Driving Change: University champions Inclusive Education for Young Adult Carers

The University of Wolverhampton is proud to be part of Driving Change in Higher Education, a national initiative led by Learning and Work Institute and Carers Federation. This three-year project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, aims to break down barriers to university access for young adult carers.

As part of this commitment, the University will develop and embed a whole-institution approach to supporting young adult carers - both within our student community and among those who aspire to higher education but face challenges due to their caring responsibilities.

Dr Amanda Bloore, Head of Support to Study, Student Life at the University of Wolverhampton, said:

“As the 'University of Opportunity', we are proud to be ranked 4th in the UK for teaching first-generation students by the Daily Mail University Rankings 2025. At Wolverhampton, no one is left behind - Student Life is here to support every student on their academic journey.”

Natalie Latham, UK Access, Skills and Widening Participation Manager, added:

“The University has a strong track record in widening access to higher education for underrepresented groups. We’re excited to work with the Driving Change project team to build on our existing good practice and further enable access for this important group of young people.”

Supporting Young Adult Carers

The Driving Change project provides free support to participating universities, helping them create and embed meaningful strategies that make a real difference for young adult carers.

Young adult carers (aged 16 to 24) provide unpaid care to a family member on a regular basis. Despite contributing an estimated £3.5 billion in unpaid care annually, they face significant educational disadvantages. On average, they achieve nine fewer GCSE grades than their peers, are five times more likely to drop out of college and are 38% less likely to complete a degree. These outcomes, however, are not inevitable.

With the right support, young adult carers can thrive in higher education. Yet research shows that many feel overlooked. In 2024, UCAS found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of young adult carers did not receive tailored support when applying to university, and 69% were unaware of the help available to students with caring responsibilities once enrolled.

The University of Wolverhampton is committed to changing this narrative - ensuring that talent and determination, not circumstance, shape a young person’s future.

To learn more about the project, visit Driving Change in Higher Education.