‘A Carers Passport is a record which identifies a carer in some way and sets out an offer of support, services or other benefits in response’ (Carers UK, 2020).

We will work with you and your academic school to create a Carers Passport, which may include adjustments to your academic commitments.

-       It would be helpful if you can provide evidence of your caring responsibilities but this is not a prerequisite to getting a Carers Passport. Evidence could include (but is not limited to) a GP letter or letter from a carers support organisation detailing that you are an unpaid carer. It is also possible for the team to collect a statement from you directly, please contact us for more information.

To discuss support and adjustments please make an appointment with an adviser within the Disability team. You can request an appointment in one of the following ways:

- In person at the reception desk, Level 2, Kings Gate

- By emailing disabilityadvisor@ncl.ac.uk 

Ways we can support you

• helping you to build a supportive social network through our Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Service
• offering you support though our Counselling Team and Disability Teams
• helping you to access first rate and accessible sporting experiences
• supporting you with budgeting and financial hardship, via our Student Financial Support Team
• providing you with free mindfulness and meditation sessions
• access our Student Carers Group, this is a space for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught students to meet in an informal yet informative space. The group is a partnership with Northumbria University Newcastle and Newcastle Carers
• supporting you to link with local and national specialist carers agencies
• Silvercloud is available to all Newcastle University students, free of charge. Silvercloud is a suite of online CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) programmes, which can be tailored to a student’s specific needs
• our free, iNCLude app is designed to help you take small steps to improve and maintain your wellbeing. 
• Postgraduate Support Service - Our comprehensive Post Grad support service is free to all Postgraduate Taught (PGT) and Postgraduate Research (PGR) students.  The University has a dedicated support team for PGT's and PGR's available 24/7
  

Steps you can take to get support

• let your supervisor or personal tutor know about your caring responsibilities as soon as possible
• take advantage of all of the support and learning resources available through the Academic Skills Kit
  
• combat isolation by linking with one or more of the many Student Union Societies
• access independent academic, financial and housing advice from your Student Advice Centre
• call Nightline for out-of-hours listening support
• seek 1:1 or group support for academic skills via the Writing Development Centre
• get subject specific support from the Library Liaison
• discuss possible employment opportunities with the Careers Service
• meet one of our Disability Advisors to discuss access to our quiet study rooms, extended library loans, or hardware loans
  

Carers often find it hard to reach out and get help for themselves, but it can be beneficial to access support as soon as you realise that you have a caring role. This can help to ensure that caring doesn’t have a negative impact upon your health and wellbeing and your university experience.

In addition to support from the Student Health and Wellbeing teams, student carers may wish to seek help from:

Carers UK

Carers UK provides advice, information and support for carers.  Carers UK provide information about emergency care planning including the ‘Emergency Carer Card’ which can provide access to temporary care 24/7 where carer and designated care agency are unable to attend.  

Carers are entitled to a Carers Assessment through their local council. Download Carers Assessment factsheet here: https://www.carersuk.org/images/Factsheets/2020-21_factsheets/Carers_UK_Assessments_-_England_-April_2020-21.pdf

Newcastle Carers

Newcastle Carers is an independent charity based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. They provide information, advice and support to anyone who looks after a family member or friend who has an illness, disability, mental health illness or addiction. Newcastle Carers are funded to support carers of people living in Newcastle, though they also provide support to student carers if they are unable to access support where the person they look after lives.

If you, or someone you know, are currently caring for someone who couldn’t manage without support, you can contact Newcastle Carers via their information line 0191 2755060 (Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00) or you can drop in and see someone or email support@newcastlecarers.org.uk – see Newcastle Carers website for more details.

Newcastle Carers can offer a great deal of information, advice and support to you which includes:

• one-to-one support via telephone, email, text or face to face
• advocacy 
• carers Wellbeing Fund Grants
• online support at www.newcastlecarers.org.uk
• peer support groups and activities
• training
• complementary therapies
• counselling
• signposting and referral to other services

National Union of Students 

The National Union of Students provides information and advice for those caring alongside studying.