Ffion Haf-Scott, 18 from Wrexham, is currently coming to terms with the intimidating thought of having to move away from home to study at university. She imagines going into pre-vet once she’s done high school, then moving on to university. Her responsibilities as a young carer for her mother Lorraine threw that ambition into jeopardy. Lorraine, age 56, fights a range of health struggles including diabetes, limited movement and mental health issues. She depends on Ffion for personal care, medicine management, and emotional support.
Caitlin Jones, a young carer from Llangyfelach in Swansea, tells a similar tale. She is a primary caregiver to her two younger brothers who both live with autism and will soon be entering Year 13. She wants to go on to university and eventually teach education and psychology with an emphasis on special needs. Each of these young women serve as a powerful example of the different challenges young carers experience as they reflect on their future plans for education.
Young carers like Ffion and Caitlin often express the need for greater understanding of their circumstances, particularly from educational institutions. They often find it hard to juggle their care commitments with their scholarly goals and become frequently overwhelmed, lonely, or guilty. Ffion emphasizes the emotional weight of her situation, remarking, “To go my whole life looking after somebody and caring for them in so many different ways to then think about moving away from them and not being able to get to them within five minutes, that’s terrifying.”
Recent data from UCAS highlights that young carers comprised only 2.8% of undergraduate applications by Welsh 18-year-olds by the end of June. According to a 2024 UCAS report, 69% of young carers are unaware of the support available at university or college. This is a very significant gap in awareness that must be filled. VOCAL NY The lack of guidance and information places an untenable burden in students. They flounder as they make the leap from high school to college.
Caitlin echoes this sentiment, stating, “Part of me feels a bit guilty leaving because I have so many responsibilities, like I want to be there for my mum and my brothers.” Her desire to further her education conflicts with her commitment to her family, showcasing the emotional complexity of being a young carer.
Ffion is passionate about raising awareness of the issues young carers face and campaigning for stronger support systems. She believes that establishing groups for weekly chats could help alleviate feelings of isolation and create a sense of community among those facing similar challenges. “A lot of people don’t take into consideration how hard it is sometimes,” she explained.
In direct recognition of the needs of young carers, universities all over Wales are starting to put measures in place to support them. Cardiff Metropolitan University, Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, Swansea University, the University of South Wales, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and Cardiff University all offer bursaries specifically for young carers. Furthermore, these institutions afford students access to committed staffers who can help students navigate to specialist services.
The need to raise awareness about young carers’ lived experiences is crucial. As one university staff member noted, “A lot of younger people don’t really realise that they might be a young carer. So they do all the sort of caring responsibilities but they haven’t officially been identified as a young carer.” Recognising yourself as a young carer is vital in reaching the support that’s out there.
The UCAS website now proactively provides resources aimed directly at young carers. It reframes the narrative around what support really means, focusing on how it’s not only there, but necessary to their distinct circumstances.
“Without those things I would have had no idea,” she said.
