For the second part of our Education blog, we hear from students and their supporting coordinators. We hope you enjoy learning some more about what we do and the real differences made to student’s lives.
ELLEN in the North East
“Hi, I’m Ellen and I’m 19 years old and I have been getting support from KEYFORT since I started my Mathematics degree in September 2019. I live on campus and this means that the KEYFORT support workers that work do a range of tasks such as making my food, taking notes in lectures and clinical needs. The clinical needs I have, require training and this has been provided by the nurses at KEYFORT, who make sure the support workers are prepared and confident enough to use the equipment on session.
During the beginning of this semester I had to self-isolate at my university accommodation, KEYFORT provided full PPE for the support workers on shift. They also gave me advice and support throughout the isolation period which really helped my mental health. I have had support now for just over a year and KEYFORT have been amazing in all aspects, from the support workers who I see all the time to the staff in the office, and I am really look forward to the support I will be getting in the future.” – Ellen.
“I have worked for KEYFORT since September 2018 and started my journey in Liverpool before transferring over to the North East. I enjoy meeting all of the people we support and helping them overcome obstacles they may experience throughout their university degree. My role involves liaising with external parties such as university disability advisors, physiotherapist and social workers. It is good to know how the support is going in the university and that we are supporting the students in the way that is best for them. I have been involved in all aspects of setting up Ellen’s support and have thoroughly enjoyed this. As Ellen likes to be very involved in her support, she helps to review her care plans and gives preferences with her support team. It is really nice to see Ellen’s journey throughout university and the bond she had made with her support team. We hold regular team meetings so that Ellen and her team feel supported, can address any issues and discuss what is working well.” – Debs K, Specialist Academic Support Coordinator, North East.
OLLY in Liverpool
“Hi, my name is Olly. I've been a service user for KEYFORT since September 2019, when they started supporting me on my journey through a business degree. I have thrived at university due to KEYFORT's support, because they have allowed me independence to be able to socialize with friends and supported me with activities and hobbies whilst being at university. This has allowed me to gain more self-confidence and awareness of the world around me. The KEYFORT team, support me with a wide range of daily tasks whilst at university, such as preparing meals, washing, and allowing the space for me to thrive in this environment. I am very grateful for KEYFORT's support, because without it, I wouldn't have been able to gain my independence and go to university like every other student. I am looking forward to KEYFORT's support to help me reach my goals for the coming years.” - Olly.
“I began my journey at KEYFORT as a Support Worker, supporting a student like Olly in University accommodation. In March, I then began my role as a Specialist Support Coordinator, I now organise support for KEYFORT’s students in the Liverpool area. I’m in regular contact with all the students, ensuring that they are always happy with the support that they receive, the people on their team and ensuring that they have a good University experience. We try to involve the students with planning their support where possible, for example, Olly provided some interview questions for us that he felt were important to ask when we were recruiting for new Support Workers this summer. This allows us to adapt support to meet the needs and preferences of each student. It’s great to watch all of our students grow more independent and make the most of their University experience!” -Ana M, Specialist Academic Support Coordinator, Merseyside.
We hope you enjoyed these insights from the students we support and their coordinators!
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