Care-Experienced bursary

That this House understands that Care Experienced people’s education is often interrupted in childhood as a result of being removed from home; recognises that statistically, Care Experienced people are less likely than their peers to attend further and higher education; appreciates that many Care Experienced people re-engage with education later in life, often when they have families of their own to support; notes that Care Experienced people are entitled to a Care Experienced Bursary when in further or higher education; is concerned that the Bursary is considered as an income by the Universal Credit system, leaving many Care Experienced people financially worse off in education than they were on Universal Credit; and calls on the Government to ensure that the Care Experienced Bursary is discounted as income under the Universal Credit System, thereby allowing the bursary to fulfil its ethos as a payment intended as additional to other benefits.