Oxford achieves a UK first with programme for young carers

11 November 2010

Oxford University will achieve what it believes is a first in the UK university sector when it launches a programme for young carers in local schools this week, and local celebrity chef Raymond Blanc has donated a session on cooking and nutrition at his cookery school. The programme, run by the University’s Widening Participation team, will help local students who care for family members build confidence, celebrate their achievements, and receive support for their higher education and career goals.

Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford, said: ‘Oxford University is thrilled to be offering a first in the UK in supporting local students who face the challenge of being young carers relied upon by their families in addition to the usual pressures of schoolwork. This programme will allow participants space and support to think about their educational futures at the same time as enjoying new experiences outside the normal routine of their caring roles. It is a great example of collaboration between Oxford University and the local community.’

As part of the programme’s activities, tutors at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School will teach students about cooking and nutrition as part of a session designed to help students look after themselves and balance their many commitments looking after others with some time for themselves. Raymond Blanc said: ‘I’ve always been a champion of giving back to the local community and am proud to be a part of Oxford’s innovative programme for young carers, the first of its kind for UK universities. Learning about food and nutrition is important for young people in developing both good eating habits and an enjoyment of preparing and eating good food. This is even more the case for young people who are taking responsibility for others’ well-being. I hope with my support these students can start to enjoy cooking and nutrition.’

Other programme activities will include a lyrics workshop from the Blackbird Leys-based Urban Music Foundation, a visit to Abingdon & Witney Further Education College, and work shadowing with local companies. The 6-month programme will end with a one-night residential component hosted by Exeter College, aimed at giving students an idea of what student life is like, and providing a break from their normal responsibilities at home.

The aim of the Compass: Young Carers programme is to promote post-16 education to young carers through a series of six day-long events that will focus on recognising skills, building confidence and increasing familiarity with the higher education environment. The programme is the first of its kind in the UK higher education sector, and adds to Oxford’s range of widening participation activities in local schools.

The first year of the programme will see around 30 students aged 14-15 from Oxfordshire schools participating in organised events at Oxford, including confidence and assertiveness building, information sessions on further education and careers, training in presentation skills, and helping young carers recognise the skills they have developed as part of their roles looking after family members. This year’s application round closes on 19 November, and workshops will run from January to April 2011.

The particular challenges facing young carers at home can often affect their educational attainment negatively. Young carers in Oxfordshire have high absenteeism rates, and much lower than average rates of educational attainment. Local schools and councils are increasingly recognising the need to support these young people, and Oxford’s programme has been designed in consultation with both the County Council’s Young Carers Team and the charitable Young Carers projects.

One 18-year-old young carer from Witney said: ‘Trying to achieve in education as a young carer is certainly a lot harder for me than for the peers around me, it has been an obstacle balancing my essays and lessons with caring, but I work very hard for success and I do dream of going on to university. I think it's important for young carers to be given the support, time, opportunity and inspiration to be successful, so that every young carer can succeed, no matter what their background is.’

Another young carer, currently a student at Oxford Brookes University, received support from Connexions Oxfordshire, which offers youth services for Oxfordshire and helped Oxford’s Widening Participation team develop its programme. She said: ‘If I hadn’t received this support I’d have dropped out of my A levels and definitely not attended uni – and my mum wouldn’t have received the support she needed either. I feel it’s a great opportunity for young carers to access this opportunity with the  Oxford University’s outreach programme; if I’d known of this at school I would have worked harder at my GCSEs & A levels.’

Compass: Young Carers has been developed by Oxford University in collaboration with Oxfordshire County Council and Connexions Oxfordshire.

For more information or additional quotes from young carers, please contact the University of Oxford Press Office on +44 (0)1865 280531 or email press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk

For more information about services and provision for young carers in Oxfordshire, please contact Alix Michaelis at the Oxfordshire County Council on 01865 328045 or alix.michaelis@oxfordshire.gov.uk

For more information about the Compass: Young Carers programme, see its website: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/working_with_schools_and_colleges/widening_participation_pre16_local_engagement/residential_programmes/young_carers.html

The university’s Widening Participation Office offers a range of activities covering school years 5-11 (age 9-16). Through its work the office aims to raise aspirations towards further and higher education, to encourage and support the learning journey and to offer relevant information and guidance in collaboration with schools and community service providers.

Support for young carers is provided through the three voluntary sector Young Carers Projects (North, South and Central), which are partially funded by the County Council, and through the County Council’s specialised services for young carers.

Amongst young carers there is a particularly vulnerable cohort and according to data made available by Oxfordshire County Council, those identified as young carers had high absenteeism rates (11.8% in 2008/09, and 10.2% in 2009/10 were persistently absent) and much lower than average attainment rates. Of 36 young carers taking GCSEs in 2008/09, 77.8% achieved A* - G (inc E and M), where the Oxfordshire average was 92.6%. Of these, 13.9% achieved A* to C (inc E and M), where the county average was 53.2%.