Young Adult Carers

What is a Young Adult Carer?
A Young Adult Carer is someone aged 16 – 25 who helps support someone in their family, or household due to:

• Learning disability
• Mental Health needs
• Physical disability
• Long term or terminal illness
• Substance dependency
• Sensory Impairment
• Frailty

At Solihull Sixth Form College we believe that all young people have the right to an education regardless of what is happening at home.  When a young person looks after someone in their family who has a serious illness, disability or substance misuse problem, they may need extra support to help to ensure that they achieve their potential. A Young Adult Carer may disclose their caring duties on the College’s application form, during interview or enrolment, or whilst they are on course.  

Some Young Adult Carers might be doing lots of caring, others just a small amount but are impacted by the situation at home for example by worrying about the person with the health condition or needing to do more things for themselves compared to other learner.

What might a young carer do?

• Practical tasks, like cooking, housework and shopping.
• Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed.
• Emotional support, including talking to someone who is distressed.
• Personal care, such as helping someone dress.
• Managing the family budget and collecting prescriptions.
• Helping to give medicine.
• Helping someone communicate.
• Looking after brothers and sisters.

Support in College

We recognise that each Young Adult Carer is an individual and therefore will require different types and levels of support. Every Young Adult Carer will receive support from their Academic Coach.  The college also has a Lead Academic Coach who oversees the progress and support of our Young Adult Carers.  Young Adult Carers can also expect support of teachers in understanding the impact of a student’s caring role on their education.  There is also support available for young carers and their families should they ever need it – both inside and outside of college:

• Dedicated Academic Coach support worker (Tracey Hayden – tracey.hayden@solihullsfc.ac.uk)
• One-to-one support
• Help with student Finance
• Drop-in and group support
• Specialist drop in sessions from external young adult carer charities

Tracey Hayden - Young Adult Carers Lead