HELP is at hand for student carers with a series of practical workshops at Winchester University.

Helping student carers access and success in Higher Education will be held on April 24 to coincide with the publication of a new toolkit.

Supporting students with caring responsibilities: Ideas and practice for universities to help student carers access and succeed in Higher Education has been written by Carers Trust and the National Network of Universities Supporting Young Adult Carers.

The event sees lectures and workshops hosted by education professionals as well as care support specialists.

Dr Terri Sandison, director of lifelong learning at the university, said: “The University of Winchester has always had widening participation and increased access, retention and achievement of students at the heart of its mission. We value the wealth of experience, skills and knowledge which students from diverse backgrounds bring to other students and staff at the University, and we believe in social justice; we want everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education to have the opportunity to do so.

“It is believed that more than 375,000 young adults in the UK aged 14-25 act as unpaid carers for family or friends. The University wants to support young carers to access higher education, not just because this is a matter of equity but also because we know they have tremendous strengths which will enable them to succeed.”

The University has also launched a new financial award – the Dame Mary Bursary for Young Adult Carers.

Students carers aged 18-25, who are starting in September 2015, may be eligible to receive an annual bursary of £500.

It forms part of a range of outreach initiatives for young carers including annual residential courses, taster days, awareness-raising events for staff in schools and colleges, and joint projects with organisations such as the Carers Trust, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Hampshire Young Carers Alliance, The Children’s Society and Hampshire County Council.

“The University of Winchester has great support systems in place for our students who are young adult carers, and we are excited to share our best practice and experience with other universities and through our collaboration with the Carers Trust,” added Dr Sandison.

The symposium takes place at The Stripe, King Alfred Campus in Sparkford Road.

For further information, please email Terri.Sandison@winchester.ac.uk