Your caring role may be a short-term commitment, for instance looking after someone following an accident, or it could be a long-term responsibility.

• Do you have to look after someone when you go home during vacation periods?
  
• Do you provide emotional support on the phone?
  
• Do you travel home some weekends to help look after someone?

If you answer yes to any of the questions above, you may be a young adult carer.

Bursary Requirements

To be entitled to the bursary you must:

• have a household income below £60,000, as assessed by the Student Loans Company
  
• be enrolled on a full-time undergraduate or foundation degree and registered as a student at the University of Bath
  
• have started your course here in the 2017/18 academic year or later
  
• be aged 25 years or under at the start of the course
  

You may be entitled to a Young Adult Carer Bursary worth £500 per year of academic study. Fill in the Youth Adult Carer Bursary form and read the Terms and Conditions.

You are classed as a young adult carer if you look after a relative or friend, of any age, due to:

• disability
  
• chronic or terminal illness
  
• mental health problems
  
• alcohol or drug addiction/dependency
  

Evidence of your caring role

Students are requested to complete the Young Adult Carer Bursary form and provide explicit third party evidence. This should be in the form of an original letter by a professional person (e.g. teacher/adviser from school/college, GP, social services, or local authority) who is not a family member or the cared for person. This person should normally have known about the situation for a substantial amount of time and can verify that the student has caring responsibilities and for whom they care for.

We will also accept the following evidence:

• Letter or medical report from a health professional such as a GP, detailing the medical condition of the person you care for.
  
• A copy of your latest Carer’s Award letter if you receive Carer’s Allowance
  
• or a copy of an award letter showing that the person you care for is in receipt of one of the following:
  
  • Attendance Allowance
    
  • Council Tax Reduction or Housing Benefit that includes a disability premium as part of the assessment
    
  • Disability Living Allowance
    
  • Employment and Support Allowance
    
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
    

Evidence must be dated within the last 12 months.

What if you have never told anyone that you are a carer and are unable to provide evidence?

Please get in touch by emailing studentsuccess@bath.ac.uk and let us know about your situation.

You may not be able to access the full support package at this time, but we may still be able to offer you practical advice and guidance.

In the meantime, you may like to consider disclosing your caring situation to either your GP or Social Services. Most GP practices would welcome your disclosure, and most have support and advice available for carers. Talking to your GP and/or Social Services is advised by the NHS and please be aware that we would still consider applications later in the academic year once you are able to provide evidence.

Process to apply for the Young Adult Carer Bursary

1. Complete the Young Adult Carer Bursary Application.
   
2. Collate evidence. The evidence can be a signed letter/document on headed paper from a professional person (e.g. teacher, GP, social services, local authority) to verify your eligibility for the relevant bursary. This will be dated within the last 12 months.
3. As an applicant send the evidence with your Applicant ID number to: ugadmissions-care@bath.ac.uk. As a registered UoB student send the evidence with your Student ID number to: studentsuccess@bath.ac.uk.
   
4. Check you are eligible by reading the Young Adult Carers Terms and Conditions.

If you are not sure if you meet the criteria for these bursaries please contact us via studentsuccess@bath.ac.uk so we can discuss your situation.