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Estranged

Our resourcesTeachers, Carers & AdvisorsEstranged

  • Stand Alone Pledge

    The Stand Alone Pledge is aimed at students studying without family support. It raises awareness of the support available for them across our 13 member institutions including whether they have named contacts, dedicated web-pages, and additional financial support. This year’s document revises the support categories that our members offer. It now includes new check-boxes for experiences on campus, application support, contextual admissions (when a provider considers an individual’s personal circumstances when making admissions decisions), and support with the transition to HE.  The document also features a definition of care-experienced, a glossary of HE terms, quotes from estranged students, and a list of top tips to help individuals on their HE journey.  

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  • Understanding and Supporting Care Experienced/Estranged Students

    By the end of this CPD course, you will have the knowledge, understanding and confidence that will empower you to support care experienced young people and estranged students in Higher Education (HE). The course may also be of interest to staff that work in counselling, careers or marketing in HE so they can better communicate with and/or provide support for these students.

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Support offered

Leeds Arts University

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/153-leeds-arts-university

Named contact

Anne-Marie Watkinson

anne-marie.watkinson@leeds-art.ac.uk

Financial support

We provide advice on applying to higher education as an estranged student to Student Finance England and support throughout the process. We help students apply to our Leeds Arts University Estranged Student Bursary and further financial support available at the university.

Accommodation support

We provide advice and support in negotiating 365-day access to accommodation with student accommodation providers.

Wellbeing support

We have a dedicated estranged student support member of staff in the Student Welfare Team who will contact the student on point of application, and who can refer to other services across the university. We also offer the opportunity to meet with a current student as part of the Buddy Scheme from the outset of study.

Outreach support

We will support estranged students by providing opportunities to join in our progression and outreach programme and activities. This will enable students to develop their creative skills and confidence. We also offer a bespoke tour to gain an orientation of the university, advice and support in building an application to higher education and the opportunity to rehearse an Arts focused interview with tutorial feedback and support.

Employment support

Includes link to 1:1 advice sessions with Careers team. For more information visit www.leeds-art.ac.uk/about-us/student-support

Support with the transition to HE

Specific support is available through the named contact between application and arrival to support transition. Offer of support upon arrival through named contact.

Hello café weekly support in first term for all new entrants, with multiple aims, including engendering a sense of belonging, support with making friends, and signposting to institutional support

Dedicated website

https://www.leeds-art.ac.uk/student-support/estranged-students/

University Centre Leeds

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/144-leeds-city-college

Named contact

Please contact our Admissions Team at admissions@ucleeds.ac.uk.

Financial support

To help support new students who are estranged from their families to start full time HE at UC Leeds we offer the following financial support: Bursary (up to £1000 awarded by UC Leeds); supporting the cost of interview travel and / or on-course materials (where applicable, up to 50% costs).

We will also provide advice to estranged students on what funding and associated benefits are available to them and support with applying for them.

Accommodation support

We will work to develop links with accommodation providers who will be flexible about the need for a guarantor. We don’t have our own accommodation and only signpost to student accommodation providers .

Wellbeing support

We will provide estranged students: designated support from the HE Counselling and Mental Health Officer and . or student counsellor; nominated support from the UC Leeds HE Welfare and Student Engagement Officer and / or a named contact from within the safeguarding team; buddying and / or mentoring schemes.

Outreach support

To help estranged students make informed decisions about their future, higher education and degree choices, and their HE application, we can offer: personalised tours; 1:1 application support; contextual admissions.

Graduation support

Students can request support for gown hire, photographs and travel costs.

Dedicated website

https://www.ucleeds.ac.uk/estranged-students/

Staff development

There will be continued dissemination to, and training of, appropriate staff working with estranged students, so that they have the knowledge and understanding to support and provide guidance.

Employment support

There is opportunity to discuss part-time work and graduate employment with the named contact who can refer students to the Careers Team.

Support with the transition to HE

Once a student applies with us, our named contact will be in touch to explain the support package available, offer an in-person meeting and tour of the campus.

