Step Up Step Down is a pioneering approach to supporting families on the edge of care. It demonstrates a reduction in the numbers of children coming into care, and improved outcomes for children and families. At its heart are specialist, highly trained family support foster carers, who provide time limited, preventative support to up to four families at any one time.   

Speaking at an event at The Graduate School, celebrating programme participants, Jade Irwin, Head of the Step Up Step Down programme, said: ‘today we get to celebrate that the participants have completed the course and what they’ve learned in doing so, but also the emotional and physical barriers they have overcome, and how they have gone on to apply their learning in creative ways. The impact of this programme extends far beyond what’s happened over the last few weeks and will continue to be felt in the future. Many of our participants have never had the opportunity to access universities before, so to be in this space and feel part of it is fantastic.’

The Fostering Network have a longstanding relationship with The Graduate School, collaborating with them on the The Impact Programme since 2020.

Jade says, ‘The Graduate School, and namely Claire and Peter who facilitated the Design Thinking course, were flexible, relatable and dignifying. They took the time to understand The Fostering Network as an organisation and the participants as individuals and as a group, noting any specific needs, and tailored the course appropriately. They opened up a space that many of these participants had not previously accessed, and supported them to realise they could share in it; that it was theirs.’

Jade continues, ‘There are many barriers that prevent people The Fostering Network support from accessing university. A non-exhaustive list would include financial, physical, circumstancial, familial, socio-cultural and emotional barriers. Queen's providing opportunities for these participants to engage with the university space, to take part in learning, to develop skills and to achieve something very meaningful not only improves their prospects in terms of education and employment, but genuinely grows skills for life which positively impact community life and family life as well.”

For The Graduate School, this is also a partnership where the benefits go in both directions, as the university benefits from the incredible lives, stories, skills, creativity, analytical thoughts and new ways of seeing the world that participants from The Fostering Network bring.

Speaking about The Graduate School’s partnership with the Fostering Network, Impact Consultant, Claire Graham, said: “we are very proud of our partnership with The Fostering Network and the impact that it is having both for the participants and for our own student body. The Graduate School is committed to building an inclusive community where traditional barriers to higher education are broken; innovating together to create new pathways and opportunities. We have really enjoyed this programme with The Fostering Network and are excited to build on it and co-design our next venture together.”

The Graduate School congratulates each of the participants who completed their course on Monday. To discover more about The Fostering Network, visit their website.