Support estranged learners into higher education
Research from Unite Foundation and Stand Alone indicates that students who are estranged from their families are most likely to remove themselves from a damaging home situation between the ages of 16-19...
This puts schools and sixth form and FE colleges frontline in the battle to support these vulnerable young people, both in their lives, and in their learning and progression journeys. But supporting them isn’t always easy.
That’s why we’re working with partners across Sussex to make it a new priority area in our bid to increase equality of opportunity for all young people across Sussex.
Back in 2019, we commissioned an extensive piece of research looking into the barriers faced by estranged learners when trying to access higher education. The research, funded by Uni Connect and carried out in partnership with Brighton & Hove Foyer, The Clocktower Sanctuary, Stopover, The University of Sussex, University of Brighton and Brighton & Hove City Council discovered multiple barriers including:
- Low self-worth
- Lack of awareness of careers and education pathways
- Chaotic lifestyles
- Mental health issues
- Housing and finance issues
- Negative experiences of education
As a result of these barriers 28% of students in the study said they felt uncomfortable accessing support within their institution and 41% had considered withdrawing from their course.
To discover the full report and its recommendations you can visit our dedicated ‘Estranged Learners’ section on the SLN website here.
Three years on and we’re making significant progress in implementing the report’s recommendations, working in partnership with local and national charities and educational organisations:
- We’re working with Stand Alone – the leading charity supporting young people through family estrangement - to help Sussex colleges and universities make an official pledge to support estranged learners in their institution. Find out how you can join Brighton University, The University of Sussex and the University of Chichester in making a pledge of support by clicking here.
- We’re holding CPD webinars to help schools, colleges and universities across the region take practical steps to remove barriers and increase support for estranged learners in their learning environments. Our latest one took place in March and over xx educational institutions tuned in. To find out about our next webinar contact our Programme Lead, Debra Vice-Holt at d.vice-holt@sussexlearningnetwork.org.uk.
- We’re working with GB Met to create a new Sussex-wide directory of dedicated contacts for estranged learners at schools, colleges and universities across Sussex. The new directory will enable estranged learners, and those supporting them, to identify point people in learning environments who can offer dedicated guidance and support. You can discover the directory here. To add a contact to the directory, please contact our Programme Lead, Debra Vice-Holt at d.vice-holt@sussexlearningnetwork.org.uk.
- We’re signposting all the additional help that can be accessed. For instance, UCAS offers dedicated support to students who are having to negotiate the admissions process alone at this link.
Estranged learners have a steep hill to climb when they start their careers and progression journey. Let’s join forces in 2022 to make it as easy, rewarding and stress free as possible for them to discover brighter futures…