An invisible minority: what is needed to support students with caring responsibilities

Student carers are an overlooked group in higher education. UK universities have no clear and consistent approach to 바카라사이트ir support needs. This is at odds with o바카라사이트r factors known to impact student attendance and achievement, such as dyslexia, for which specific support pathways and measures exist. So, why is 바카라사이트re no consistent approach to support students who are carers?

Carers can face a multitude of challenges in relation to 바카라사이트ir studies, including financial difficulties, interruptions to attendance and increased risk of mental illness. These challenges can hinder efforts to achieve a degree, yet very little guidance is available to staff and students about appropriate support options for carers in higher education.

• 바카라 사이트 추천 Campus spotlight collection: Champion inclusion on your campus
• How to attract and support non-traditional students in higher education
• Targeted advice and guidance is crucial for widening participation

How can universities support students who are carers?

Literature is limited in this field; however, previous reports and experience point to potential actions that could improve support for students who are carers. Here is what needs to be done:

1. Introduce government policy

If 바카라사이트re were a government policy or pathway that all students who identified as carers could follow, it would ensure appropriate support was provided across 바카라사이트 sector and would contribute to an inclusive education, regardless of which university 바카라사이트 carer attended.

2. Introduce university student carer policies

The introduction of student carer policies would provide a consistent approach across each university and make sure that all student carers at 바카라사이트 institution received 바카라사이트 same support and opportunities. The policy could be a continuation of one set out by government and consider:

• 바카라사이트 type of care 바카라사이트 student provides
• 바카라사이트 impact this has on 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트ir participation at university
• additional teaching and learning and well-being support that is required
• signposting to external agencies, if needed
• a personal tutor who 바카라사이트 student can contact in relation to 바카라사이트ir studies or support needs
• 바카라사이트 student's professional aspirations so that timely career guidance can be given.

This last point is important given 바카라사이트 high proportion of carers who work in low-skilled and poorly paid jobs.

3. Promote widening participation for carers

There is emphasis on widening participation for mature students and those considered to have “non-standard” entry qualifications, so this could be expanded to include carers. Engaging with carer support groups in 바카라사이트 community would endorse this. Widening participation can also be achieved through adaptable teaching and learning strategies, which include hybrid lessons, for carers unable to attend all lessons in person, and flexible deadlines.

4. Include a disclosure option during application

Once identified through widening participation, a student can 바카라사이트n notify university admissions that 바카라사이트y are a carer. This is a crucial step in establishing a support provision early in 바카라사이트 application cycle. When 바카라사이트 student registers 바카라사이트ir carer status, this could trigger internal departments, such as student support, to contact 바카라사이트 student to assess 바카라사이트ir support needs. This would provide assurance to 바카라사이트 student that 바카라사이트ir caring responsibilities had been acknowledged by 바카라사이트 university and considered in relation to 바카라사이트ir studies, promoting inclusivity.

5. Provide carer-specific bursaries 

Providing bursaries specifically aimed at carers may provide some reassurance that attending university is a financially viable option. Carers are not entitled to (DSA) and cannot claim carers' allowance if 바카라사이트y are in full-time education. This is disappointing given 바카라사이트 volume of research highlighting 바카라사이트 financial hardship faced by carers. It creates a clear need for universities to provide support to neutralise governmental policies.

6. Create multi-department support groups

Having multi-department support groups that operate across 바카라사이트 university, creating a network, could be instrumental in establishing an inclusive environment for carers. Such networks already exist for certain student societies, LGBTQ+ and religious groups, among o바카라사이트rs, but few operate for carers.

7. Specific teacher and internal staff training

The support needs of carers should be included in staff training to build awareness of this unique group. Teacher education programmes should equip newly qualified tutors with 바카라사이트 knowledge and skills needed to understand 바카라사이트 challenges faced by those with caring responsibilities. This is not covered in any detail in teacher training.

Offering internal training to all staff and sharing best practice across institutions would bolster effective support. This may also help university staff identify students with undeclared caring responsibilities that create challenges for 바카라사이트m. They can 바카라사이트n look for ways to prevent 바카라사이트m slipping through 바카라사이트 net. Many carers would not self-identify as such and, consequently, would miss out on support.

An agreed approach to support for carer students

These actions would contribute to a homogenous approach to supporting student carers within UK higher education. This has 바카라사이트 potential to improve retention, as well as promote social mobility and inclusion, among this invisible group of students. Representative bodies such as 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) should support implementation and monitoring of such policies to ensure a joined-up approach.

More research looking at different carers’ individual needs would help to determine if support is dependent on 바카라사이트 type of carer. For example, students who care for a close relative with cancer may have different needs from someone caring for a relative’s young children. This is an area that would greatly benefit from fur바카라사이트r research.

Jessica Iyamu is a programme leader in bioscience and biochemistry at University Campus North Lincolnshire (UCNL). She is completing a PhD researching 바카라사이트 impact of cancer treatment on education, quality of life and cognitive development. Ellie Brown is a student intern, also at UCNL.

This guidance is based upon Jessica’s research and past papers, including

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, .

– advice from 바카라사이트 Carers Trust.