Young Adult Carers - How we can help
As a young adult carer, balancing your responsibilities with your studies at university can be challenging. Thankfully, Coventry University has several different services you can access to ensure you get the most out of your time at university.
Find out what support is available and find links to Support Networks, including our Fair Access Scheme.
What is a young adult carer?
According to Carers Trust there are as many as 376,000 young adult carers in the UK. A young adult carer is categorised as someone aged between 16 and 25 years old who cares for a family member or friend with either an illness or disability, mental health condition or even an addiction.
The responsibilities of young adult carers can vary but may include:
- Practical care – such as housework, shopping, cooking meals etc.
- Physical care – such as helping someone dress, or other personal care
- Emotional support – this can include talking to a cared-for person if they’re distressed
- Indirect support – this could be a supportive role, helping a parent look after a disabled sibling, or looking after siblings themselves.
Each young adult carer experiences things differently. Some may be in a temporary caring role, while others may have long-term responsibilities.
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Fair Access Scheme
Fair Access Scheme
The Fair Access Scheme enables young carers to receive a reduced conditional offer to study at Coventry University Group. It also supports students from a range of backgrounds, of all ages, to gain fair and equal access to higher education.
As a young adult carer, we want you to feel proud and excited about the prospect of entering university and gaining your degree. To help support your future and your entry to higher education, we could make you a reduced contextual offer by up to 24 UCAS tariff points or equivalent. The reduction will depend on your chosen course and your qualification type. As an example, if you would want to study a course where the standard offer is BBB, you could receive a Fair Access Scheme offer of CCC instead.
Find out more information on our Fair Access Scheme and how to apply. Alternatively, you can contact the Fair Access Scheme by email fairaccess@coventry.ac.uk or call 02477 654321.
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The Carers Community
To support you both academically and emotionally, our Success Coaches have created The Carers Community.
As part of that community, our Success Coaches have established a monthly get together for all carers. Open for all to come and relax, the community day allows us to:
- Support each other by sharing our experiences
- Spread awareness of support you can access while at Coventry University
- Occasionally provide guest speakers from charities/organisations
- Give you a space to have time to yourself
Even if you’re not the primary carer, you’re more than welcome to join us and simply relax for a couple of hours each month.
Where to find us:
- When: The last Wednesday of every month
- Time: 1pm – 3pm
- Location: The Spirituality & Faith Centre (Jordan Well Building).
If you would like to join us, please register your interest.
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Further Support
We offer a range of student support for you at Coventry University that you may find helpful. From academic support, to looking after your physical and mental wellbeing, and careers coaches assisting you in shaping your future. These are a few examples of the further support we provide.
- Success Coaches – Your Success Coach can help support you all the way up until you graduate. They’re here to help you discover what you really want to do and how to achieve it.
- Academic Personal Tutors (APTs) - APTs offer further academic support beyond your lecturers. They offer personal guidance regarding internships, optional modules and have an in-depth knowledge of how each module is assessed.
- Disability Support – If you have a disability, a long-term medical condition or a specific learning difference, you may have access to further support including mentoring support, access to assistive technology or access to session materials at least 24 hours in advance.
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External Support
There are lots of support services available to young adult carers. You can find support from two young carers centres that operate locally:
- Your Future (part of Young Carers Coventry)
- Warwickshire Young Carers.
Each of these services offers 1-1 support to young adult carers in Coventry and Warwickshire and can also provide support to young adult carers studying at Coventry University.
Other services you may be interested in:
