Support for students with caring responsibilities and are/have been Care Experienced

I am a young Adult Carer.  What support can I get from Morley College to ensure I get the best out of my college experience and achieve my goals?

Who is a young adult carer?

A young adult carer is anyone who is aged 16-25 years that helps care for a family member, partner, or friend who is disabled, physically or mentally ill, has a long-term serious illness or has a substance misuse problem. At Morley we recognize the commitment you are making by studying with us and also recognize that this may be a tough journey for you at times, as you balance your study and caring responsibilities.

What does Morley offer?

• Dedicated point of contact – Each centre has a Young Adult Carers Lead. They will work with you to ensure that the academic team are able to support you in relation to succeeding on your course, taking your individual home circumstances into account e.g. reasonable adjustments around submission dates. 

• Pre-enrolment Discovery Day – you will have the opportunity to meet with other students who carryout similar day-to-day caring tasks, take part in a current affairs workshop and meet the Student Services Team who can support you with applying for a bursary and/or additional learning support
• Meeting with our Young Carers Lead during induction week – you will get offered a one-to-one support session during induction week with your centres Young Adult Carers Lead. They will provide you with answers to any questions you may have and check-in with you to see how you are doing, and will then check in with you every term
• One to one support with our wellbeing team – you can have regular check-ins with our wellbeing team who can provide support in relation to your mental health and wellbeing, and help you access external support if necessary
• Personal Tutor – once you have enrolled you will be assigned a Personal Tutor. Their main role is to advise you on academic matters, but you can also discuss non-academic matters with them. If they aren’t able to help you, they will liaise with colleagues to get you the support you need
• Young carers focus group – you can meet with other students who carryout similar day-to-day caring tasks to have a place to come and express how you’re feeling, grow relationships with other students, share your story and raise awareness of young carers throughout the college. You can have group and individual conversations with your centre’s Young Adult Carers Lead who will be on-hand to offer advice and guidance. You can also use this group to affect change in the college by letting us know about your experience of studying with us
• The opportunity to get involved in Young Carers Awareness Week – Working with our Wellbeing Coordinator you will get the opportunity to feed into what it is you would like to see the college do during this week. You can also get involved in running or coordinating an event if this is something that appeals to you.

Further information and support

• Carers Trust – Carers Trust helps young carers to cope with their caring role through specialised services delivered by Carers Trust Network Partners across the UK
• NHS – NHS includes carer’s assessments, support from local councils, respite care and help for young carers
• Young Minds – Young Minds are a charity leading the movement to make sure every young person gets the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what

 

I am Care Experienced.  What support can I get from Morley College to ensure I get the best out of my college experience and achieve my goals?

What does the term ‘Care Experienced’ mean at Morley College?

We use the term ‘Care Experienced’ to be inclusive of a range of care settings that a student may have encountered, such as:

• Living with foster carers
• Living in a residential children’s home
• Being looked after at home under a supervision order
• Living with friends or relatives in kinship care – either through a formal arrangement (e.g. a Special Guardianship order) or an informal arrangement without local authority support
• Students with earlier or shorter experiences of care
• Students who do not receive ongoing support from the local authority, such as those who left care through adoption
• Students above the age limits for statutory support

What does Morley offer?

• Dedicated point of contact – Each centre has a Care Experienced Lead. They will work with you to ensure that the academic team are able to support you in relation to succeeding on your course, taking your individual home circumstances into account e.g. reasonable adjustments around submission dates. 

• One to one support sessions with the Careers and Information, Advice and Guidance Team – to ensure you are on the right course the Careers and IAG Team can provide you with access to the most up-to-date information, advice and guidance to enable a well informed decision on your course and future plans. This can be before you have applied and whilst studying
• Bespoke tour of the College and pre-interview chat with course tutor – To help you feel safe and confident in a new college environment you can come and meet your tutors and have a look round the college
• Pre-enrolment Discovery Day – you will have the opportunity to meet with other students who have also experienced living in care, take part in a current affairs workshop and meet the Student Services Team who can support you with applying for a bursary and/or additional learning support
• Meeting with our Care Experienced Lead during induction week – you will get offered a one-to-one support session during induction week with your dedicated point of contact who will provide you with answers to any questions you may have and check-in with you to see how you are doing
• Financial support – If you are 16-18 years old and meet the government eligibility criteria you can get up to £1,200 each year. If you are 19 years plus, and meet the government eligibility criteria, you could get assistance with your travel and course fees
• One to one support with our wellbeing team – you can have regular check-ins with our wellbeing team who can provide support in relation to your mental health and wellbeing, and help you access external support if necessary
• Personal Tutor – once you have enrolled you will be assigned a Personal Tutor. Their main role is to advise you on academic matters, but you can also discuss non-academic matters with them. If they aren’t able to help you, they will liaise with colleagues to get you the support you need
• Care Experienced focus group – you can meet with other students who have had similar experiences to you to have a place to come and express how you’re feeling, grow relationships with other students, share your story and raise awareness of what it’s like to be care experienced throughout the college. You can have group and individual conversations with Hannah who will be on-hand to offer advice and guidance. You can also use this group to affect change in the college by letting us know about your experience of studying with us
• One to one support from a Student Progress Advisor – they will monitor your attendance and meet with you to find strategies and solutions should you miss class or not be on time. The Student Progress Advisor will also challenge you to do even better to ensure that you achieve the best qualification possible. They will liaise with Hannah who will in turn liaise with your social worker
• One-point of contact for your social worker/local authority – we can liaise directly with your social worker to ensure that they are kept up-to-date with your attendance, progress and achievements, and we can work with you and them to ensure you get the most out of your time at Morley, and receive the support and guidance you need. We can attend meetings organised by your social worker such as TAF’s/CIN’s.

Further information and support

• Become – Become is a charitable organisation who provides support for young people in care and care leavers
• Buttle UK – Buttle UK is a charitable organisation providing grant aid to vulnerable young people to provide the best possible opportunity in meeting their educational needs.
• Listening Works – Listening Works is a virtual listening service for care leavers aged 18 – 27. Care leavers can contact the service by phone, text messages or web chat. A team of trained volunteers responds to calls and messages.  Opening hours: 6pm – midnight, 7 days a week, with an answerphone available outside these hours if callers wish to leave a message.

Contact details: 

Telephone: 0808 802 0222

Live web chat via Listening Works webpage

Text message: 07860 065 169