Recognition and well-being of young carers
Young carers are young people growing up in families where one or more members (a parent, sibling, etc.) have care or support needs. Students in higher education can also be young carers — they are referred to as student carers. While caregiving can be fulfilling, it can also place an additional burden on these young people. This project focuses on raising awareness about the needs of this target group.
Young carers are young people growing up in a family where one or more members (a parent, sibling, etc.) have care or support needs. As a result, young carers often take on responsibilities within the household that their peers do not. They frequently worry and may find it difficult to detach from the home situation. A care situation can be occasional, regular, acute, chronic, short-term, long-term, low-impact, or highly intensive.
Given the wide variety of situations, experiences, and contexts, there is no single definition of a young carer. Students in higher education can also be young carers — they are referred to as student carers. Providing care can be fulfilling, but it can also place an additional burden on these young people. Unfortunately, their needs and challenges often go unnoticed.
In this project, Odisee, together with a consortium of Flemish partners, is working on practical awareness-raising within higher education to increase recognition and support for student carers and to promote their well-being.
Publications
The inspiration guide aims to encourage universities and universities of applied sciences to implement a structural policy that supports young carers during their studies. We offer tips, tools, and good practices from both domestic and international contexts to help institutions get started. Authors: Naomi De Bruyne, Julie Everix, Freya Ponteur, Veerle Smeers, Julie Vanderlinden, Pieter Vanreybrouck. Discover the inspiration guide 'Young caregivers in higher education'!
Young carers still too often remain under the radar. Two experts by experience wrote a book about it. They aim to raise awareness in schools and give young carers the attention they deserve. Sociaal.net: One in six students is a young family caregiver
This publication provides essential theoretical background, relevant statistics, practical examples, and testimonies from young carers themselves. Its aim is to raise awareness among school leadership, (care) teachers, pedagogical staff, and student support services (CLB) to ensure sufficient attention and support for young carers — because they deserve it.
Want to learn more about how young family caregivers can be better supported in higher education?
Meet the researcher
Our partners
- VIVEL
- Steunpunt Mantelzorg
- I-Man
- ZoJong
- HoGent
- Uhasselt
- VVS (Flemish students association)