‘All of us put other people first’: narratives from a participatory photodiary study with university student carers

Description of Activity

While the number of people providing unpaid care is growing in the UK, student carers in higher education remain hidden and under-represented. The scant evidence suggests the complexities of combining university studies and caring responsibilities, but more research is needed to capture the variegated experiences of student carers. This study contributes with an in-depth exploration of the learning experiences of seven student carers at different stages in their university studies, young and mature. Using a participatory methodology combining the production of more than 300 photographs, biographical narrative interviews and a workshop, it presents visual and verbal narratives. Results are discussed in terms of the journey to choose a university, the decisions regarding disclosure of caring duties, support available within the university and support provided by the statutory and voluntary services. Implications for practice are offered in terms of dissemination of information, support structures and mechanisms for self-identification.

Period	7 Dec 2017
Event title	Society for Research into Higher Education Annual Research Conference 2017: Higher Education Rising to the Challenge. Balancing expectations of students, society and stakeholders
Event type	Conference