At an award ceremony on Friday evening, Queen’s student, Remi Steven, also received the VOYPIC Wellbeing Champion 2026 award in recognition of her positive impact on the wellbeing of other students in the University with experience of care.

Remi, a third year Psychology student, was an establishing member of a social group and has been key to its growth and success. The group brings students together every month to socialise over food, snacks and shared experiences. She said:

“The care‑experienced group has been such a welcoming and safe place for me to just sit, chat and laugh with people who genuinely get it, without having to talk about it. It has made a huge difference to my university experience.

“The support I feel at Queens – and especially from Rhiannon, Sinead and Jacqui in Widening Participation – is brilliant. It’s not suffocating or overbearing, it’s helpful and a gentle reminder that I have people there for me, who really care.

“Being recognised with the VOYPIC Wellbeing Champion award means so much, because it reflects the kindness and support that this community has given me, and I just feel so warm and grateful to be able to have given that to others too.”

Last year, Queen’s received a National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) award, recognising the wraparound support they provide to students who have experience of care to enable them to reach their full potential.

Commenting on the support measures offered, Queen’s President and Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer said:

“Understanding the hugely complex practical and emotional barriers to students with care-experience and providing wraparound support and tailored initiatives is crucial to their overall wellbeing and future success. Our dedicated Widening Participation team, student mentors, and colleagues across the University are central to helping these students reach their full potential. 

“I am also delighted to see Remi recognised as VOYPIC’s Wellbeing Champion for her contributions to Queen’s as an inclusive and transformative University for students from all backgrounds and wish to offer my congratulations on the award.”

Young people coming from a background of care experience are often underrepresented in higher education for reasons such as disrupted education at a younger age, transitioning between care arrangements, lack of consistent support, or their self-belief being negatively impacted.

The University’s initiatives include financial assistance, academic guidance, and prioritised internship and work experience placements for care-experienced students, and a range of pre-entry support for prospective students including Transition Skills For University.

In the last academic year, the University administered 54 Care-Experienced Bursaries and had approximately 100 students who have indicated that they have experience of care.

The University also provides staff one-to-one contact support and full-year accommodation to care-experienced student housing applicants, the longer accommodation contract providing assurance of having a safe residence, even during holiday times.

Click here to find out more about how Queen’s supports care-experienced students.

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