This week, 23 – 27 November is Estranged Students Solidarity Week.
The campaign is led by Stand Alone to raise awareness that not everyone has the support of parents or family members whilst at University. This week we want to highlight the extra support available to estranged students and link to resources that can help support you be an ally to estranged students.
What we mean by estranged is students who are studying without the support of a family network; this is usually due to a long-term breakdown in the relationship with parents or guardians. It includes students who have no communicative relationship with their parents/guardians and this situation is not likely to change, students who have been are homeless or ‘sofa surfing’, students who have experience of foster or local authority care but are not classed as a Care Leaver, or where both parents have passed away and students are without alternative family support.
How can you support?
Whether you know someone who has experienced estrangement or not you can still become an ally. There are lots of ways you can make a difference, such as normalising it and talking about it more and thinking about the language you use. Have a look Stand Alone’s Top Tips for Students.
Additional support from the University
As part of the University’s plans to enhance the support offered to students who are estranged from their families and the University’s commitment to the Stand Alone pledge, we are really pleased to let you know that the Undergraduate Access Scholarship of £1000 a year is available to estranged students this academic year (2020/2021). This is for students in all years of undergraduate study who are estranged from their families and in additional to any other University support they might be eligible for.
As well as the financial support, estranged students also have named contacts at the University. Hannah Armstrong and Ailsa Skelly from the central student support team. If you think you or a friend might be eligible for the UG Access Scholarship as an estranged student, then please contact Hannah and Ailsa on studentsupport@manchester.ac.uk so they can assess eligibility and also offer the enhanced support package we have in place for estranged students.
For more information about how we are supporting estranged students, please visit our tailored support page: Estranged students