Education and employment

Balancing your caring responsibilities with work and education commitments can be challenging.

Often, a caring role will feel like a full-time job in and of itself, and so the idea of going to university, or getting a job may feel impossible, even if it’s something you really want to do.

Many young adult carers feel unable to pursue their career aspirations because they fear that to do so would negatively impact the person they are caring for. Maybe, as a young adult carer you feel this way too.

The good news is that there is a variety of help and assistance out there to make going to university or getting a job more achievable for carers.

In this section, we will look at some of the ways you can better balance your caring roles with your career aspirations, and how you can get the support you need to achieve your full potential!

Support at University

Going to university can feel impossible to many young adult carers, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

If you provide an unpaid caring role, there is a variety of support you may be entitled to, to aid you in your studies. This can include direct financial assistance, such as grants or bursaries, flexible attendance agreements, additional time for coursework/exams or support for your health and wellbeing.

Exact support will likely differ depending on the university, but virtually all will have policies in place to support attending young adult carers.

To help you get the support you need at university, we’ve put together some top tips for young adult carers in higher education.

Support available as a young carer in education

If you’re an unpaid carer in college, university, or training, you may be able to access extra support to help you balance studying with your caring role.

• Additional funding – You may be eligible for bursaries, grants and other forms of financial assistance to support you while you study.
• Flexible learning – Many institutions offer support such as flexible deadlines or online learning options.
• Mental health & wellbeing services – Colleges and universities often provide free counselling and mental health support.
• Carer support contacts – Many universities and colleges have dedicated staff to help carers.

Financial Support for young adult carers in education

• 16–19 Bursary Fund – If you’re under 19 and in full-time education, you may be eligible for financial help. If you’re a care-experienced person, aged 16–19, you should get a £1,200 bursary if you stay in full-time education.
• Student Carer Grants – Some universities offer grants for student carers. Check with your institution. Grants can be used to support tuition or project costs and usually don’t need to be repaid.
• Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) – If you have a disability, mental health condition or learning difficulty, DSA can help cover extra costs of studying.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships allow you to learn and earn at the same time. They involve job-based learning and private study, and usually last 1–4 years. Apprentices are entitled to Carer’s Leave and may find employers who offer additional support for carers. Apprenticeships are free for people under 24 and often lead to permanent employment.

Carers' Rights at Work

As a carer, you have specific statutory rights that help you balance work and caring:

• Right to request flexible working – From day one of employment, with a right to request changes every 6 months.
• Right to Carer’s Leave – Up to 7 unpaid days per year from day one of employment.
• Protection from discrimination – Under the Equality Act 2010.
• Emergency time off – For urgent issues affecting the person you care for.
• Parental leave – Up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave if caring for a child under 18.