Being a student carer can bring unique challenges, from balancing coursework with caring responsibilities to managing stress, fatigue, and often a sense of isolation. Many student carers quietly take on significant roles at home, supporting loved ones while trying to succeed in their studies, and this can sometimes mean their own wellbeing is overlooked. In this blog, our Students’ Union Wellbeing & Accessibility Officer – who is also a student carer – shares her personal experience of navigating college life alongside her caring role, offering an honest insight into both the difficulties and the support that has made a difference to her journey.
Hi everyone,
My name is Astelina and I am the Students’ Union Wellbeing and Accessibility Officer! I am a Year 13 A-Level Criminology, English Language and Literature, and History student based at High Pavement Sixth Form, and today I am writing about my time at Nottingham College and the support you can get as an unpaid carer with and outside of college.
Before we dive into the carers talk, I thought it would be nice to tell you all a little bit about who I am! As I’ve said before I’m taking Criminology, English Language, Literature and History, and while this is definitely a huge part of my time and identity, I am definitely my own person outside of college and caring! I love love love playing Minecraft and Animal Crossing on my Nintendo Switch (5⭐ island!!), the building and creation aspect of games gives a really nice break, which also links to my other two main interests: reading and stationery!! I adore reading and think it's a great way to explore other little worlds and just get away from this one, and then I can even write and create those worlds and characters using my lovely fountain pens!
Within Nottingham College, the main support I’ve used in terms of my caring responsibilities is the amazing Wellbeing Mentors' team, I’ve been working with my Wellbeing Mentor for just short of two years now the work we have done together has been absolutely tremendous! Your Wellbeing Mentor is always there to listen to whatever you need to talk about and can signpost you to other support areas within college; for example, another person who is always there to support you: your Pastoral Tutor!
Your pastoral tutor is key in accessing crucial support you might need to use everyday to simply access college. Some things your pastoral tutor or Wellbeing Mentor can do include: phone and music passes within lesson, time out passes within lessons, or most importantly: advocate for you. If you are consistently late to lessons or potentially struggle to hand in homework on time, talk to your pastoral tutor and see how they can help and talk to your teachers on your behalf! Being a Young Carer is hard and means you need to advocate for others daily but sometimes you need to advocate yourself.
Remember you can talk to ANY staff member in college and they will try their best to help you; and here in the Students’ Union, I am one of the incoming Carers Ambassadors for next year, working (alongside Joy Va-Ay!) and I hope you always feel comfortable to reach out to me at studentsunion@nottinghamcollege.ac.uk.
Here in Nottingham, we also have 2 incredible charities aimed at supporting unpaid carers, whether they feel overwhelmed, just need a break, or want a little slice of community; Young Carers Notts and the Carers Hub Service/Carers Federation.
Having been supported by both these services, I can personally attest to the incredible amount of care each and every support worker has for the young people they support. I have taken advantage of several opportunities presented to me from the Young Carers Notts and Carers Hub Service such as featuring in an animated video, The Daily Lives of Young Carers (press the title!), taking day trips, co-production work with the Young Carers Panel, and the amazing Pizza Nights for Young Adult Carers (16-25) down at Carers Hub!!
I know sometimes, you might read or hear about others’ experiences as carers and it is natural to doubt yourself and feel a little bit of imposter syndrome! But do remember someone else caring ‘more’ than you, doesn’t subtract from the effort and value you put into supporting the person you care for. If you ever do think that you’re a Carer: please speak with your Wellbeing Mentor/Pastoral Tutor. Having that initial conversation can be more impactful than you realise.
Have a lovely day to everyone reading this, you absolutely deserve it and well done at smashing college life!
Many thanks,
Astelina😊