We partnered with Hallmark Care Homes Foundation and The Open University (OU) to help fund the Carers Scholarships Fund and the Postgraduate Research Support Fund.
Currently there are 8.8 million carers in the UK. 375,000 of those are young adult carers, 600,000 are from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, 58% are women and over 20% live in poverty. Young adult carers (aged 18-25) have lower GCSE attainment and are twice as likely as their peers to be NEET (not in employment, education or training) for six months or more. This scholarship has demonstrated that the provision of flexible, multifaceted support learning is a key driver in helping unpaid young adult carers begin and continue their studies and improve their prospects for paid employment in the future.
Our partnership allowed the OU to offer two funds:
- Carers Scholarship Fund: recognises the necessity of flexible, financially available education to those who have made and continue to make immense sacrifices in their lives. The Foundation has played a crucial part in this, supporting 12 students in their studies.
- Postgraduate Research Support Fund: offers selfless students, carers, between £200 and £1,000 to support their studies. The Foundation’s support has allowed these students access to essential resources such as respite care or writing retreats.
Over the course of our partnership, 660 Scholarships were awarded!
“The long-term educational and employment opportunities of young carers are scandalous. This is especially heart-breaking when these individuals have put aside their own interests in order to care for their loved ones. The Open University’s ground-breaking scheme to support young carers into higher education is fantastic and we are thrilled to be supporting them through this new partnership.”
“It is an honour that two of the top corporates in the care sector are supporting the OU’s Carers Scholarships Fund. Having CareTech and Hallmark Care Homes Foundation join this community of supporters, brings not just vital funding but also invaluable expertise into the mix and we look forward to building on this relationship in the coming years. This donation is truly wonderful and shows their commitment to the caring sector.”
Those interested in the Carers Scholarships Fund and its work in empowering carers to transform their lives through learning can visit: https://alumni.open.ac.uk/campaigns/the-carers-scholarships-fund
