Young Carer Award

The Young Carer Award supports young adult carers at the University of Birmingham by providing financial assistance towards living costs and expenses related to their caregiving roles.

A young adult carer is someone aged between 16 - 25 who cares for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.

The award cannot assist parents who are caring for a dependent child, but is inclusive of those who are caring for a child who has an illness or disability who is not a dependent.

This award was generously founded in memory of the late Sarah Hawkins as a pioneering initiative to help young carers navigate the unique challenges of pursuing a university education. The fund has been further enriched to honour sisters Patricia and Gillian Davies, who attended the University after the Second World War while caring for their disabled mother. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, this fund continues to create transformative opportunities for scholars during their time at university and beyond.

Successful recipients receive £2,000 per year, paid in two equal instalments. Funding is renewable each academic year for the duration of the degree programme, contingent upon satisfactory academic progression and the continuation of care responsibilities.

Please note that these awards are limited and selective; unfortunately, we are unable to fund every applicant.

Who can apply?

The University of Birmingham Young Carer Award is open to students who are Young Adult Carers (aged 18-24) with caring responsibilities for an adult friend or relative. You cannot apply for the award if you are caring for a child.

We take into consideration each applicants household income, number of caring hours, type of caring responsibilities, associated costs and the potential impact on studies or wellbeing. Priority is generally be given to students who are caring at home, rather than living in University halls of residence.

You will be asked to submit a supporting letter from a professional who can comment on your caring responsibilities and how these have impacted. More information is given in the application form.

What are the eligible countries and nationalities?

Applicants must be UK citizens or residents living in the UK.

How to Apply

To apply for the Young Carer Award, please complete and submit the official application form by clicking the 'Apply Now' Button

Applicants are required to provide some basic personal details alongside an overview of their caregiving responsibilities. Within the application the long form questions offer an opportunity to submit a more detailed account of how your caregiving duties impact your daily life and academic studies, as well as how this financial assistance would positively influence your student experience.

To complete your submission, you must upload an official supporting letter from a certified professional who can verify your caregiving circumstances. Eligible professionals include, but are not limited to:

• Social Worker or Key Worker
• A Teacher or Educational Professional
• General Practitioner (GP) or Medical Professional

The awarding panel will convene in November to review the submissions, and all applicants will be formally notified of their outcome shortly after.

For successful scholars, the £2,000 award is disbursed in two equal instalments. The first payment is expected in late January, followed by the second payment in late May.

The award is competitive and selective. Due to budgetary limits, the University cannot guarantee funding for all applicants.