Supporting care-experienced and estranged students in higher education – responding to Covid-19 (2020)
During the first week of the Covid-19 lockdown over 23-27 March 2020, Become carried out a UK-wide survey of higher education students who are either care-experienced or estranged alongside Stand Alone, the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), the Unite Foundation and Spectra. The survey aimed to understand the challenges which students without family support were facing at this time and the additional support they would like to ensure they could continue their courses or graduate this year.
Respondents said they are most worried about being able to earn money to pay for rent and bills (62%), finishing their course (62%), mental health due to isolation (55%), and getting essential food and medical supplies (50%).
We are asking the UK government to fund emergency grants for students who do not have a family home to go back to and who are unable to support themselves as part-time and temporary work has dried up.