University students possibly told to stay at uni over Christmas

[WearyandBleary]

This has just been leaked and Matt Hancock has done a non-denial.

This has shocked me. Why not tell old people to stay at home over Christmas instead? The mental health of our students is going to be horrific.

Dd is really concerned about this . Dh is vulnerable and this term is very long . She had hoped to visit end of October but looking unlikely. Have suggested she try to leave as soon as f2f teaching finishes before Christmas . Not sure how this could be enforceable anyway.

@drivinmecrazy I’m sure there are a substantial amount of students who would enjoy a uni Christmas with their mates. However, what is wrong with having to come home to ‘fulfil a role’ over Christmas. It is important for young people to understand that being part of a family can mean doing things that are not about you but help to strengthen the family unit. Maybe it’s about helping mum and dad out with all the Christmas chores, or celebrating with grandparents who see them so little when they are away at uni. Or just learning to have fun in an environment that isn’t your idea of fun.

I actually think lots of students will mind. Dd and her friends are all happily going away but still enjoy time with family. Dd is not alone in loving visiting her grandparents and younger cousins, as well as obviously wanting to see her friends back home.

This Christmas will be the first without her grandad who died during lockdown, and the first without Christmas Eve visits to see her great grandparents- 2 who died during lockdown. Mil will be with us so she's not alone. DD's a big part of this and has already stated she's not missing it.

With regards seeing her boyfriend at Christmas - only this week the government said that those in established relationships can see one another and not SDing. I'm assuming a year long relationship would be established so she can see him at least.

@Playdoughbum

I’ve been very compliant. I’m not a rule breaker. But my child will NOT be staying in university accommodation over Christmas. If I can spend my days in a bubble of 60 and it’s deemed safe, then no. Too far. I remember how homesick I could get at uni. Will drive the six hours each way if need be.

This.

Many students will be fine with this. But the ones who aren't are the ones who will have found it harder to settle, are more vulnerable, and absolutely should not be left for 3-4 weeks, potentially locked in their rooms.

mosscarpet totally agree with what you say -how many people have been posting on mumsnet saying that their own mental health has been shot by corona, including people who have not up to now had profound mental health issues.

I am a big fan of encouraging those who want to to stay at uni, and think parents are sometimes too overly cautious about how much their children are managing/living a live without them however, for others, the student experience is just a bit too much especially in covid times (when let's face it, everyone is a tiny bit anxious!) There have always been students who have struggled, mental health services were overwhelmed before corona, of course there will be some for whom this will be a tipping point. I would do what is best for my child and I have to be honest, I would prioritise their mental health over government guidance- but I have always thought that if you are very vulnerable you may need to bend the rules- one of my relatives went shopping locally every day in lockdown (in a mask), was I going to condemn them for seeking social contact -no, they survived without a relapse of their chronic depression, so all good.

If I think about my fresher's year, I got on well with one of my 5 flatemates in halls and had nothing in common with the other 4. Coursemates were OK but there wasn't any substantial lasting friendship there.

The real friends were made socially, I'm married to one.

Being tied into social contact with only flatmates and minimal contact with coursemates, then being told no visits home even for Christmas would have had me sobbing down the phone desperate for a one way trip home with a full car.

The freshers have had a horrendous time with their y13 before this. They've suffered a massive social cost to the start of their adult lives that far outweigh the risk to their demographic.

When it comes to the risk of extended family, that should be a personal, family choice, not imposed by MPs who haven't had the chance to feel the isolation and lonliness of their policies on the population.

When it comes to the risk of extended family, that should be a personal, family choice

There is no personal risk, only societal risk. This virus thrives in an individualistic system like ours.

I don't for one minute underestimate the shittiness of this suggestion around Christmas, but we all need to move on from 'personal choice' in terms of virus spread.

Even considering trying to implement this shows what a bunch of bastards run our government. They’ve already screwed over the year that are starting university now, they can go screw themselves if they think people will follow this rule.

