Young Carers and Care Experienced
Raising aspirations, attaining success.
Committed to Supporting Carers
È«Ãñ²ÊƱ is committed to supporting students who are also young adult carers and care experienced to meet their aspirations in education and work.
We understand you may have concerns regarding finance, balancing studying with your care responsibilities and leaving those who depend on you for care.
What is a Carer?
A Carer is someone who looks after a member of the family, partner or friend with a physical or sensory disability, learning disability, medical condition, mental health issues or someone addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling.
What is 'Care Experienced'?
Care experienced simply means that you will have been in the care of your local authority for at least 13 weeks at any time since the age of 14.
Young Carers Residential
If you are a young carer interested in attending our residential this year, please contact your local care provider to book your place.
Bangor is Care Aware
Although caring can have a positive impact on carers and be a hugely rewarding experience, it can also impact on the physical and emotional well-being of Carers. È«Ãñ²ÊƱ is carer aware and established it’s Carers Policy to help support staff and students with carer responsibilities.
Support for Young Carers and Care Experienced
We understand that balancing your academic studies may prove challenging. Whether you feel like you want to disclose your circumstances or not, we are here to support you in a holistic way.
- We have dedicated staff contact points for carers.
- Academic support including flexible deadlines, entry requirement considerations and assistance with workloads.
- Financial support including a £1,000 Carers Bursary.
- Health and wellbeing support.
- My Bangor Portal system allows you as a student to declare your carer status which will inform your personal tutor of your circumstances.
- Advice and guidance drop in service –we offer an informal advice and guidance service pre, during and post application where you can run through any questions you may have as a carer considering university.
- Carers ID card
At È«Ãñ²ÊƱ, we place a high priority on caring for and supporting our students. We offer a comprehensive student welfare service. As a student entering Higher Education from care or as someone advising a Care Experience student, you can be assured that Bangor will provide you with the necessary support and information. This support is available while you’re still deciding what or where to study, continues through the university application process, and is on-going once you’ve started your course.
There is a named contact person for Care Experience students within the University’s Student Services, and that is the person you should turn to for help and advice at any stage of your journey into and through Higher Education.
At È«Ãñ²ÊƱ, we can provide the following:
- Pre-entry guidance from our Skills and Employability Service, assistance with filling in your Student Finance application form and help and support during the university application and admissions process.
- Peer guide support for all students to help you settle in during Welcome Week and the first few weeks of term.
- Targeted financial support for Care Experience students through the University’s bursary and Hardship Funds. This means Bangor will provide you with a Care Experience Bursary of £1,000 a year, on top of any other University or state-funded bursaries which you may be eligible for.
- An integrated Student Services, offering easy access to money support, housing, disability, mental health and student counselling services.
- Regular meetings between the named contact and students to identify support requirements, with liaison between University departments and external agencies where appropriate (and with the student’s express permission).
- Guaranteed accommodation for all single first year undergraduate students and help planning and arranging your accommodation for both term and vacation time.
- Complete confidentiality for Care Experience students in respect of service provision and specific arrangements.
As a Care Experience student, or as someone advising a student, your first point of contact is: Wendy Williams, Student Adviser in Student Services. Wendy can give you more details on all aspects of the University’s support provision – both prior to admission and whilst studying here.
Contact Wendy on 01248 383637 or e-mail: studentsupport@bangor.ac.uk.
YOUNG CARERS RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE
Each year, in partnership with Reaching Wider, È«Ãñ²ÊƱ hosts a 3-day Residential Event, which give 16-24 year-old carers a taste of university life and the support offered to them here at Bangor. This is an extremely popular event where È«Ãñ²ÊƱ welcomes between 50-60 young carers and their outreach workers on campus.
During the event, many academic schools deliver subject taster sessions. There is an opportunity to see the University, Pontio, the Students’ Union, Canolfan Brailsford Sports centre, meet academic staff and current students. Carers spend 2 nights in our Halls of Residence.
It's also a wonderful opportunity to share your experiences with other young carers.
Thank you so much for providing such an inspirational and rewarding residential. The young carers were really buzzing afterwards as were the staff! Roll on next year!
Carers Outreach Staff
UCAS have introduced a new section in the application so you can share more information about your circumstances with the university – including whether you have caring responsibilities. This information means we can connect you with support for your needs quickly and easily and ensure you have all the information you need.
If you provide unpaid care for another person or you are a care leaver, just select ‘yes’ from the drop-down box in the question that asks if you have any caring responsibilities in the ‘More about me’ section of the application.
Additional support and resources for carers attending university is also given by the Carers Trust and your local care providers. These include practical support such as providing bedding, utensils, and towels for your arrival at university.
The Young Carers ID card will give young carers a quick and easy way to inform lecturers, staff, and community services such as leisure centres and local transport, that they look after someone.