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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Young carer

65 replies

user146539089 · 17/03/2023 09:06

Hi, does anyone have any experience of applying to university as a young carer? My DH has a major physical disability which has caused us a huge amount of disruption to our lives over the years. Sometimes things are fairly normal, other times he’s needed constant care. The DC don’t spend all day every day as carers. They usually do a few things every day to help out, fetching medical equipment, making tea etc. Other times they’ve had to help out more. I know there are organisations we can talk to but I would really like to talk to people who maybe in a similar situation before we say anything to prospective universities.

OP posts:
Newjumper2023 · 17/03/2023 09:21

We haven’t got to university stage yet but would also like to know the answer.
My dc recently went on a university trip specifically designed to open up opportunities to the disadvantaged groups (pupil premium, sen, young carers etc).
School registered my dc on the young carers list at school and refered them to the young carers team for our local authority (although we haven't had much contact) so they are on the radar. At the university they were told they should make it clear that they are a 'disadvantaged student' on application but dc did not know why (apart from they might get a bit more money). I'm sure there's more to it than that but that's the bit my 2 took away from it!

Original poster
user146539089 · 17/03/2023 09:32

Thanks for this @Newjumper2023 Can I ask how your dc feel about being described as young carers? Mine don’t feel they deserve to be classed in this way. Does your DC’s experience sound similar to what I’ve described or do they do much more?

OP posts:
Newjumper2023 · 17/03/2023 09:44

They probably do a bit more as I'm disabled and a single parent. They don't like the label because they feel it's normal what they do (I became disabled when they were 5 and they started putting themselves to bed thats not normal to me) 'it's just helping out' is what they say.
My youngest refused to even talk to the young carers association because 'I'm just helping mum out like I would help my friends so don't need to talk about it' they're in their teens now and I think are more aware of the differences between their friends and them in terms of what we can and can't do as a family and how its affectedus financially. However they never use it as an excuse as I think they don't want to be singled out as different.
If they could get some extra support around accessing uni/getting extra support if needed while there that would really help. They're both very capable top set dc and I don't want /won't allow my disabilities to affect their long-term future. Its something I'll definitely be looking at nearer the time.

Original poster
user146539089 · 17/03/2023 10:21

That’s interesting @Newjumper2023 I do a lot of the workload and have up my job because I couldn’t do everything. Mine definitely don’t want a label or to be seen as different to their friends. They see their lives as perfectly normal too. I am wondering how much more they do compared to young people who don’t have a disabled parent?

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lovefizzycolabottles · 17/03/2023 10:27

my dd isn’t a carer but I had noticed when looking at the webiste that St Andrew’s seem to be very focused on supporting applications. Maybe take a look? I suspect other unis have similar offerings too? www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/apply/young-carers/

RampantIvy · 17/03/2023 11:25

Would this mean that they would only go to a local university so that they could stay at home to help you?

Original poster
user146539089 · 17/03/2023 11:31

They wouldn’t want to go locally @RampantIvy They are academic and want to go to the best possible university.

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Original poster
user146539089 · 17/03/2023 11:32

Thank you @lovefizzycolabottles That would be a very long drive for us but it’s definitely worth looking at.

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Newjumper2023 · 17/03/2023 11:38

RampantIvy · 17/03/2023 11:25

Would this mean that they would only go to a local university so that they could stay at home to help you?

In our case definitely not I have and will always encourage my dc to do what's best for them and not me. Presently one has mentioned universities four + hours away and the other will probably stay at home (or look at localish unis) as has autism.

Original poster
user146539089 · 17/03/2023 11:58

It’s good to hear that @Newjumper2023 They shouldn’t feel restricted in their choices. I know my situation is different to yours because I can provide care but still, I think my DC’s lives are different to others. I have been unwell recently and DH has been really struggling and it’s at these times the DC have to step up.

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ByTheSeaCatsandAll · 17/03/2023 12:13

I’m a college careers advisor and I work with students who may need additional support including young carers. I would absolutely let the university know if your son/daughter is happy to do so. They will then contact them to offer support, which will all be completely optional. This could be emotional support such as counselling or a mentor, which is often helpful when a student first starts at Uni away from home. It could be practical support, some universities offer bursaries for young carers. Some even offer a reduced UCAS offer, so lower entry grades in recognition of the impact that being a young carer can have on their studies. And even if your son/daughter doesn’t want any extra help it’s often worth just letting them know incase they need to come home more often, so their tutors will understand.
Each university offers different support, so I would contact their Widening Participation team and ask. Good luck!

