GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES ABOUT CARERS TRUST Carers Trust Wales is part of Carers Trust, an ambitious national charity committed to improving support and services for unpaid carers by: • Recognising and celebrating the During 2018-19 the Carers Trust essential contributions carers make Wales Network reached over 36,000 carers, employed 520 staff and was • Raising awareness of the barriers supported by 427 volunteers. faced by carers of all ages Alongside our Network Partners, • Working with decision-makers to Carers Trust Wales delivers ensure that appropriate support practical support and information is available to empower carers to to carers and to those who work live happy and fulfilling lives with them including schools, social We work with Network Partners - workers, nurses, pharmacists and local services that deliver direct physiotherapists. We also seek to support to carers - making the most influence decision-makers, the of our collective experience, media and the public to promote, expertise and innovations. protect and recognise the contribution carers make, and the support they deserve. Contact us [email protected] 0300 772 9702 Carers.org/wales @CarersTrustWal 2 GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES thewaterloofoundation* ABOUT WATERLOO FOUNDATION The Waterloo Foundation (TWF) wealth and the unsustainable use is an independent grant-making of the world’s natural resources. foundation created in 2007, The Waterloo Foundation helps both and based in Cardiff, Wales. The the global community and the local Waterloo Foundation gives grants community here in Wales. to organisations in both the UK and worldwide and is most This guide is funded under The interested in projects that help Waterloo Foundation Caring Wales globally particularly in the areas of grant, which is designed to support the disparity of opportunities and programmes that help unpaid carers. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank The Waterloo number of carers are encouraged to Foundation for their kind and apply to university and are supported generous grant which allowed us to to achieve in their academic life. deliver the Going Higher programme and to publish this guide. Most of all, we would like to thank all carers, from our Carers Trust Youth We would also like to thank staff from Council and from universities across all universities and Reaching Wider the nation, who have shared their Partnerships in Wales and commend views, experiences and advice to them for the systems they have put help shape this important resource. in place to ensure that an increasing 3 GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES CONTENTS About Carers Trust 2 About Waterloo Foundation 3 Acknowledgements 3 Introduction 5 Your rights in Wales 6 Going Higher with Reaching Wider 7 How you can apply to university through UCAS 9 Aberystwyth University 11 Bangor University 14 Cardiff Metropolitan University 18 Cardiff University 22 The Open University 26 Swansea University 30 University of South Wales 33 University of Wales: Trinity St. David 37 Wrexham Glyndŵr University 40 4 GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES INTRODUCTION We strongly believe that all carers deserve to have the support they need to accomplish the things that matter most to them. For some, this will include practical All universities welcome applications advice and financial help to enable from carers recognising the valuable them to apply to and achieve skills and experiences gained in higher education. A study through their caring role. undertaken by Carers Trust and the University of Nottingham in 2013 We understand that fulfilling your found that carers were 4 times more educational or academic goals likely to drop out than students alongside the responsibility of caring without caring responsibilities. for someone can be challenging. Throughout this guide you will find As part of our Going Higher project, details about the support available funded by The Waterloo Foundation, in each university in Wales, both Carers Trust Wales worked with all during your studies and during the universities in Wales to put in place application process. We’ve included simple systems and policies which up to date contact details within have had a positive, sustainable each university, should you have any impact on the outcomes and further questions about your options. experiences of carers in higher education in Wales. We engaged This handbook also contains useful 180 young carers during our tips and experiences from other project, many of whom went on carers who have had a successful to have successful and enjoyable and fulfilling time in higher experiences at university. education. Through this guide we aim to inform We hope you find this resource and encourage countless more helpful and relevant. The information carers to broaden their horizons and shared in this guide and the to feel confident that with support experiences of other carers who they can succeed at university. This have achieved in higher education guide has been developed by Carers aim to be an encouraging starting Trust Wales, in partnership with all point for you to consider university universities and Reaching Wider alongside your caring role. partnerships in Wales to help carers find out more about the support that is now available to them. 5 GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES YOUR RIGHTS IN WALES This guide should be understood in the context of certain legal rights and entitlements that are in place to support carers of all ages to do the things that matter to them alongside their caring role. Under the Social Services and to be considered a carer. If you are Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014, all unsure about how you can access carers in Wales have the right to information, advice and support have their needs assessed by their through your local council you can local council. Where the assessment email us at [email protected] or call identifies eligible needs, relevant us on 0300 772 9702. support must be provided. This could include support that would make it easier to attend university. Am I a carer? If you live in Wales and would like to explore the opportunity to study A carer is anyone who cares, at university, you can contact your unpaid, for a friend or family local council for information and member who due to illness, advice about the type of support disability, a mental health that might be available to help you problem or an addiction cannot to do so. You do not need to live with cope without their support. the person you care for or care for a certain number of hours per week What does • Emotional support • Personal care, such as a carer do? helping someone dress or go to the toilet Carers support the person they care for in many ways, such • Managing the family budget as, but not restricted to, the and collecting prescriptions examples below: • Helping to give someone their • Practical tasks, such as cooking, medication housework and shopping • Helping someone communicate • Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed 6 GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES GOING HIGHER WITH REACHING WIDER The Reaching Wider programme, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, aims to help more people enter college or university. Through a series of educational and informative activities with school pupils, families and adults, this project empowers people who would not otherwise consider higher education to learn more about what going to university or college could mean for them. There are three Reaching Wider All Reaching Wider partnerships are Partnerships which together cover dedicated to supporting carers and all of Wales. Each partnership offers you can contact your local Reaching different activities for carers such as Wider Partnership to find out what subject taster workshops, university activities and support they offer to visits and summer schools. carers in your area. © South West Wales Reaching Wider 7 GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire. North and Mid You can participate at Reaching Wales Reaching Wider activities at Aberystwyth University, Bangor University Wider and Wrexham Glyndwr University. aims to reduce barriers to higher education with a range 01248 383883 Social icon Circle Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our of activities in Ceredigion, Brand Guidelines. Powys, Gwynedd, Wrexham, Pembrokeshire. This project South West Wales runs activities in schools as well Reaching Wider as within Swansea University and the University of Wales offers taster days, after Trinity St David. school clubs and residential 01792 602128 experiences to young carers in Social icon Circle Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Brand Guidelines. Carmarthenshire and and Blaenau Gwent. First Campus First Campus higher education activities and residentials take place at Cardiff is the Reaching Wider programme University, Cardiff Metropolitan in South East Wales, offering University and the University of inclusive projects and learning South Wales. experiences in Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon 01443 482550 Social icon Taf, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Circle Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen Brand Guidelines. 8 GOING HIGHER: A CARER’S GUIDE TO UNIVERSITIES IN WALES HOW YOU CAN APPLY TO UNIVERSITY THROUGH UCAS What is UCAS? UCAS Hub UCAS is the centralised Universities Interactive, tailored information and Colleges Admissions Service that is available through the newly potential students need to use in launched UCAS Hub, a sign-in order to apply to all higher education space where you can manage institutions in the UK, except The your applications, create lists of Open University which has a separate favourite courses, record important application process.