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<p>The department is determined that all young carers and young adult carers get the
support they need to succeed in all stages of education.</p><p> </p><p>The department
provides a range of financial support for students who need it to enable them to participate
in further education. This includes free meals, bursaries to help with the cost of
education, such as travel, books, equipment, and trips, plus support for childcare
and residential costs where required.</p><p> </p><p>Disadvantaged English domiciled
18-year-olds are now 74% more likely to enter higher education than they were in 2010.</p><p>
</p><p>In the 2023/24 academic year, over £160 million of bursary funding has been
allocated to institutions to help disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds meet costs, which
is nearly 12% higher than published allocations for last year. Institutions decide
which young people receive bursaries and determine the level of financial support
they receive. They can develop their own eligibility criteria for access to the discretionary
bursary fund, including setting a household income threshold appropriate to their
area and must publish information on this for students.</p><p> </p><p>In November
2021, the department asked the Office for Students (OfS) to refocus the access and
participation regime in higher education to create a system that supports young people
from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout their education. This regime should include
support for disadvantaged students before entry to higher education (HE) and be set
out in new access and participation plans. Providers should be working meaningfully
with schools to ensure that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, including young
carers, are encouraged and supported to achieve the highest possible grades and move
up the ladder of opportunity whether that be an apprenticeship or higher technical
qualification, or a course at university.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in March 2023,
the OfS launched an Equality of Opportunity Risk Register, which can be found here:
<a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/promoting-equal-opportunities/equality-of-opportunity-risk-register/"
target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/promoting-equal-opportunities/equality-of-opportunity-risk-register/</a>.
It focusses on students least likely to experience equal opportunity in HE with references
to young carers in six of the key sector risks set out in the register.</p><p> </p><p>HE
providers are expected to refer to the register when writing access and participation
plans.</p><p> </p>
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