Support for Carers and Young Carers
Do you provide unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems? At City of Glasgow College, we're committed to supporting students who have caring responsibilities.
Many students combine their college studies with caring. The college is aware that student carers can face additional challenges balancing their caring responsibilities with the demands of their course. There are lots of things to think about when deciding to come to college. Our Student Advisors can help you to decide on your course, plan a visit, make an application and help you to sort out your funding. They'll also provide access to support services, including counselling and learning support, and help you get the best out of your time at City. We've created a short Guide for Student Carers which outlines the support available.
Student Advisors
Student Advisors can advise on signposting to support organisations such Citizen Advice Bureau, Money Advice Scotland and Shelter as well as initiatives for carers in conjunction with Carers Trust i.e. Young Carers Awareness Day and #CareForMeToo.
Flexibility in Attendance
Some examples of flexibility that may be offered are:
- Recognising the need for flexibility in arriving late or leaving early to support your cared for person.
- Agreeing periods of authorised absence and making arrangements for you to catch up on lectures/group work missed for reasons relating to caring responsibilities to ensure you are not at a disadvantage academically.
- Support with academic timetables, wherever possible, at least one month in advance to allow you to make necessary alternative care arrangements and recognising that you may not be able to attend academic activities in the event of late changes to timetables.
- Ensuring that you have adequate opportunity to make up missed time e.g. through access to any missed materials, or rescheduling of practical activities.
- Taking account of caring responsibilities on courses which require an external placement. Priority should be given to ensuring the placement is within reasonable travelling distance to accommodate care arrangements.
- Providing at least a few weeks' notice of placements to allow the arrangement of alternative care.
Funding Support
If you are undertaking a full time course in the college you are not eligible for carer’s allowance, however, in Scotland this benefit is changing to Carer Support Payment. Some full-time students will be eligible for Carer Support Payments when the benefit is launched nationally in the Autumn of 2024. The Student Advisors team can help you apply for additional funding such as Discretionary Funding to help with living costs while you study.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Our Counselling and Wellbeing team can provide you with emotional support, including access to our counselling service. The team also offer additional wellbeing activities includinhg Mindfulness, yoga and wellbeing workshops.
Personalised Support Meetings
At City of Glasgow College, we can offer student carers the opportunity of personalised support meetings. Depending on what stage of study you are at, we can meet with you to discuss the support available to you to complete your studies with us while managing your caring responsibilities. We will hold ‘Get Ready For College’ information days to make sure you get all the information you need.
We also have named contacts so you know who to contact for help — but don't forget to tell us you're a carer on your application so we can make contact with you. There are lots of ways we can support you while you’re at College, but we’ll work with you to make a personalised plan.
Named Contact
Our named contact for Carers and Young Carers is Gillian Clarke, Student Advisor. You can telephone Gillian on 0141 375 5126 or email carers@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk.
There are several agencies that support Carers and Young Carers.
Young Carer Grant
Scottish Government have launched a new yearly grant for young carers aged 16, 17 and 18. This grant is yearly one-off payment of £300 for young people who care for someone for an average of 16 hours per week, and you can apply for it every year until you turn 19. More information is available on the Scottish Government website.
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