Studying whilst being a young carer

This article was written by Musical Theatre BA(Hons) student Caitlin.

I have been a young carer for my mum for most of my life, so this was a major factor in my choice of university. I didn’t want to go too far away, but I also wanted to experience being a university student to my fullest ability. I am so glad to have been offered a place at Falmouth as it's allowed me to be flexible and get home when needed. 

In this blog post, I discuss my experience of studying at Falmouth University and how it has made being a young carer easier.

Travel

I found that going to Falmouth University would give me the best opportunity to study as a young carer due to the variety of travel options to get back home. There are three train stations between Falmouth and Penryn, and National Express coaches from both Falmouth and Penryn, so depending on which campus you are at and where you're living, these can be easily accessed. There is also the option of getting a Railcard to make the journey home cheaper. 

Community

I found a community of young carers that I could share my experiences with and talk to about any of my worries. The friends I made were a great support, suggesting ways to help me to worry less about being away, such as calling my mum regularly and letting my lecturers know my situation. This gave me the confidence to be honest about my circumstances and find a community within them.

Speaking to lecturers

Talking to my lecturers was probably one of the biggest helps. They were so understanding and brilliant, offering flexibility and telling me that if I ever needed to go anywhere, I would just have to let them know and they would understand. I found all the course team to be super helpful. They listen when you talk to them and treat you like adults, rather than children. I find it helps to be comfortable in sharing my circumstances with them and talking to them about my needs. Also, the University has a Wellbeing team located in the Library, where you can ask to have a 1-1 discussion with someone if you have any worries or concerns.

Staying connected with home

Making sure to always stay connected with the family member you care for is such a major part in studying alongside being a young carer. Staying connected to my mum helped me to keep going forward. It can keep your worries at bay and make sure you know they are ok. I also found it would help to motivate me throughout my university journey and keep me on the right track.