For most young people, family networks offer a vital support through their student years. But for the 70 BU students who are estranged from their families, there鈥檚 no-one to fall back on.听听

National research shows that holidays can be a particularly difficult time for these students, which is why we鈥檝e launched our听鈥樷�� campaign. With your help we can raise 拢3,500 to provide every estranged student with a 拢50 gift voucher this Christmas.听

Please to show our estranged students that they鈥檙e not alone this festive season.听

A message from our appeal champion, Dr Kate Adie, CBE, DL

Kate Adie

鈥淎s 成人直播鈥檚 Chancellor, one of my great privileges is to preside over our graduation ceremonies each year and to celebrate the achievements of our graduating students.鈥�

鈥淔or some graduates, who have made it through university without the support of family networks due to estrangement, their achievements are even more remarkable. These students are more likely to abandon their studies before achieving their degree and face challenges at key times, such as during the university holidays, when others return home to loved ones.鈥�

鈥淚 am pleased to champion this fundraising campaign to support our estranged students over the Christmas period and look forward to seeing how the BU community comes together to make a difference.鈥�

Your donation can make a big difference

Last year, for the first time, we distributed a small gift to our estranged students with the help of our alumni community. These quotes show the impact your gift can have.听

鈥淭hank you for the voucher that has been sent out. Christmas is a difficult time money wise and mental health wise, and I really appreciate the support, and I'm sure many others do too. Thank you again for everything that you do.鈥澨�

鈥淭his has been a very difficult year, so thank you very much for your kind gesture. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas!鈥� 听

鈥淚 just wanted to say a big thank you for all the work your team do and share my appreciation for your support. Have a wonderful Christmas.鈥澨�

鈥淭hank you so much for making Christmas a little less stressful.鈥澨�

鈥淭his gesture means more than you know, and I appreciate it. Have a great holidays.鈥澨�

Fundraising at 成人直播

成人直播 is an exempt charity HMRC No EW00806 and is registered with the听听

For further information about our ethical approach to fundraising and your rights as a donor, please look at our听听

For details about how the Fundraising & Alumni Relations Department will use your data please see our听.听

Any money raised over the stated target will be used to help estranged students cover accommodation and living costs over the university holidays. If the campaign does not reach its 拢3,500 target, money will be used to provide students with a lower value gift voucher.听

Understanding estrangement

  • Estranged students are young people aged between 18 and 24 who are studying without the support and approval of their family network, due to breakdowns in relationships
  • Emerging data shows that one in five families in the UK are affected by estrangement, mostly caused by parents divorcing or remarrying, abuse, or the rejection of an individual鈥檚 values or sexuality 听
  • Estranged students are more likely to drop out of university, and less likely to get higher grades, according to experimental data released by The Office for Students (the main regulator for universities) in 2020
  • The struggles of these young people often go unrecognised by statutory services, with research suggesting that 60% of estranged cases lack any kind of social services intervention
  • BU has signed up to the Stand Alone Pledge, highlighting our commitment to supporting estranged students to succeed in higher education
  • A survey of estranged students, led by Uni Connect and funded by the Office for Students, found that:
    -听听68% said there was a stigma around family estrangement
    -听90% found the holiday periods and key dates (such as Christmas, exam results and graduation) the most challenging
    -听Our teams work with around 70 estranged students every year, helping to plug the gap left by breakdowns in family relationships.