Wakefield College - A Caring College
Skip to main content

Latest News

A Caring College

Wednesday, 25 November, 2020

Press Release young adult carers Award

Clare Allcock with the QSCS Accreditation Certificate

Starting in late 2019, the Driving Change project from the Learning and Work Institute, in partnership with The Carers Federation, aims to improve the support that young adult carers receive in further education.

Wakefield College is one of 12 Colleges that has been working towards accreditation for supporting young adult carers through this project and be recognised as a carer friendly College.

Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, the project provides tailored one-to-one support to colleges to review their provision for young adult carers and implement actions that will enable them to achieve better outcomes.

The project involved Wakefield College working with a local carer service, Carers Wakefield and District, to improve the support for young adult carers available at the college.

Principal Sam Wright stated back in June of this year “We are making great progress by building links with colleagues within the local authorities and West Yorkshire Carers Trust who have a responsibility for supporting young adult carers in Wakefield and the surrounding districts.  We are adapting our enrolment and induction processes to make sure we can easily identify those who may need support, provide visibility of our support mechanisms and identify key staff who will engage with them through their college journey.”

National data shows that young adult carers are three times more likely to be NEET (not in education, employment or training) as other young people and five times more likely to drop out of college. By understanding young adult carers’ needs and putting effective support in place and developing effective partnership working with local services, Wakefield College gives young adult carers good opportunities to benefit from learning and fulfil their potential.

Earlier this month the Learning and Work institute announced that after taking part in the Driving change project, Wakefield College, is now a Quality Standard in Carer Support accredited college.

Clare Allcock, Executive Director Student Experience and Support said “A caring role can have a significant impact on a young person’s experience of learning and work and their overall wellbeing. As a QSCS accredited College we want to ensure we do everything we can to provide the support that young adult carers often will need.”

With a whole College approach, we can ensure young adult carers are able to achieve and progress as well as their peers and truly embed a carer friendly position, said Clare Allcock.”

If you would like more information on the support available for Young Adult Carers please visit our Young Adult Carers web page https://www.wakefield.ac.uk/about-us/young-adult-carers or get in touch with Carol Price, our Carer Lead.

Ends

CONTACT: For more information email info@wakefield.ac.uk, or telephone 01924 789789.
DATE: 25 November, 2020

Bookmark & Share