New support for young adult carers in further education launched

A new resource providing advice and ideas for further education colleges to improve their support for learners with caring responsibilities has been launched today.

The toolkit, created by Learning and Work Institute, provides an in-depth insight into the support that helps young adult carers to enter and thrive in further education.

The good practice guide includes practical hints and tips, checklists and case studies featuring young adult carers, and will enable colleges to continually review and build upon their support for young adult carers.

Kieron Rees, Medr’s Director of Learner Experience, said:

“This Carers Week we are delighted to see the launch of this important and potentially life-changing toolkit.

“Putting the learner at the heart of their experience is key to us in Medr, and the fact that Learning and Work Institute worked with dozens of young adult carers across Wales to really understand what effective support looks like in FE is a vital part of this piece of work.

“Not only will colleges be able to use the toolkit to put arrangements in place to support young adult carers, but it will also help staff to understand the varied needs of young carers in the education system.”

The young adult carers who participated in the research reported that:

• staff who understand their situation
• flexible support that adapts to their caring role
• clear communication
• discreet ways to identify themselves, and
• a culture that sees them as individuals, not problems to be solved

make the biggest difference to their time in college.

Notes

The toolkit aligns with Medr’s Equality of Opportunity Condition and offers practical, evidence-based approaches to identify young adult carers, remove barriers and implement targeted flexible support, centred around the learner, that improves access, participation and progression for young adult carers across the further education sector.

The Welsh Government’s National Strategy for Unpaid Carers and associated delivery plans along with the draft National Strategy for Unpaid Carers 2026 consultation focus on improving consistency of support for young and young adult carers in education. Medr commissioned Learning and Work Institute to develop a practical toolkit for further education building on earlier sector work completed alongside Carers Trust.

Young adult carers in further education: Toolkit for FE colleges in Wales Learning and Work Institute Blog