Support for Young Adult Carers
A Young Adult Carer is a person aged 25 and under at enrolment who has significant unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member or close friend who has a long-term or terminal illness, disability, mental health condition, is elderly or frail, or who struggles with addiction or substance misuse.
Financial support
Young Adult Carers who enrol at Kingston University, and who have been assessed as a home student by student finance, are eligible to receive a Young Adult Carer bursary of between £500 and £1000 depending on household income. The bursary is per progressive year of study. Young Adult Carers are given priority for the Kingston University Bursary if all the criteria are met.
Accommodation
Young Adult Careers are given priority for a place in halls and access to 365-day accommodation beyond their first year of study where available, and where the conditions of the halls licence agreement have been met. We can also provide guidance if you wish to live in private accommodation, and signpost you to relevant services for comprehensive housing advice.
Graduation and outduction
We support Young Adult Carers at graduation, by providing free gown hire, a photography package and two guest tickets. Young Adult Carers can attend an 'outduction' meeting with the KU Cares team to help you plan your next steps after university.
Verification and eligibility
To be eligible for support as a Young Adult Carer, you will need to be:
- 25 or under at the time of enrolment
- Assessed as a ‘home' student by the university
- Enrolled on an undergraduate course or a PGCE
- Eligible for a maintenance loan from Student Finance
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will need to provide us with evidence that you are a Young Adult Carer. This evidence can be in the form of a letter from one of the following: a carers network, local authority, a professional such as a GP or teacher. If you have questions about this please contact us for support.
How do I apply for support?
- Email kucares@kingston.ac.uk with your evidence or any questions you have, and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Specialist support for Young Adult Carers
Our dedicated and experienced KU Cares team will be able to support you throughout your student journey, from application and enrolment to graduation.
The team are a single point of contact, and can provide you with opportunities at the University that will fit around your studies and caring responsibilities. These currently include placements at the University and paid work via our Student Ambassador scheme.
KU Cares cafe
Our coffee and cake drop-ins are a perfect chance to meet a small group of students with similar experiences and get some face-to-face support from other KU Cares students and staff. These are relaxed sessions, and we usually offer at least three of these per year.
External links
By law, you're entitled to an assessment of your needs to determine how you can balance your personal health and wellbeing with your role as a carer. You can set up a meeting with the social services department in the area where the person you're caring for lives. This can help you identify what support you need and how to access it. Visit who is an unpaid carer - www.kingston.gov.uk.
You may be eligible for:
- Respite care
- Membership to carers support groups
- Access to a Carer's Emergency Scheme
The pages below outline some national and local support organisations:
*Kingston University is not responsible for the content on external websites.
