Support for Carers

A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

Carers Trust

Studying with The Open University in Wales is flexible, meaning you can fit your learning around you. That’s why we are such a popular choice for carers. We want to make our courses and higher education accessible for carers right across Wales. 

We also work closely with Carers Trust Wales and their network of carers’ centres across Wales, running information and taster sessions and supporting carers to take their first and next steps in higher education.

Supporting students who are carers

In 2018 we launched a new project at the OU in Wales  to identify and share best practice in supporting our students with caring responsibilities.

Through this project we aim to:

• Encourage more students to tell us if they are carers so we are aware of their situation and recommend further support.
• Work with our student carers, tutors, OU Students Association, and student support teams to continue to improve the services and support we offer our student carers.

Free online course for carers in Wales

What about me? A personal development course for carers in Wales has been developed by The Open University and Carers Trust Wales. The course is designed for carers of any age and ability and helps carers to recognise and reflect on their skills and experiences. The course also includes carers from Wales sharing their own experiences of balancing their caring responsibilities with education and employment. As a free online resource, the course can be used for free by carers groups or carers studying on their own.

What about me? workshop sessions 

We are running What about me? workshop sessions for carers and anyone who works with carers across Wales. These workshops offer ‘tasters’ of the course and provide practical information on further study options.   

If you are planning to use What about me? in a community setting, we can provide you with more information and support materials, including leaflets.

Report: Extending opportunities for Carers

Our work with carers has been growing since our first project in 2010. The report 'Extending opportunities for carers' evaluates our work with carers from 2010-2013. It offers valuable insights into supporting carers to access and succeed in higher and further education. It highlights flexible learning opportunities – such as provided by the OU – are essential for carers whose lives are busy, unpredictable and often stressful.