The Carers Scholarship Project (360G-CTF-FR-00326)

The Open University?s Carers? Scholarships Fund aims to offer 50 full-fee waiver scholarships to carers, within which they will be able to flexibly study towards a higher education qualification. Of these, 15 will be ring-fenced for young adult carers aged 18-25. Carers will need to be UK based, means tested and will have to provide proof of caring from a GP, social worker, local authority, carer organisation or similar source. This fund will address the need for carers to prepare for life and a career after caring and to make up for lost opportunities where they have been disadvantaged by their situation, for example missing school or not being able to attend university due to caring commitments. The fund will also seek to address the significant financial disadvantage many carers face, by not only providing free access to study, but also additional financial support to assist students in travelling to exams, purchasing set books and other incidental costs related to studying.