Youth Futures Education Fund

For those formerly in government care pursuing post-secondary education without family or other support can seem like an impossible dream.

Map of BC
Across All United Way BC Regions

United Way BC’s Youth Futures Education Fund helps create equal educational opportunities for adults who have been in government care by providing low-barrier access to funds for basic living expenses like food, rent, technology, childcare and more. By addressing gaps students may encounter in a time of high living costs and inflation, we help ensure everyone wanting to pursue an education can do so. The fund is available to students on a Provincial Tuition Waiver. 

Pursuing post-secondary education is expensive — averaging $26,400 annually for essentials like rent, groceries, school supplies, transit, and more. But for youth leaving government care, the challenge is steeper. At age 19, they often ‘age out’ of the system and lose access to the foster parents, social workers, and financial supports they relied on. While many of their peers have
families to fall back on in case of an emergency, youth from care are too often left to navigate hard situations alone.

Through a powerful collaboration between United Way BC, Vancouver Foundation, Coast Capital, the Province of British Columbia, and the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, the Youth Futures Education Fund (YFEF) was established. Since its launch in 2015, YFEF has been instrumental in filling the financial gaps for students on the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program who are pursuing their post-secondary dreams. When a need arises, YFEF is there to provide youth
in care the stability they need to focus on their studies.

Advocacy matters

Our advocacy has helped inform and catalyze major systemic improvements:

  • Removal of age restrictions for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, so
    former youth in care can return to school later in life
  • Inclusion of all youth who turn 19, regardless of their length of time in care
  • Introduction of the lump sum $3,500 Learning for Future Grant at the start of
    the school-year for essential education-related costs
  • Launch of the SAJE Program, with staff offering navigation, life skills, and income supports
    for youth transitioning out of care

These changes have reshaped the post-secondary landscape for youth from care in BC. But the
need is still high.

Realizing potential 

While the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program covers tuition and the Learning for Futures Grant of $3,500 is a one-time payment that many former youth in care use to pay down high interest credit card debt, it doesn’t address day-to-day living expenses or emergencies — which can make or
break a student’s ability to succeed. That’s where YFEF steps in, providing low-barrier financial support for students so that when life happens, they can stay on track.

  • YFEF has supported over 4,280 students since 2015 and over 71% of YFEF
    recipients have graduated with a credential
  • Funding ranges from $20 to $6,500, depending on the emergent need
  • 36% of student recipients are Indigenous

Older adults 

Thanks to a recent expansion of the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program removing all age criteria,
many individuals formerly in government care who did not have the opportunity to pursue
education when they left school are now able to do so.   

Along with attending a post-secondary institution, they can be caring for young families, needing to drive long distances to get to class and working, all of which makes it hard to concentrate on schooling. The Youth Futures Education Fund helps by providing barrier-free funds for childcare, transportation expenses and more. 

Read RavenSong’s story to learn how we can help.

Youth Futures Education Fund

United for youth in need.

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