First Line Support for Student Carers

How to declare you carer status and what happens next.

How to tell us about your carer status

It's helpful if you can tell us as early as possible. That means we can support you from the very start.

  1. By ticking the appropriate box on the UCAS form when making your university application.

  2. You can tell us about your carer status during registration if you are a direct entrant from FE college, an articulating student, or on a university access course.

  3. Whenever you feel able, or if your circumstances change while you are a student here, you can tell us at by emailing Advisory

If you have any questions about what we accept as evidence of your caring responsibilities, please email our named contact for student carers, Rachael Hinchliffe.

What evidence do I need?

You can show us any of the following as evidence of your carer status:

  • A letter from a Health and/or Social Care worker that confirms your caring role. This could be from a GP, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist etc.

  • A Carers Card from a Carers Centre.

  • A Universal Credit letter if you receive the disabled child element.

  • A Local Authority Carers Assessment/Carer Support Plan.

  • A Young Carer statement.

  • Self-certification regarding the nature of your caring duties.

If you have any questions about what we accept as evidence of your caring responsibilities, please email our named contact for student carers, Rachael Hinchliffe.

You've told us you are a carer - what happens next?

We understand you'll need extra help. Especially given the difficulties and time constraints we know student carers have, along with the physical and mental demands on you.

If you've told us that you are a carer via the UCAS form, or have contacted us directly, this is what happens next.

1. Student carer - named contact

We have a Named Contact for Student Carers who is based in the Student Support Services Advisory team called Rachael Hinchliffe.

This person is your first point of call for most things. They will work with you to create a carers support plan (if you chose to have one).

If you have any questions, please email uswith 'Student Carer' in the title. It will get forwarded to Rachel so they can contact you.

2. Carer support meeting

When you tell us about your carer status, either directly or through your UCAS application, our named contact will arrange a meeting where you can discuss your specific circumstances and ask questions. At the same time we can give you useful information about resources and facilities available. 

3. Carer support plan

Together we create a support plan which is individual to you.

This is based on your own specific caring circumstances. It means your wider teaching team (tutors, lecturers etc) will know how best to support you.

 

More help

Mitigating circumstances process

Most student carers sometimes need additional time or a deadline extension. There is a  'Mitigating Circumstances' process that you may need to use for this.

Find out more about the Mitigating Circumstances process on the intranet.

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