Mobilising family support: implications for the academic resilience of international students

Little is known about the importance of family to international students, whether closely connected to their families or not. Problematically this means that those tasked with supporting the retention and success of international students may be doing so with an insufficient awareness of the risks to their social and academic resilience as well as their academic, or other, support needs. This, in turn, has significant implications for retention and success. In order to fill this gap the research set out to evidence the (variable) importance of family support to international students, highlight the points at which family support is of greatest importance, and draw attention to the implications for those who do not have access to family support. The objective of the research is to help inform practice and enhance international students' retention and success

Hidden voices. Family estrangement in adulthood

This report presents data from 807 people took part in an online survey about family estrangement. All participants had self-identified as being estranged from their whole family or key family member such as their mother, father, siblings or children

Family estrangement and the Covid-19 crisis. A closer look at how broken family relationships have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis

This survey set out to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on estranged family relationships that are distant or inactive. The survey was disseminated to members of the Stand Alone community during May 2020. Data is presented from 801 individuals who shared their experiences with us

An interview study exploring clients' experiences of receiving therapeutic support for family estrangement in the UK

Many people experience estrangement from a family member, which is broadly understood to refer to negative relationships that are characterised by little or no contact. However, little is known about how people cope with family estrangement. To address this gap, interviews were conducted with 46 participants who identified as being estranged from a parent/sibling and/or child and having sought therapeutic support for this experience. The participants were recruited from a UK‐based charity that supports individuals experiencing family estrangement. The participants had a range of experiences of therapeutic support, with most (N = 31, 67%) having paid for private therapy. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, and three themes were generated: (1) finding the missing qualities in estranged family relationships: warmth, validation and safety; (2) speaking the unspoken: addressing the causes and consequences of estrangement; and (3) learning relational skills: improving the relationship with oneself and with others. When the causes of estrangement were addressed in the context of a safe therapeutic relationship, participants learned strategies to improve the relationships they had both with themselves and with others. When participants experienced a cold or unresponsive therapeutic relationship, and the causes and consequences of estrangement were not adequately addressed or understood, counselling was experienced as unhelpful. Individuals who seek therapeutic support for family estrangement have specific needs. Training around these needs and the causes and consequences of estrangement could be beneficial to helping professionals and the clients with whom they work

The difficulty in evidencing family estrangement to attain statutory finance in UK Higher Education

Acquiring statutory funding to study in Higher Education brings complex difficulties for UK students under the age of 25 who are estranged from their family, but have not been part of the care system. This paper explores the experiences of 564 estranged students and their experiences of providing evidence of family estrangement in order to access statutory student financial support. It finds that those who disclosed their family estrangement to a professional found it easier to access statutory student finance. However, the stigma around family estrangement was a barrier to disclosure as participants felt shame and humiliation when approaching a professional to support their application. These difficulties led to substantial delays in receiving statutory finance for estranged students which subsequently had an impact on their retention and equitable student experience at the beginning of the academic year. The paper concludes with key recommendations for improvements to the process of proving family estrangement. It will question the parental means-testing system itself, outlining key disadvantages for students experiencing family disruption

Estrangement between siblings in adulthood: A qualitative exploration

Relationships between siblings have been described as the longest lasting an individual can have, yet siblings both can and do become estranged from one another in adulthood. An online survey was disseminated to individuals who had sought support from the charity Stand Alone, which supports individuals who are experiencing family estrangement. Individuals estranged from one full genetic sister and/or brother were asked to describe the relationship in their own words. Open-text responses were thematically analysed from 291 respondents. Family systems were described as being characterised by estrangements, alliances and conflicts; there was variation in the participant’s preferences regarding reconciliation; and most respondents focused on describing their sibling’s challenging or disappointing characteristics and behaviour. The fact that siblings both can and do become estranged challenges commonly held assumptions about family relationships, confirming that they are not necessarily or always life-long, significant or supportive

Support for estranged students in UK Higher Education: An analysis of the Stand Alone Pledge

An analysis of UK higher education insitutions' commitment to the charity Stand Alone's Stand Alone Pledge in support of students experiencing family estrangement. </p