Application support

We can assist potential applicants with the process and provide information regarding the support package to schools, colleges and the community

Rent guarantor

University Centre Leeds can act as a guarantor for your student accommodation agreements.

University of Leeds

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/63-university-of-leeds

Named contact

Lisa Firth – estrangedstudents@leeds.ac.uk.

Financial support

Estranged students are eligible for Leeds Financial Support (cash bursary, or discount on fees or university accommodation). They are a target group for the Undergraduate means tested scholarship (currently up to £3,000 a year for three years) and are actively encouraged to apply, receiving weighted scores in the selection criteria. They can also apply to the Financial Assistance Fund which is being reviewed to ensure all estranged students are eligible to apply for support for the summer vacation. In 2022/23, the university were also able to make one off payments of £500 to estranged students around the Christmas and Summer breaks.

Accommodation support

For eligible estranged students the University can offer:
  • a guaranteed place in University-owned accommodation
  • the offer of 365-day accommodation
  • a waiver of the upfront security deposit for University-owned accommodation (meaning that you will only pay the deposit when you receive your student loan payment)

Wellbeing support

The Student Counselling and Wellbeing Service have extensive experience of the issues and difficulties that students can face while studying. Students can complete an online self-referral form available 24 hours a day to make an appointment, as well as access a range of workshops and self-help resources. The University also runs activities for students staying in Leeds over Christmas and outside of term time, including estranged students.

Outreach support

Estrangement is a criterion for eligibility to the Access to Leeds scheme. Outreach resources are being reviewed to recognise the circumstances of estranged young people and communicate the support available to potential students and their teachers. During their course, estranged students are eligible for the Plus Programme, which provides ongoing support via academic workshops, skills development opportunities, peer mentoring, social activities and assistance with accessing support services. A dedicated webpage has been developed to communicate the range of support available to students, while briefings and internal media will aim to improve staff awareness.

Employment support

A tailored careers package is available for estranged finalists to include targeted newsletters in the period up to and around graduation, group coaching with a Careers Consultant, a career mentoring session with a Leeds alumnus and signposting to further support.
Estranged students receive priority access to funded support offered in partnership with upReach – this includes 121s with an upReach member of staff, and access to a range of insight days, workshops and online resources.
Estranged students are a priority group for the enhanced Turing funding, available to support access to study abroad and other placement opportunities.
Estranged students are also a priority group in relation for the Leeds Masters Scholarship, offering £7,000 per year to support Masters level study.
Estranged Masters students also have automatic access to the Plus Programme, offering a range of information, support and funding.

Dedicated website

https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/1000014/plus_programme/1129/estranged_students_no_parental_support

Graduation cost support

The University offer up to £100 to support with costs relating to graduation photos and gowns. In 2022/23 the university were also able to offer graduation payments of £500 to students to cover some of the additional costs associated with completing university and transitioning into the workplace/further study.

Experiences on campus

Students who are estranged can self-refer onto the Plus Programme at any time during their degree via this link: https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/1000014/plus-programme/1066/about-the-plus-programme
The Plus Programme offers a wide range of information, activity, support and funding, themed around sense of belonging, financial security, information and advice and increasing confidence and employability.

Staff development

Estranged students are a priority group within the Access and Participation Plan for the University, and alongside the Access and Student Success Strategy, a range of mechanisms exist to communicate with staff about the experiences of widening participation students. This includes a regular Student Success newsletter, where initiatives for estranged students have been promoted, and a regular Student Success Forum where colleagues meet to discuss relevant business. The Plus Programme team are also in regular contact with academic and professional services staff, and meet to discuss the estranged student experience and how colleagues can better support students. Within the Careers Service, there is a Widening Participation team and colleagues have a thorough understanding of estranged students, attending training and facilitating reserach including into the experiences of students as they graduate.

Leeds Beckett University

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/23-leeds-beckett-university

Named contact

Sam Wainwright – cle@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 

Finance support

If you can provide evidence that you are irreconcilably estranged from your family, you may be able to apply for a bursary of up to £1,500 from our university and also access our Leeds Beckett Hardship Funds for every year of your course.

