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Essentials Diversity & Inclusion Support for care experienced and estranged students

Care experienced and estranged students support

Here's our available support for care leavers and estranged students.

We are committed to providing fair access, information, advice, guidance and support to Care Leavers, Care Experienced and Estranged students. As one of these students, you may be entitled to additional financial support as well as pre-entry guidance and on-course support.

What does the University of Reading mean by Care Leaver?

The legal definition of a Care Leaver is someone who is classed as a ‘home’ student for fee purposes, is under the age of 25 at the start of their course and has been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14, and was in care on their 16th birthday. Public care includes but is not limited to:

  • foster care
  • semi-independent living
  • residential care homes.

It does not include care workers or applicants who have been involved solely in the provision of care.

Care Experienced Students:

At the University of Reading we recognise that any time spent in local authority care can have a significant impact on educational opportunities and outcomes, and therefore provide pre-entry and on-course support to students who have spent any time in local authority care.

You are considered care experienced if you are:

  • A student who has spent time in local authority care and:
  • is registered on a full-time undergraduate course
  • is classed as a 'home' student
  • is under 25 years of age at the start of their course

What does it mean to be an estranged student?

We recognise that having no communicative relationship with either biological parents can have a significant impact on educational opportunities and outcomes.

Student Finance England classifies estranged students as:

  • a student who has “not communicated with either of your biological or adoptive parents for 12 months (this is flexible) before your course begins and the situation is irreconcilable.”
  • a student who can “show you have been financially independent for three or more years through employment or benefits (consecutively or non-consecutively) before your course begins.’’

For pre-entry support, please visit our Discover pages.

What do you need to do next?

We try and keep things as simple as possible at the University of Reading, so whether you are pre-entry or you have already started the Student Welfare team will talk you through all aspects of welfare support and finances. We will help you navigate what you need to do based on your individual circumstances and offer you support along the way.

Contact the Student Welfare Team for further information: studentwelfare@reading.ac.uk

What support is available whilst studying at the University of Reading?

    Welfare support

    Once you have spoken to Student Welfare (studentwelfare@reading.ac.uk), we will pass your details onto the team of Welfare Officers, whose job is to support you throughout the life of your course. The team will be there to guide you, answer questions and refer to you more specialist services if required. They will make contact with you at the start of term and arrange to meet up to discuss your needs and how best they can support you.

    Financial support

    After talking to Student Welfare, you will know if you meet the University of Reading's criteria above, if you are then you will be eligible for cash bursaries of £1,000 in each year of study, and the Student Financial Support team will also provide financial support towards the cost of gown hire and one photograph for your graduation upon successful completion of your course

    Student Welfare will pass on your details to the Student Financial Support team who will contact you to outline the support available throughout the duration of your course, including individual appointments with a named contact within our team to discuss your finances if required. The Student Financial Support team will also provide a gown hire for graduation on successful completion of your course.

    Please note that the Care Experienced and Estrangement Bursary is only available for each year of undergraduate study.

    Accommodation support

    We assist you by waiving deposits until the Student Loans Company processes student payments and you have funds at your disposal to make the payment. We always take welfare concerns into account when prioritising any students on a waiting list; students from a care background are automatically placed in this category.

    We ensure that 52-week accommodation for care leavers are available each year if required, and flexible summer bookings are also available to extend a standard 40-week contract if preferred.

    We also offer a meet and greet service when you arrive at the University to help you find your accommodation and to signpost any other services that may be helpful to you.

    Contact Sophia Hagalid, Accommodation Contract Officer, for further information: s.hagalid@reading.ac.uk.

    Careers support

    The careers team supports you through providing impartial information, advice and guidance on a range of topics including discussing job options with your degree, putting together effective applications, searching for experience and opportunities, and more! 

    Career events (employer presentations, fairs, webinars) and 1:1 appointments (application checks, career guidance, interview practice) are offered to all students regardless of background. We also provide a fortnightly opportunities list specifically for students from underrepresented groups.  

    For any queries relating to careers support at the University, please contact Careers at careers@reading.ac.uk.

    Useful links for additional support

    You may also be able to access additional support outside of the University.

    Student Finance information for independent students

    Student Finance England (SFE) has advice specifically related to financial support in the UK for independent students. You can find out how your situation will be taken into account by SFE, what evidence you will need to support your applications for finance, and more on their definition of estrangement.

    Stand Alone

    Stand Alone is a charity supporting people of all ages who become estranged from their family. They offer innovative advice and support services, as well as running support groups, a range of therapeutic workshops and a programme to connect people for ongoing emotional support. They have also published online information and advice guides for all people experiencing estrangement or disownment who can’t reach a group or workshop.

    Stand Alone has a designated student support portal, which offers support on a range of topics such as student finance and providing evidence.

    Become Charity

    Become, the charity for children in care and young care leavers, provides a range of support, as well as a dedicate advice line. You can also visit their propel site, which has specific resources for higher education.

Key contacts

For welfare, financial and on-course support for care leavers and estranged students please contact Student Welfare: studentwelfare@reading.ac.uk.

For accommodation support for care leavers and estranged students please contact Sophia Hagalid, Accommodation Contract Officer: s.hagalid@reading.ac.uk.           

For pre-entry support, please visit our Discover pages.

"I was eligible to receive the care leavers bursary which had given me an extra boost/ allowance throughout the year. This allowed me to have a slightly bigger budget for groceries and toiletries throughout the year. It also helped get stationary for my course which has helped a lot during the year. I also received a point of contact from applying for the bursary (Sue Wallace) who was there for me, when I needed someone to talk too or needed help for anything."

 - Undergraduate student 

University of Reading StandAlone Pledge

The University of Reading has proudly joined the StandAlone Project, supporting students that are estranged – young people studying without the support and approval of their parents.

Stand Alone is a charity dedicated to supporting people estranged from their family or key family member.

‘Our primary objective is to break down the stigma around estrangement and support estranged people in their daily lives.’ – standalone.org.uk

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