Original poster
user146539089 · 17/03/2023 12:24

Thank you @ByTheSeaCatsandAll We wouldn’t be looking for money and I don’t know if my dc would want to engage with anyone on a formal basis. It’s tricky knowing what to do in all honesty.

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LIZS · 17/03/2023 12:26

If the school mentions it on the reference they may be eligible fir a contextual offer.

Nat6999 · 17/03/2023 12:33

My ds is a young carer & was a Sheffield Young Carers member from being 8 years old, he is now a trustee of the charity. It has never bothered him anyone knowing he is a carer, he is part of the campaign for all schools & colleges to have a designated Young Carers lead on staff. From what he said most universities have bursaries for students who are young carers, so your dc would be wise to ask at student finance about it.

Original poster
user146539089 · 17/03/2023 12:41

@Nat6999 The sixth form college have pointed us towards our local YC group but there is no way they’ll engage with it. Does the level of care young carers provide often fluctuate? It does in our situation.

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whitesnowflake · 17/03/2023 13:49

I think in Scotland that young carers can be one of the criteria under widening access for university access. I see someone previously mentioned StA specifically.

mumsneedwine · 17/03/2023 13:55

Young carers will be eligible for not only contextual offers but also widening participation schemes. Look at Newcastle Partners as a starting point. Loads of support is available.

Onnabugeisha · 17/03/2023 14:20

My DC are/were all young carers (for me).
You mention it on your UCAS application. It’s a box you tick.
It’s really so that the Universities can take into account the fact that young carers don’t have the extra time to do extra curricular or supra curricula activities or get part time jobs or even as much time for their studies as other young people do because they have caring responsibilities.

So as a pp stated this often means a contextual offer- lower grades to get on the degree course and the personal statement isn’t expected to be a list of national level achievements.

It also helps for internships. E.g. Oxford has the Uniq+ funded summer internships with stipend that are specifically for disadvantaged students including young carers.

Mine also didn’t like the label and didn’t want counselling or pats on the back, but there is nothing wrong with getting credit for the hours of caring in a way that levels the playing field between them and other students.

Onnabugeisha · 17/03/2023 14:23

user146539089 · 17/03/2023 12:41

@Nat6999 The sixth form college have pointed us towards our local YC group but there is no way they’ll engage with it. Does the level of care young carers provide often fluctuate? It does in our situation.

Yes. I think so long as it averages 15hrs/week you can honestly call them a young carer. This can include things like cooking dinner for the family because you cannot. Or going with you as a carer to appointments. Or doing a food shop because you can’t. Or picking up your medications for you. It’s not just personal care, it’s any care needed due to your disability/disabilities.

Original poster
user146539089 · 17/03/2023 14:37

Thank you. 15 hours a week doesn’t seem much.

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Onnabugeisha · 17/03/2023 14:42

user146539089 · 17/03/2023 14:37

Thank you. 15 hours a week doesn’t seem much.

And yet it’s enough for a decent PT or volunteer job, or to be on a school sports team, or to do extracurricular clubs in chess, robotics, art, music etc . That’s why the Unis want to know…because otherwise they will assume your DC has all the hours outside school totally free when they don’t.

elliejjtiny · 17/03/2023 14:50

My dc are technically young carers although none of them use the term and none of them are interested in going to young carer groups etc.

bigbluebus · 17/03/2023 14:51

How is their caring role going to affect then when they are at Uni? If they are living away from home then presumably they will no longer have the caring duties that they have whilst living at home.
My DS could have been classed as a young carer - his sibling had severe disabilities which massively impacted all our lives and meant that DS's childhood was very different from his peers. But DS would never have labelled himself as such even though he often had to help out when 2 pairs of hands were needed. But once he was at Uni he was no longer around to help out and was able to live a much more normal life.

Onnabugeisha · 17/03/2023 15:03

@bigbluebus
Whether they will still have caring responsibilities while at Uni isn’t a factor for the UCAS process. If you are a young carer when you apply, you tick the box.

If they were then living at home while at Uni, then they’d also get accommodations like deadline extensions and extra support due to caring responsibilities.

bigbluebus · 17/03/2023 15:08

@Onnabugeisha But the OP says her DCs don't want to o to Uni locally so they won't have caring responsibilities whilst they're there so why would they need extensions or special consideration? (I absolutely get why a student still living at home and caring would need this).