Inclusion Service

If you are a care leaver, we would like you to get in touch with us.

WHO IS A CARE LEAVER?

A care leaver is someone who:

• Is under the age of 25*
• Has been looked after by their local authority for a period of at least 13 weeks from the age of 14
• Was in care on or after their 16th birthday

* Students who are 25, but who returned to full time education before their 25th birthday and are being supported by their Local Authority Leaving Care Team will also be eligible for support.

HOW CAN THE INCLUSION SERVICE HELP?

We will offer you a 1:1 meeting with an adviser who can help to ensure that you are aware of all of the support available to you, both at the University and any external sources of support that may help.

We will help you to access academic support, financial support and help with any wellbeing matters. The support we recommend will be captured in an Inclusion Support Plan.

HOW DO I ACCESS SUPPORT?

To access support from the service you will need to provide evidence of your circumstances to the Inclusion Service. This will usually be a letter from your local authority confirming that you were under Local Authority care, have now left care and are a care leaver as defined in the Children Act (2000).

Please send your evidence along with this registration form to Inclusion.Service@mmu.ac.uk. 

For Local Authorities

Please see our Data Sharing Agreement for Local Authorities

Studying at university can be a challenge for any student, but we understand that studying without the support of your family can present some additional challenges. The Inclusion Service can help you to access the support you need.

WHO IS ESTRANGED?

An estranged student is someone who is:

• Aged under 25
• Studying without the support and approval of their family network

And

• Been irreconcilably estranged* from both parents/carers for a significant period of time

*Irreconcilably estranged means that

• You have had no contact with both of your biological, adoptive parents or only living parent for a significant period of time (usually 12 months or more) and this is unlikely to change.

Or

• You can demonstrate other grounds on which you are estranged from your parents/carers (exceptional circumstances which are severe and clearly irreconcilable).

HOW CAN THE INCLUSION SERVICE HELP?

We will offer you a 1:1 meeting with an adviser who can help to ensure that you are aware of all of the support available to you, both at the University and any external sources of support that may help.

We will help you to access academic support, financial support and help with any wellbeing matters. The support we recommend will be captured in an Inclusion Support Plan.

HOW DO I ACCESS SUPPORT?

To access help from the service you will need to provide evidence of your estrangement to the Inclusion Service. This evidence will be one of the following:

• An assessment as independent by Student Finance because of estrangement from both parents/carers
• A letter from an independent person with knowledge of your situation e.g. a college tutor, GP, counsellor or housing support officer

Please send your evidence along with this registration form to Inclusion.Service@mmu.ac.uk. 

We understand that having caring responsibilities may have a significant impact on your studies and wellbeing. The Inclusion Service can help you to access the support you need.

WHO IS A CARER?

A carer is someone who:

• Has a commitment to providing unpaid care to a family member or friend who could not cope without your support (due to illness, disability, a mental health issue or substance misuse). 

HOW CAN THE INCLUSION SERVICE HELP?

We will offer you a 1:1 meeting with an adviser who can help to ensure that you are aware of all of the support available to you, both at the University and any external sources of support that may help.

We will help you to access academic support, financial support and help with any wellbeing matters. The support we recommend will be captured in an Inclusion Support Plan.

HOW DO I ACCESS SUPPORT?

You will need to provide evidence of your caring responsibilities to the Inclusion Service. This evidence can be one of the following:

• A Department for Work and Pensions Allowance statement confirming receipt of Carer’s Allowance in the past.
• A letter confirming your role as a carer from a recognised third party such as a GP, Care Coordinator, Support Worker, Social Services.
• A Local Authority Carer’s Assessment.

Please send your evidence along with this registration form to Inclusion.Service@mmu.ac.uk. 

We believe that becoming pregnant should not prevent you from succeeding in your studies.

HOW CAN THE INCLUSION SERVICE HELP?

We can offer support with managing your pregnancy whilst also studying. This could be academic support, wellbeing support or advice about financial help.

We will work with you to let your academic department know about your pregnancy and ensure that you and your baby are safe whilst you study.

For further information, please read our Student Pregnancy Maternity and Adoption Guidelines.

HOW DO I ACCESS SUPPORT?

Get in touch to arrange to meet with an Inclusion Adviser by completing this registration form and sending it to Inclusion.Service@mmu.ac.uk.

An adviser will meet with you to talk about your experience at university and to identify any particular support needs you may have.

This will be captured in an Inclusion Support Plan and will provide you with information and links to the support that is available both within the university and externally.

Typically, this could include links to Student Financial Support, Residential Services, the Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and Academic Support.

Studying at university can be a big adjustment and here at the Inclusion Service we want to ensure that you know how to access the support that you need.

If you are under 18 when you enrol at university, we will get in touch with you and arrange for you to meet with an Inclusion Adviser. We can check how your studies are going and offer helpful support and advice.

We will also liaise with your department to ensure that they are aware that you are under the age of 18.

If you want to get in touch with us, you can do so by completing this registration form and emailing it to Inclusion.Service@mmu.ac.uk along with your query.

If you believe that you qualify for support from the Inclusion Service and have the relevant evidence where required, please register with the service.

To register, please complete this registration form and email it along with any required evidence to Inclusion.Service@mmu.ac.uk.

Please also read our Inclusion Service Privacy Notice, which details the information we hold about you, the legal justification for us doing so and how we may use that information.

We will arrange for you to meet with an adviser to identify any particular support needs you may have and capture this in an Inclusion Support Plan.

We are available Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 4:30pm 

Call 0161 247 3491

Email inclusion.service@mmu.ac.uk

Our reception is located in Pod 1.01D on the first floor in the Business School, where you can also drop in to ask any quick queries and attend or book an appointment.