For all estranged and care experienced students to have the choice to go to university safe in the knowledge that they will have a secure home.

Our students say that having a safe and secure home at university means they can make the most of the full university experience. Our data also tells us that the provision of a home at university – the security it provides and the financial stress it alleviates – has a strong impact on continuation rates for this group of students.

This year we’ll be developing links with other funders and university partners to provide more scholarships. We’ll also be building an evidence base using consistent data to make the case for the provision of a home at university for all estranged and care experienced students.

The goal is that by the 2026 / 27 academic year, free accommodation for estranged and care experienced students is provided as standard support across all UK universities.

For all estranged and care experienced students to feel united by a sense of community.

This will be something that takes shape over time, led by students themselves, naturally. There are over 360 members and a number of groups in the online ‘This is Us’ community space so far. This year the students will be creating events and activities of their own design, supported by us when coming together locally, regionally or nationally.

The goal is that estranged and care experienced students feel better connected, become recognised in wider society without stigma and can pull together when they want to, to effect change that will benefit all estranged and care experienced young people at university.

For students to drive change in higher education so that all estranged and care experienced students can secure and maintain a home throughout university and beyond.

Being able to secure and maintain a home through university – and beyond – is challenging for students without any family support. It costs a lot of money and things other students rely on their family for e.g. providing a guarantor, are not straightforward. Some students feel they need to be preparing to secure a home after university, from the day they join.

This year students will come together in an activist group within the This is Us community, telling us what needs to change – they know better than anyone – and be at the forefront of campaign activity, supported by our team.

The goal is for This is Us to become recognised as a credible campaigning group, driving necessary change for all estranged and care experienced students.

To deliver a variety of paid employment opportunities for Unite Foundation students.

Being armed with a strengthened CV, real world work experience and a list of industry contacts is important for those next steps after graduation – one step closer to your chosen career and securing an income to afford your own home.

This year, we’re setting out the cornerstones of what a quality summer internship looks like and assessing the current providers in the field.

The goal is that, by 2026, we will have broadened out our network of employment partners to deliver more opportunities, direct to estranged and care experienced students.