My kids in different universities will be home for Christmas, and if any of their friends can’t get home for any reason, they will be invited too.

@NailsNeedDoing

Even considering trying to implement this shows what a bunch of bastards run our government. They’ve already screwed over the year that are starting university now, they can go screw themselves if they think people will follow this rule.

My kids in different universities will be home for Christmas, and if any of their friends can’t get home for any reason, they will be invited too.

I understand why you're angry, I agree the failure of government is infuriating, but is mixing households a wise or helpful response?

That year group have been through enough already.

The fact that this is even being considered shows just how far this country has lost it’s way.

Not only the Conservative Westminster government. All the devolved nations are making just as big a shit show of this.

I’ve got a bad feeling that when world history looks back on all this, the UK will be remembered for handling it the worst.

I understand why you're angry, I agree the failure of government is infuriating, but is mixing households a wise or helpful response?

Tbf I wasn’t aiming for helpful, I was just sharing my thoughts. Whether it’s wise depends on what matters most to an individual family. We’re all young and healthy enough that luckily for us we don’t need to consider any vulnerabilities based on physical health. That means the virus isn’t the predominant consideration that we’d have if the government thought it was ok to try and force each of us to spend Christmas in isolation.

@NailsNeedDoing

I understand why you're angry, I agree the failure of government is infuriating, but is mixing households a wise or helpful response?

Tbf I wasn’t aiming for helpful, I was just sharing my thoughts. Whether it’s wise depends on what matters most to an individual family. We’re all young and healthy enough that luckily for us we don’t need to consider any vulnerabilities based on physical health. That means the virus isn’t the predominant consideration that we’d have if the government thought it was ok to try and force each of us to spend Christmas in isolation.

I meant helpful to those involved.

For example if you give the virus to one of the friends, that would be bad.

I am expecting a total ban on households mixing before Christmas anyway

@mena51

Fresher's week should never have bene allowed to go ahead. The student experience would have been slightly affected but now they're in a much worse situation where they've no freedom, are essentially made to isolate in a shared flat with several others, running out of food and supplies etc. I just think cancelling fresher's week would have maybe made a difference, but I guess we will never know.

Freshers Week didn't happen at my DS's uni.

There was no F2F whatsoever.

Nothing for dd2 either. Online stuff but nothing F2F

Such a stupid idea. Totally unenforceable and going to completely alienate young people to complying with harsh rules to prevent an illness which has almost zero impact on them.

Myself and many more people are going to just start ignoring any edicts

Why isn’t the government coming out and denying this - anyone else think this will hugely affect first years that this has even been floated as an idea.

@Teenageromance

Why isn’t the government coming out and denying this - anyone else think this will hugely affect first years that this has even been floated as an idea.

yes! It is totally shameful and irresponsible. There will be a lot of new first year students, already having to adjust to living away from home for the first time, in really difficult circumstances with very limited chances for social interaction, and now they have this massive worry hanging over them.

We still have to pay for our son's Uni accommodation whether he comes home or not. I haven't seen him for months as he has ben back in his Uni town working since June. I will be gutted if he can't come home but then again my dh is high risk so I would be worried he would put his dad at risk.

I think as well its not just the i fecting family, but surely students would come home and visit their home mates at the pub...

Glad to see Nicola sturgeon immediately stamping on this monumentally stupid idea.

completely alienate young people to complying with harsh rules to prevent an illness which has almost zero impact on them. It won't have zero impact on them if it affects people they love, disrupts services as a result of people falling ill, prevents hospital treatment for people they love ... in illness can affect you in lots of indirect ways even if you don't catch it yourself.

Absolutely disgusting that Hancockjob wouldn’t rule this out. So out of touch.

Why the hell should old ppl have a Christmas on their own. It's well known that older ppl get depression through loneliness

Very true, my DDs grandparents want to see their granddaughter, they have limited time left and would rather spend it with her, they'd be mortified if she was forced to stay in her digs.

i'm sure this is the same for many grandparents, esp at xmas.

Another great idea from this Govt of fools.