Carers Trust Scotland are delighted to introduce the Going Higher for Student Carers: Recognition Award pilot scheme. This award aims to make it easier for higher education institutions to support young adult carers and student carers and reward good practice. It incentivises and encourages universities to adopt a sustainable, whole institution approach to Identify, Support and Report on student carers.

Key features of the Recognition Award:

• No cost to apply and complete
• Direct support from Carers Trust Scotland
• Clear guidance to develop student carer support
• Raising awareness of students with a caring role
• Encourages partnerships
• Recognises good practice.

By engaging in this process, higher education institutions will send a positive message to young adult carers and student carers that they are recognised, supported and will be given a fair chance to be successful in their institution. They will also make it clear to other organisations and to the wider student body that inclusivity and fairness is at the heart of its institution.

“We need to be more proactive from matriculation to graduation through student carer support developments. Carers Trust Scotland’s Going Higher for Student Carers: Recognition Award will not only make a positive difference in my own life, but will positively impact the opportunities and support available for all young adult and student carers.” Young Adult Student Carer – North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Download the Going Higher for Student Carers: Recognition Award guidance document here

Download the Checklist for the Going Higher for Student Carers: Recognition Award here

This resource has been produced as an output of the Empowering Professionals to support Young Carers partnership project. Carers Trust Scotland is grateful to the European Commission through the Erasmus+ programme for its generous support, which has made this award toolkit and pilot possible.

This tool was launched on Friday 24 March 2017 at an event hosted by Carers Trust Scotland at the University of Strathclyde. The event was organised in partnership with young adult carers from across Scotland. These young adult carers were consulted at every stage and did not only help to plan this event, but they also took active roles in every aspect of the delivery and facilitation. Their involvement was fundamental for creating the youth led ethos and environment. 84 delegates regsitered and the overall event aided in informing the higher education sector and decision makers on ways to better support young adult carers and student carers.

Clare Haughey MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) agreed to raise a motion in the Scottish Parliament (S5M-04765) the week of the launch. The motion asked Members of the Scottish Parliament to acknowledge and support “that student carers are not always recognised by education, health and social care professionals as undertaking a caring role; understands that student carers are four times more likely to drop out of university than students who are not carers, and could therefore benefit from receiving specialist support, and believes that appropriate policies and practices in higher education should be put in place to ensure that student carers are better supported, have a fair chance to be successful in their education and achieve their true potential in all aspects of their lives.”, 21 Members of the Scottish Parliament have signed this motion and committed their support to improving the support and policy landscape for student carers in Scotland.

A media press release about the event was distributed to Scottish press. The event received good coverage by Third Force News (reach 20,000) who ran an online news story about the event. Third Force News also ran a blog in their printed and online publication by a young adult student carer who shared their reality of juggling education, caring responsibilities and being a young person. In this article the student carer highlighted the importance of the Going Higher for Student Carers: Recognition Awards and hopes that one day student carers ‘will have the ability to thrive and not just survive’.

Carers Trust Scotland are delighted to launch the Going Higher for Student Carers: Recognition Award and work with professionals in higher education institutions to further develop young adult carer and student carer provision and celebrate good practice. Carers Trust Scotland know from listening to some of the success stories, that with improved identification, policy and support developments, young adult carers and student carers can thrive. Carers Trust Scotland’s work is striving to see the needs of young adult carers and student carers being put at the forefront of the higher education agenda in Scotland.