Practicalities

Paying for it

For carers, especially on low incomes, funding can be a barrier to taking up a course. However there are plenty of sources out there for funding.

• Find out if your local adult education centre or college will give concessions to carers receiving benefits – even if carers are not on the list of people who they give concessions to, it’s always worth asking.
• Ask your local social services department or carers organisation if courses can be funded as a break from caring through the local authority Carers Grant.
• Find out about the Princess Royal Trust for Carers (PRTC) bursaries for learning. Your local carers organisation may be part of the PRTC network, or you can contact them direct (www.carers.org Tel: 0207 480 7788).
• If you are on benefits and looking for a course that may lead you into paid work, you may be able to get support from the New Deal – ask a Personal Adviser at your local Job Centre or JobCentre Plus for more information.

Sorting out alternative care

You may find it hard to get a break from caring, and need to have alternative care arrangements in order to get into learning.

Naima is the lone parent of two children with disabilities. She has done a community language course at a local college and an IT course, supported by a local carers project. Following a local authority carer’s assessment, alternative care was arranged for her boys, giving her the space to focus on her own needs and think about her future learning.

"Before I started learning I used to sit and watch the television all day. I didn’t go out a lot, and when I did join something I didn’t stick at it because I didn’t have any confidence. Learning has given me the freedom to think about my future instead of staying home and thinking that I can’t do this. I feel that now I am at last doing something positive and useful with my life."

Where to go for help:

• Ask your local authority for a carer’s assessment and tell them that you need alternative care so that you can take up a learning opportunity. Under the Carers (Equal Opportunites) Act, social services must consider your need to learn, work or have leisure opportunities when they carry out a carer’s assessment.
• Find out from your local authority, carer’s organisation or a voluntary organisation such as Crossroads what alternative care is available in your area that would enable you to do a course.

Find out about carers'assessments, getting a break and practical help. more...