Catriona Nunn Growing up in the care system is often a challenging and isolating experience. For alumnus Chris Hoyle, that experience shaped his determination to create opportunities for students that would help them pursue higher education and help them feel cared for at Christmas.
“Reflecting on my journey from foster care to university and beyond, I’m struck by how transformative the experience at the University of York has been. Growing up as part of the care system, higher education felt like an unlikely goal, a distant possibility at best. York changed all of that for me, and it’s this belief in the power of opportunity that inspires the work I do today to support care-experienced students.
Chris’ foster care experience
My journey into care was different from what many people imagine. I entered the system relatively late, at the age of 13, and I was fortunate to have only two placements throughout my time in care. That level of stability is rare. Even rarer is the relationship I’ve maintained with my foster parents, who still play an important role in my life today. They attended my child’s birthday party – a testament to how profoundly they shaped my life.
Neither of my foster parents had high-powered careers. My foster mum worked in a bakery, and my foster dad was a taxi driver. Yet, they both understood the value of education and were determined that I would pursue it. They pushed me to work hard in school and aim for university, something that was far from a given for someone in my circumstances. Without them, I’m not sure I would have had the courage to take that step.
Their support also gave me something that many care-experienced young people don’t have: consistency. While so many in the care system face frequent upheaval and uncertainty, I was lucky to have a steady home base. That stability made it easier for me to dream about a different future and gave me the foundation to take risks and seize opportunities.
But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realise how much of my success was down to sheer luck. There’s a randomness to who gets support and who doesn’t in the care system, and that shouldn’t be the case. No young person’s future should hinge on whether or not they get lucky.”
Applying to university and breaking the mould
The University of York became a turning point in Chris’s life, not just academically but in building a network of friends and opportunities that changed his future. York’s ethos of being a University for Public Good stood out, and Chris found the environment welcoming and transformative.
“When I applied to university, I became the first care leaver from North Yorkshire to do so under the Leaving Care Act. This wasn’t a badge of honor for me, it was a stark reminder of how few care-experienced young people were accessing higher education at that time. In fact, I didn’t just have to focus on my own studies and applications; I also worked with North Yorkshire County Council to help them figure out what kind of support care leavers at university would need. At the time, they had no system in place because no one from the care system had done it before.
To their credit, North Yorkshire was incredibly supportive. They worked with me to build a framework that would help future care leavers pursue higher education. But I’ve always been aware that not everyone has the same experience I did. Many local authorities are under-resourced or lack the flexibility to offer meaningful support.
Even with the backing of my local council, stepping onto campus for the first time was daunting. I wasn’t just stepping into a new world academically; I was stepping into a new social and cultural reality. Being care-experienced, you don’t have the same network of family or financial safety net that many of your peers take for granted.
“For me, university wasn’t just an opportunity to get a degree; it was my chance to build the kind of future I never thought possible.“
The impact of higher education
One of the most profound things I’ve realised is how much York shaped my life, not just for me, but for my family. My children now have a life I could never have imagined as a kid. They live in a comfortable home in Fulford, attend good schools, and have a kind of stability that feels almost surreal to me.
Generational patterns are a huge part of the care system. Often, people who grow up in care face barriers that lead to repeated cycles of poverty, instability, and disadvantage. For me, attending York helped break that cycle. The friends I made here remain some of my closest confidants to this day. The skills I developed and the network I built continue to shape my professional life. York didn’t just give me a degree; it gave me a way out of the constraints I thought I’d been born into.”
The personal experience behind York’s stocking appeal
Christmas can be a joyful time for many, but for care-experienced young people, it’s often a stark reminder of what they don’t have. After benefiting from the support and community at York, Chris founded the Christmas Stocking Appeal to bring joy and connection to care-experienced students during the festive season.
“My own care experience played a big part in shaping the Christmas Stocking Appeal. Christmas has always been complicated for me. Even now, with my own family, I still feel it. Growing up in care, Christmas was a constant reminder of what was missing. You see adverts showing happy families, hear songs about being home for the holidays, and everywhere you look, it’s this overwhelming message of togetherness.
“But if you’re care-experienced, you’re often spending it alone. No presents. No cards. Nothing. It’s isolating.“
Even as someone who’s been incredibly fortunate, I still feel that ache every year. If that’s how I feel, I can’t imagine how hard it must be for students who don’t have anyone to turn to. That’s why I started the Christmas Stocking Appeal. It’s not about the monetary value of the gifts, it’s about the thought behind them. It’s about showing these students that someone cares, that they’re not alone, and that they belong.”
Just a coffee cup and some loose change
“The idea for the appeal came after I read about a man who took his own life on Christmas Day. He seemed to have a good support network, who later reflected how isolating Christmas can feel, even for those who seem outwardly okay. That resonated with me deeply.
When I was working in Accommodation Services at York, I wanted to find a way to make Christmas a little brighter for care-experienced students. At first, it was a simple idea – my colleagues and I collected loose change, decorated Costa Coffee cups, and bought a few stockings filled with small gifts like socks and chocolate coins.
That first year, we only supported a handful of students but their reactions were overwhelmingly positive. One student posted a photo of her stocking on Twitter. She’d made a little Christmas tree on her wall out of shiny tape and put the stocking underneath it. She hadn’t planned to celebrate Christmas at all, but the stocking inspired her to do something festive. That’s when I realised how much this small gesture meant.
Over the years, the appeal has grown. With support from Student Services and donors, it’s become a much bigger initiative, raising thousands of pounds each year. What I love most is that it’s not about the gifts, it’s about showing these students that someone cares.”
What started as a small gesture of kindness quickly grew into a powerful initiative. Chris hopes the Christmas Stocking Appeal will continue to grow and inspire similar initiatives across the country. For him, it’s a small but powerful way to make a difference in the lives of care-experienced young people.
Parting words of wisdom
“My hope for the Christmas Stocking Appeal is simple: I want it to continue for as long as it’s needed. Each year, I’m blown away by the generosity of York alumni and the support this initiative receives. More broadly, I hope we can continue to build awareness about the unique challenges care-experienced individuals face – not just at Christmas, but throughout their lives.
For care-experienced young people considering university, my message is this: It’s absolutely an option for you. The University of York, in particular, offers some of the best support in the country.
For those looking to make a difference, I’d say: Start small. This initiative began with loose change in coffee cups. What matters is doing what you can with the resources you have.
This National Care Leavers’ Month, I hope we can all take a moment to think about the care-experienced people in our communities and how we can support them because sometimes, the smallest gesture can make the biggest difference.”
Find out more about the Christmas Stocking Appeal initiative and how it supports care-experienced and estranged students at this time of year.
