Estranged Students Solidarity Week: support available
29 Nov 2023
Our University offers enhanced support to estranged students
Estranged Students Solidarity Week runs from 27 November to 1 December - make your students aware of support available.
Estranged students are those studying without support of a family network, which is usually due to a long-term breakdown in the relationship with their parents or guardians.
This enhanced support includes a £1,000 bursary via the Undergraduate Access Scholarship, and a named contact. Emma Lewis-Kalubowila in the Access and Success team offers pre-entry support and Jabeen Akram from the central Student Support and Wellbeing team offers support to estranged students during their studies. There will soon be another named contact offering post entry support.
As part of Estranged Students Solidarity Week, it is important that if a student shares with you that they are estranged, you can liaise with our team who can provide support. A message from Jabeen:
"Students may self-identify as estranged to staff members they know well and feel comfortable with. If a student shares with you that they are estranged, please ask them if they are already receiving support from us. If they are not, the student can contact us by emailing independentstudents@manchester.ac.uk, or you can ask for consent from the student for us to contact them instead.
"A student can become estranged at any point of their studies, and we want to make sure that all estranged students have access to the enhanced support package and opportunities that they are entitled to, such as the option to meet with other estranged students from across the University. Our dedicated webpage outlines the support available.
"Please try to avoid confirming whether or not a student will receive the £1,000 bursary as there is a verification process by us that must be followed. Thank you for all of your support.”
- If you have any questions please email independentstudents@manchester.ac.uk