Young Adult Carers - How we can help
As a young adult carer, balancing your responsibilities with your studies at university can be challenging. Thankfully, Coventry University has several different services you can access to ensure you get the most out of your time at university.
Find out what support is available and find links to Support Networks, including our Fair Access Scheme.
What is a young adult carer?
According to Carers Trust there are as many as 376,000 young adult carers in the UK. A young adult carer is categorised as someone aged between 16 and 25 years old who cares for a family member or friend with either an illness or disability, mental health condition or even an addiction.
The responsibilities of young adult carers can vary but may include:
- Practical care – such as housework, shopping, cooking meals etc.
- Physical care – such as helping someone dress, or other personal care
- Emotional support – this can include talking to a cared-for person if they’re distressed
- Indirect support – this could be a supportive role, helping a parent look after a disabled sibling, or looking after siblings themselves.
Each young adult carer experiences things differently. Some may be in a temporary caring role, while others may have long-term responsibilities.
