Claire Gammie

A visit to Abertay gave 30 young carers from Angus and Fife the opportunity to experience university life, meet staff and students, and find out more about the support available to them.

Claire Gammie organised the event with Fife Young Carers and Angus Carers Centre. Together, they created a welcoming introduction to university shaped around the needs and experiences of young carers in the local community. 

Participants toured the campus and took part in practical sessions, testing materials in Civil and Environmental Engineering and examining evidence in Forensic Science. They also found out what support is available to young carers considering higher education. 

For young people with caring responsibilities, progressing to university can feel difficult to navigate. By bringing them onto campus, introducing them to academic subjects and explaining where practical help is available, Abertay helped make the route into higher education clearer and more familiar. 

The experience day showed how widening access and strong community partnerships can help young carers make informed choices and see university as a place where they belong. 

Claire said: 

I love delivering events like this because they help break down barriers and make higher education feel more accessible. The young carers were fantastic and threw themselves into every activity. By giving them first-hand experience of university life and connecting them with the support available, my aim is for them to leave feeling informed, empowered and confident about their future choices.