1-0KC83vYfVQ-2freQveH43PWxuab2uWDEGolzrNoIks/mobilebasic

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R7xQXeuIsQzcxe4walEBpF1BC0IkugT4sJVkLJAKYjY/edit

29/04/2020

Children in care at risk since coronavirus crisis, say campaigners

Our care system will suffer from the affects of COVID-19. Please take a moment to read this article on the changes to regulations.

"Activists described the decision to relax 10 key sets of regulations, as an “outrageous assault on safeguards” and warned that children would be harmed."

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/28/children-in-care-at-risk-since-coronavirus-crisis-say-campaigners

theguardian.com Changes to protection system condemned as ‘deregulation on steroids’

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Avolve provides mentoring and training services and hosts events to raise awareness of the world of looked after children.

Mentoring: Our one-to-one mentoring service consists of each mentor forming a consistent, advisory partnership with each individual looked after child and guiding them to explore any potential aspirations they may have through relevant opportunities which range from employment experience to recreational and academic support.

Awareness Events: Through hosting events in which influential members of the child protection and services community are invited. Avolve acts as a medium for discussion, debate, challenge and support. This in turn drives the engagement and development of a more effective child protection support structure.

Training: We provide the training for our own employees as well as other institutions, allowing those working within the confines of the child protection system to have a more refined and deeper understanding of looked after children and the environment that surrounds them.

Address


University Of
Exeter
EX44PL

General information

What is the problem?

Children in care are currently struggling during their crucial years of GCSEs. With over 69,540 looked after children in the English and Welsh care system to date, in 2014,it would be found that only 14% would obtain their 5 A*-Cs GCSE (including English and Maths). Compared to the national average of 55% of the average student achieving this standard, this disparity has subjected looked after children to a significant disadvantage when seeking to pursue further of higher education, employment and further training.

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