Motion: Going Higher for Student Carers in Scotland

Going Higher for Student Carers in Scotland

Lodged by Jayne Baxter Standard Motion 44 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament acknowledges the official launch, on 23 September 2015, of Going Higher for Student Carers in Scotland, which is a campaign by Carers Trust Scotland; understands that there will be students at every university in Scotland who are caring, unpaid, for a disabled family member or friend or who has a mental health illness or an addiction problem; notes that student carers can come from any background and be studying for any course; further notes that student carers do not always have a choice about their situation, but raising awareness of their experiences and the challenges that they face can ensure that they have a fair chance to reach their full potential in higher education; understands that there are no national records collected on student carers in Scotland and that they remain hidden and consequently are not always recognised by universities and health and social care professionals as undertaking a caring role; further understands that young adult carers are four times more likely to drop out of college or university than their peers and that half the days they spend at college or university are affected by the demands of caring on their attendance, and believes that every effort should be made to ensure that student carers are identified and their specific needs are recognised and that they receive all the support that they require.

Supporters (44)