The University of Nottingham

Looking after your own education while you’re caring for someone you love is one of the most difficult tasks a young person can face.

This is the dilemma facing youngsters like Rebekah Chapman from St Ann’s in Nottingham. She is just one of the estimated 290,000 16 to 24-year-olds who undertake unpaid caring roles within their families in the UK.

Now for the first time, the University is launching a fundraising awareness week and this year’s inaugural week will focus on raising funds for a unique open day, to help young people like Rebekah.

The fundraising week, which will encourage University staff and alumni to make a small donation, will support a special community day on 27 June, specifically for young carers and young adult carers for them to experience what university life is like and how they might achieve their aims of taking their studies further. This event will be the first of its kind in UK higher education.

The week will run from 13 May and culminates in the fantastic, free May Fest community open day on Saturday 18 May where visitors will see collections to support the young carers’ open day.

We would also like to hear from any of our alumni, who have been carers themselves and would be prepared to contribute to the open day on 27 June and share their experiences with some of the young people attending. Please contact: alumni-enquiries@nottingham.ac.uk.

If you would like to make a donation to Fundraising Awareness Week and support the cause of young carers and young adult carers visit: http://nott.ac.uk/impactyoungcarers.