Accommodation support

If you are a estranged student and decide to stay in university halls of residence, we will guarantee that you have access to this university accommodation for 365 days a year. Please note that only certain properties that are managed by our university are applicable for 365-day contracts.

Wellbeing support

We will continue to signpost estranged students to the support available through our Wellbeing Service, our Disability Advice Service and to the range of social and cultural events which take place outside regular term time. We will seek feedback from estranged students concerning how effective our services are to meet their specific needs going forward.

Outreach support

We pledge to raise greater awareness among college tutors and advisers of the support we provide.

Dedicated website

https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/student-wellbeing/care-leavers-and-estranged-students/

Employability

Ensure awareness of opportunities for part time work and placements.

Leeds College of Building

Named contact

Jennie Fawcett – 0113 2226002

Finance support

Students will have access to a range of support funds.

Accommodation support

Offers 365-day accommodation.

Wellbeing support

A Pastoral support team is able to offer help with student wellbeing.

Employability

Employability Advisors are available to help students find suitable work placements and assist with finding work.

Leeds Conservatoire

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/357-leeds-college-of-music

Named contact

Bethany Milner, Student Wellbeing Advisor – Access@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk

Financial support

We provide advice and support to estranged students on how to apply for any available funding and associated benefits. If you would like to talk to our student funding team, please contact studentfunding@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
You can visit our Fees and Funding page for more information.

Accommodation support

An accommodation start-up grant worth £150 for essential items, is available to applicants starting their course in September 2023, who have been receiving benefits, are care leavers, or are estranged from their family. Applications for students starting in September 2023 are now open.

Wellbeing support

Within the Health and Wellbeing Team, we provide a range of free and confidential services to help with any practical, emotional, or mental health conditions that you might be experiencing, which are impacting upon your studies or student life.
If you are a current or prospective student and would like to discuss any specific support needs or concerns about your well-being please don’t hesitate to get in touch at healthandwellbeing@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk

Employment support

The Employability & Enterprise team is here to support students in their career and artistic ambitions within the arts and creative sector.
Talk to us for help with:
  • Careers, Jobs & Employability
  • Funding Support
  • Performance & Industry Opportunities
You can find full information on the support we offer on the Progression Portal section on the Conservatoire website.

Outreach support

Communicating support available through schools, colleges and website.

Graduation support

We cover the cost of gown hire for graduation.

Dedicated website

https://www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk/student-life/student-support/estranged-students/

Support with transition to HE

We recognise that students who are estranged from their families may need additional support in lieu of a family network or assistance from their local authority.
You can contact us for support as early as you would like, even before you apply to our conservatoire. We can talk to you about conservatoire life and answer any questions you might have. Our dedicated estranged student contact is Bethany Milner – Access@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk

Staff development

Training staff so they have knowledge and understanding to support estranged students

Leeds Trinity University

Accommodation support

A free kitchen utensils and bedding pack for students in University-owned or partner owned accommodation starting their first year

Calderdale College

Finance support

For advice on financial support that may be available please contact adviceguidance@caderdale.ac.uk

Kirklees College

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/275-kirklees-college

Financial support

We will assess each case to ensure the necessary financial support is offered wherever possible, including hardship funds and vulnerable bursary.

Named contact

Natalie Law, Wellbeing Lead, can be contacted at: nadams01@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

Wellbeing support

We signpost estranged students to internal and external support pathways for mental health issues, including counselling, 1:1 meetings, chaplaincy listening services and pastoral support.

Outreach support

We work in partnership with schools to ensure early identification of estranged applicants and offer appropriate support through application, enrolment and induction to ensure a supported transition.

Staff development

Ensure that all staff are aware of the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by estranged students and the referral pathways available to them.

Rent guarantor

Supporting You

Bradford College

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/114-bradford-college

Named contact

Rachel Bradbury is our dedicated Estranged Student contact: R.Bradbury@bradfordcollege.ac.uk

Finance support

Our £500 Estranged Student Grant is available to all estranged students studying an undergraduate degree. The College’s Hardship Fund prioritises applications received from estranged students.

