Founded in 1937, The Frank Buttle Trust, the largest UK charity providing grants solely to children and young people, in 2006-2007 made 8,785 grants totalling around £2.7 million to give children and young people in need a brighter future. Enabling young people to undertake higher education courses through its grant scheme for students and trainees, the Trust has now initiated a Quality Mark to recognise those universities and colleges which make special efforts to support students from care backgrounds.

Young people who have been in care often lack the emotional and financial support of their families and face greater challenges than the majority of students in acquiring educational qualifications and employment skills. Working closely with partners in the higher education sector, the Trust has developed a Commitment to Care Leavers in Higher Education, which provides a charter through which universities and colleges can demonstrate their commitment to help.

Professor Drummond Bone, President of Universities UK, welcomed the contribution the Trust's Quality Mark scheme will make to the support students from care backgrounds receive, saying, "Universities are committed to encouraging applications from candidates from non-traditional backgrounds; the scheme is another fine example of this."

The following universities have been awarded the Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark:

University of Abertay Dundee
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bradford
De Montfort University
Edge Hill University
University of Huddersfield
Kingston University
University of Leeds
University of Leicester
The University of Liverpool
Loughborough University
University of Sheffield
Sheffield Hallam University
Staffordshire University
University of Southampton
University of Teeside
University of Winchester
York St John University College

Information about the Trust's Grant Scheme for Students and Trainees, School Fee Grants and Child Support Grants is available on its website. To enquire about applying for a grant you can also contact:

England
The Frank Buttle Trust,
Audley House,
13 Palace Street,
London SW1E 5HX
Tel: 020 7828 7311
info@buttletrust.org

Scotland
The Frank Buttle Trust,
PO Box 5075,
G78 4WA
Tel: 01505 850 437
scotland@buttletrust.org

Wales The Frank Buttle Trust,
PO Box 7,
Rhayader LD6 5WB
Tel: 01597 870 060
wales@buttletrust.org

Northern Ireland
The Frank Buttle Trust,
PO Box 484,
Belfast BT6 OYA
Tel: 02890 64 11 64
buttleni@btconnect.com