At ICMP, we’re proud to offer an inclusive package of support for care-experienced and estranged students. We’re committed to supporting you throughout your entire journey at ICMP. This page will provide you with information about the support available to you.
Our package includes financial support, holistic package of support, access to internal student support and opportunities, including becoming part of our student ambassador team. This is in addition to advocacy across the institution and a dedicated member of staff to support you at every stage of your higher education journey.
Disclosing care-experienced or estranged status
To access the support available, we strongly encourage students to disclose that they have been in care or are estranged from their parents. This information can be used to offer context when making admissions decisions and ensure the right financial, academic and personal support is provided. We understand that some students may be reluctant to let the university know, but please understand that this information will be held in the strictest confidence, and never used against you as a student. We believe that young care-experienced and estranged students can go on to achieve anything they desire in life.
WHAT WE OFFER
We have a dedicated support package for care-experienced and estranged undergraduate students who are under the age of 25 at the start of their course and belong to one of the groups below. Please check your eligibility on the relevant section.
Care-experienced Students | Estranged students
Care-experienced students
A care leaver is a young person who has been in the care of, or has been given accommodation by, their local authority (LA) for a period of at least 13 weeks before the age of 16. This care may have been provided in one of many different settings, such as in residential care, foster care, kinship care or looked after at home with a supervision requirement.
We define a care-experienced student as one who has been or is currently in care or from a looked-after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short.
When you arrive
At the beginning of the academic year, you’ll be invited to a meeting with an adviser from our Student Wellbeing Team who will be your named contact for the duration of your studies. They will explain the range of support available and you’ll also have the opportunity for regular check-ins throughout the academic year.
FINANCIAL ENTITLEMENTS AND SUPPORT
Student Finance
Loans and grants are provided for you through a government service called Student Finance England/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland/Wales. You can find out more information by visiting www.gov.uk/student-finance/overview. Each student is offered an individualised package of loans and grants. Care Leavers are usually classed as independent by student finance so will get the maximum amount of financial support available through the loans and grants system.
Care-Experienced students who have been looked after by family members or legal guardians (without the involvement of their LA), have a residency order, or have been given accommodation or supported housing by a charity will not be classed as care leavers. If you fall into this category you may be able to apply as an independent student in other ways, for example, by showing you are estranged from your parents.
Students who are care leavers will need to provide evidence to Student Finance that they were looked after, or have been given accommodation by their LA. You will only have to provide this evidence once, at the start of your course.
Care-Experienced and Estranged Students Bursary
Care Leavers who enrol at ICMP and have been assessed as 'home' for fee purposes are eligible to receive a non-repayable bursary of £2,000 per progressive year of study. Please note that this is in addition to any other entitlement to financial support you may have. We will also consider offering financial support to care-experienced students who don't meet the official care leaver definition.
If you are unsure of your eligibility or are a current student, please contact studentwellbeing.ac.uk to discuss your situation.
Employability support
Our Careers and Industry hub team offers careers advice and artist/talent development support.
Estranged Students
We define an estranged student as a young person, under the age of 25, who has experienced an irrevocable breakdown in their relationship with both their biological parents and often their wider family. This includes students who have been living in foyer or hostel accommodation, have been disowned and/or are estranged from their parent/guardian. If you’re unsure of your eligibility or are a current student, please contact us to discuss your situation.
FINANCIAL ENTITLEMENTS AND SUPPORT
Student Finance
Loans and grants are provided for you through a government service called Student Finance England/ Scotland/ Northern Ireland/ Wales. You can find out more information by visiting www.gov.uk/student-finance/overview. Each student is offered an individualised package of loans and grants. Estranged students are usually classed as independent by Student Finance so will get the maximum amount of financial support available through the loans and grants system.
Students who are estranged from their parents will need to provide evidence to Student Finance that they haven’t communicated with either of their biological or adoptive parents for 12 months (this is flexible) and the situation is irreconcilable.
For advice and guidance, StandAlone have a dedicated advice centre for students who have no contact with their family. They can provide information about support, financing your studies and accommodation options as an estranged student.
Get help and support with evidence of your family estrangement
If you're having difficulty understanding the evidence you need to supply to Student Finance England or Wales, please contact studentwellbeing@icmp.ac.uk.
Individual Support
A named contact from our Student Wellbeing Team will be available to support you through your time at ICMP and as you approach graduation. They will explain the range of support available and you’ll also have the opportunity for regular check-ins throughout the academic year. To set this up, please contact studentwellbeing@icmp.ac.uk.
Employability support
Our Careers and Industry Hub Team offers careers advice and artist/talent development support. Contact them by emailing thehub@icmp.ac.uk.
External support
All of Us is a dedicated, safe online space for estranged and care-experienced higher education students and recent graduates in the UK to connect, share info, arrange meet-ups and more! It’s free, national, and open to all ages and years of study.