Accommodation support

If you are a Estranged Student, you may be entitled to approximately £5,500 to support your accommodation for each academic year. This may include extended cover over the holidays.

Accommodation Grants are calculated according to individual circumstances, and are dependent on approval of sufficient supporting evidence. The Accommodation Grant cannot be provided in conjunction with the Bradford College Undergraduate Bursary. To receive this grant as an Estranged Student, you must provide Student Finance England conformation that you have been granted independent student status.

For more information about the financial support you may be entitled to, please contact quest@bradfordcollege.ac.uk

Wellbeing support

An independent Counselling Service which offers confidential space to talk and discuss emotional and mental wellbeing issues is available to our estranged students. Our Student Welfare Support Team provides a dedicated support package for estranged students and all our departments have fully trained staff as Mental Health Champions supporting students as required.

Outreach support

Working with the Student Recruitment, the QUEST Team provides pre-enrolment support for estranged students which covers all aspects of the application and enrolment process. We also provide personalised tours of the College and subject specialism advice for all estranged students.

Dedicated website

QUEST Team

University of Bradford

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/70-university-of-bradford

Named contact

The Outreach team is the named point of contact throughout the journey to university. The Outreach team is here to support in deciding if university is the right choice, and to provide advice and guidance in making a university application. Contact the team via: schoolsandcolleges@bradford.ac.uk
Tracy Teale is a Student Life Advisers and is the named point of contact throughout the time at the university. Tracy will support by:
  • Arranging to meet within the first few weeks at Bradford to answer any questions and to produce a bespoke support plan.
  • Helping apply for the Estranged Student Bursary, and any other financial support available.
  • Being a central point of contact throughout univesity, supporting with any questions or concerns.
  • Liaising with Student Finance England and other funding bodies to help apply for financial support.
  • Signposting to the wide range of Student Support teams available, as and when needed.

Contact Tracy at t.l.teale@bradford.ac.uk

Financial support

An Estranged Student Bursary of £1,000 a year is available to all students who are estranged from their parents and who meet the eligibility criteria for the bursary. The Bursary is paid each year at the end of May, but we can consider earlier payments based on individual needs. For more information or to request an application form, email our team on estranged@bradford.ac.uk. Please note that this is in addition to any other entitlement to financial support a student may have.
Additional financial help is also available from the University’s Student Support Fund which, depending on circumstances, can award grants of up to £2,000 a year. Estranged students have priority access to the Fund and it is open to them all year round.
There is also a dedicated Student Life Adviser contact to help students with their finances and funding throughout their time at Bradford. This support is available from pre-application through to graduation.

Accommodation support

In addition to the standard 42-week contract available to all students, the University can support you in securing year-round accommodation, if needed. We can also help if you need a guarantor for a rental property.
For more information visit www.bradford.ac.uk/accommodation

Wellbeing support

Our Counselling Service recognise that as an estranged student may have additional pressures and challenges to face and offer someone to talk to confidentially about emotional and mental wellbeing issues.
The service is open all year round and is available via face-to-face appointments, email and telephone. The team also help with access to online therapeutic self-help resources and deliver group workshops. If there is a particular theme or topic a student needs help with, or they would like us to run a group about, they can get in touch. No issue is too small.
For more information visit www.bradford.ac.uk/counselling/

Outreach support

The Outreach team can support by:
  • Being a point of contact to provide individual support and information during any part of the journey to University
  • Providing one to one guidance with the UCAS application
  • Arranging individual campus visits to visit the University and meet our student ambassadors
  • Organising bespoke activity to find out more about university

Dedicated website

https://www.bradford.ac.uk/undergraduate/widening-participation/estranged/

Staff development

Service champions for Estranged Students, who are focused on the unique challenges Estranged Students face, and work to ensure that services meet these needs

Rent guarantor

We provide financial assistance for accommodation with support for guarantor fees for private accommodation.

Graduation cost support

Estranged Students are a priority group for our subsidised Graduation Costs Support.

