Cracking the University Code with the Realise Project

‘Realise’ is a year-round programme tailored specifically to help raise the aspirations of young people in care and support them in their ambitions to go on to higher education.  It’s free to attend and support can be available for travel costs where necessary.

The day included a guided tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Sculpture Trail and galleries, lunch at Emmanuel College, and a presentation by researcher Ben Roberts on the many uses of computer science.

“Yes, we do learn how to hack banks,” he told the students, all of whom were in Y10 or above. “But it’s legal and they ask us to do it.”

Alec, who came from Essex with his foster mum to take part in the Taster Day, enjoyed the opportunity to get an experience of university life.

“At lunchtime I talked to the students,” he said. “It was a good chance to ask questions. I asked whether it’s expensive to go to uni, and how much work they have to do here. They told me it’s hard work but worth it.”

In the afternoon student volunteers Sam, James and Hans talked to the group about their own experiences of life at university, and how they had chosen which course to do.

Hans explained about the college system, which is one of the special benefits of studying at Cambridge University. “It’s eye-opening and enriching to make friends with people who are studying different subjects to you,” he explained. “It gives you a broader view of life.”

“Our Taster Day is designed to give young people in care the opportunity to discover new interests, have a taste of higher education and hear about the ways in which a degree can broaden their career options,” explains Jenny Mackay, the co-ordinator of the Realise project.

“We end the day with a careers talk because we want our participants to go home with a sense of the choices available to them, and the support on which they can draw to make those choices reality.”