Young Carers Action Day, coming up on Wednesday 11 March, is an important opportunity for us to recognise and support students who have caring responsibilities at home.
A young carer is a student under 18, and in some cases up to 25, who helps care for a family member with a disability, long-term illness, mental health condition, or substance dependency. Balancing coursework, exams, part-time work, and a social life is challenging enough; adding caring duties can make college life even more demanding.
Many young carers develop incredible strengths – resilience, empathy, time management, and problem-solving skills. However, their responsibilities can also impact attendance, deadlines, wellbeing, and progression if the right support isn’t in place.
If you’re a student with caring responsibilities, you are not alone. Student Services teams are available to support you when you need. Speaking to one of the team can be the first step in accessing help.
Young Carers Action Day will allow us to celebrate, support, and empower those students, who undertake additional responsibilities that often go unseen.
