Ffion Haf-Scott has helped care for her mum since she was four years old – now, faced with the prospect of moving away to university, she is terrified.
Lorraine, 56, has diabetes, as well as mobility and mental health issues, and Ffion’s responsibilities include helping her with personal care, medication and emotional support.
Young carers in sixth form and college have said there needs to be more understanding about how hard it can be for them to go to university.
Recent UCAS application data showed they made up 2.8% of undergraduate applications by Welsh 18-year-olds by the end of June and said it was offering support on its website for young carers.
Ffion, 18, from Wrexham, really wants to go university but has not always felt like it was a possibility.
“I was always worried about whether I could get home in time if something happened – who would be there for my mum if I couldn’t be there,” she said.
“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.”
Ffion was able to access support to look into going to university from the Reaching Wider carer mentoring scheme, which she found through a carer group she was a part of.
But she said this type of support – mentoring and speaking to other carers who have been to university – was not known about by many others in her position.
“Without those things I would have had no idea,” she said.
“It’s not something that’s obvious, especially on the UCAS website, it’s something that you only specify when you’re doing an application.
“It’s not something that they publicly emphasise there’s support for.”
Caitlin Jones from Llangyfelach in Swansea, helps her mum care for her two brothers who live with autism.
She hopes to study education and psychology with special needs at university but said the thought of juggling caring with university life could feel overwhelming.
“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,” she said.
“But at the same time I know need to go and do my education and get a career.”
The 17-year-old also said isolation was a big issue as “a lot of people don’t take into consideration how hard it is sometimes”.
She would like to see young carers have access to groups for weekly chats and catch-ups to help ease this feeling.
A 2024 UCAS report into the experience of young carers in education in the UK found that 69% were unaware of support available at university or college.
UCAS said it had pages on its website, created with the Carers Trust, covering topics including advice on researching options, sharing a caring responsibility in UCAS applications and information on academic, financial and wellbeing support.
It added: “Direct feedback from students is invaluable and we’d welcome the opportunity to listen and learn from the experience of young carers so we can improve UCAS’ information, advice and guidance even further.”
Amy Cribb, an access coordinator at Swansea University, is part of a team running outreach sessions at schools and colleges and a free summer school for people who are under-represented at university, including young carers.
She acknowledged there was still work to do to help young people with caring responsibilities, as well as informing them of the support available.
She said: “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.
“So it’s just really important for us to raise awareness and show people that the support is out there and to identify yourself as one is the best thing to do.”
What support is available for young carers at university?
Cardiff Metropolitan, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Swansea, University of South Wales (USW), University of Wales Trinity St David and Cardiff University offer a young carers bursary.
At Swansea, Bangor, Wrexham, Cardiff Metropolitan, Aberystwyth, USW and Cardiff University, students also have access to a dedicated staff member to help with their needs and accessing specialist services.
Swansea University students can access a carers passport to help facilitate reasonable adjustments and extenuating circumstances.
Aberystwyth University works with charities to provide additional support and give young carers a chance to meet other young carers.
Bangor University offers health and wellbeing support, advice during the university application and offer process and academic support to manage workload.
Cardiff University students can access extra library support, including a nominated person to pick up and return books.
USW offers drop-in information sessions for prospective students.
