Now in its sixth year, Superstars is a unique project that works directly with young people in public care/looked after children (LAC).

The project provides a direct intervention which recognises that, coupled with an often disrupted education; these young people rarely get the support and guidance that they need in order to reach their full potential.  Indeed, although improving, educational outcomes for the Looked After cohort and are still unacceptably poor, a fact highlighted by the recently published Handle with Care Report:

"This year approximately 6,000 young people will emerge from the care of the state… of this 6,000, 4,500 of them will leave with no educational qualifications whatsoever. Within two years of leaving care 3,000 will be unemployed, 2,100 will be mothers or pregnant and 1,200 will be homeless. Out of the 6,000 just 60 will make it to university"

Harriet Sergeant, September 2006, Handle with Care, Centre for Young Policy Studies.

Project Aims

1. To raise aspirations
2. To raise attainment
3. To increase levels of confidence, motivation and self-esteem
4. To help access post 16 learning and/or employment opportunities
5. To help young people make an informed choice about whether Higher Education is right for them

Working with young people in Year 10/11 as they approach their GCSE exams, Superstars continues to offer bespoke support and guidance up to Year 13 and, where requested, beyond.

Members of the Superstars programme benefit from study support and mentoring as well as motivational and aspirational activities.

This year, sees three of the first cohort enter into higher education. 

What the young people say:

"While visiting the University of Liverpool it has given me much more confidence for my future in Higher Education.  Overall this has motivated me to improve my GCSEs".

"I think it has given me more confidence and I would consider going to uni some time in the future".

"I thought the residential was fun and the activities were good. There was a lot to do on the residential and I think the mentoring that we had was helpful, I really did really learn something new all the time".

What the professionals say:

"The individual support given by the mentors really helped the students in the preparation for exams.  They also gained in confidence during the year and enjoyed the friendship of the other young people, as well as making good relationships with the adults".

"The mentoring has worked very well and has been well received by the students.  The residential activities were enjoyed and they were pleased to receive a session on the UCAS process at the Easter Residential".

"Fantastic and the staff were brilliant".

"The students are more confident, outgoing and willing to have a go at anything now".

Contact Details

For more information on the Superstars project please contact:

Linda Rowney
University of Liverpool
email: rowney1@liverpool.ac.uk or click here to visit the University website.