Experiences on campus

The Outreach team can support by arranging individual campus visits to visit the University and meet our student ambassadors. We also have a dedicated stand for students who fall under our progression scheme at all open days and applicant days, therefore students can come and discuss any individual queries they may have.

Contextual admissions

The progression scheme is designed to benefit undergraduate applicants whose personal and educational circumstances mean they could be less likely to receive an offer based on our standard entry criteria.
As part of the scheme, applicants will automatically receive a reduced offer of 8 UCAS points lower than our standard entry criteria. An addtional 8 point reduction (total 16 UCAS points) can be gained by completing the below:
1. Attending an Open Day
2. Attending a Progression Scheme Webinar
3. Completing a Post-Webinar Task
For more information, please visit www.bradford.ac.uk/undergraduate/applicants/progression-scheme/

Support with the transition to HE

As an estranged student you will be invited to join the Step Up to HE programme at the start of the academic year. It is the perfect opportunity to meet other students and members of staff while beginning to develop some of the essential skills needed to make a success of univeristy studies.
For more information visit www.bradford.ac.uk/step-up/

Application support

The Outreach Team are on hand to help with any application support. This includes one to one guidance with the UCAS application, Personal Statement writing sessions, Interview Skills sessions, as well as any other queries.

Employability support

Our Career and Employability Services offer a welcoming, supportive environment where students can access impartial careers information, advice and guidance from professionally qualified staff. At Bradford we have a dedicated advisor in the team who can work with and signpost estranged students to a range of services and support offered by Career and Employability Services.
For more information visit www.bradford.ac.uk/careers/

University of Huddersfield

Individual institution pledge status

https://www.thestandalonepledge.org.uk/champion-institutions/21-north-east/45-university-of-huddersfield

Named contact

We offer dedicated support and guidance through a named student services contact is provided from prior to application, to admission, through to graduation.

Contact Rebecca Hayes – r.hayes@hud.ac.uk

Finance support

We provide information, advice and support to estranged students on how to apply for funding and independent status through SFE. We are working towards prioritising estranged student access to the £1000 University of Huddersfield scholarship in first year of study, and priority access to the student hardship fund.

Accommodation support

We work with estranged students to support them in finding accommodation to suit their needs and with accommodation providers and the Students’ Union lettings service to ensure affordable access to accommodation outside term time. We will help estranged students with specific arrangements around deposits and guarantors.

Wellbeing support

We provide a wide range of mental health groups and workshops including a Trans student support group and are working in partnership with our SU to develop support for estranged students. We have named contacts for estranged students within the Student Wellbeing Service and ensure that students are supported with referrals to relevant local support groups and external agencies.

Outreach support

We will continue to target young people estranged from their families within widening participation outreach programmes and bespoke activities. We will continue to assist and them through the university application process and provide specific programmes and activities designed to help with their transition into University life. We are continuously improving the information for estranged students on our website.

Staff development

Extend training and briefing activities and consider establishing ‘champions’ across all academic schools, develop events for Virtual School Heads to promote opportunities and improve transitions

Rent guarantor

We will help estranged students with specific arrangements around deposits and guarantors.

University Centre Wakefield

Named contact

Carol McArthur, Safeguarding, C.McArthur@wakefield.ac.uk

Finance support

For more information on any funding or money matter issues please contact the College’s Financial Support Team at student.finance@wakefield.ac.uk.

Wellbeing support

The Student Wellbeing Officers are here to help you if you feel overwhelmed either at College or by problems at home or you just need some support, whatever the reason, our Student Wellbeing Officers are here for you.

Our team work closely with students and other services both in College and outside of College.

This team support students for a wide range of needs, including confidence, low mood, managing emotions, healthy relationships, homelessness, bullying, problems at home and more. The team support via 1:1s, small groups, corridor chats and a variety of other drop-in opportunities, such as Wellbeing Wednesday, time to talk cafés, C-Card registrations and more.

Speak to the team in Student Central or get in touch StudentCentral@wakefield.ac.uk

 

Case Studies

Hear estranged students tell their stories about how they transitioned into higher education students, and their experiences once they got there.

Find out more about Case Studies

Useful Links