Written by Jess Dancer, Third Year Sociology Student.
About me!
As this year’s intern at the Institute for Social Justice, I was given the opportunity to create my own podcast episode based on a social issue I felt strongly about. While anything performative typically sparks feelings of apprehension, I felt as though it was a fantastic opportunity to start a conversation about the experiences of young carers in higher education, providing an accessible source of support that would have helped me a couple years ago. In the middle of my first year at university, my family circumstances flipped upside down with one of my parents having a life-changing injury. During this time, I struggled to navigate both the changes in my home life and the continuation of my journey through university. Although some support systems are in place for individuals like myself, I found it extremely overwhelming to find and use the available support– this eventually led to me giving up, navigating the difficult circumstances on my own.
The motivation for creating this podcast episode is not to criticise the university regarding the support available to young carers, rather its purpose is to point young people in the right direction to access this support, as finding it in the first place is often the most overwhelming barrier to overcome.
Pre-Podcast Preparation:
In terms of process of creating the podcast episode, I found this extremely exciting as I enjoy expressing my creative side, which often gets left behind through the academic stress of being a third-year. Myself and a group of other interns were lucky enough to attend a session led by Senior Lecturer Journalism, Jonathan Brown. Within this session, we discussed our personal favourite podcasts and learnt about what it takes to create a successful podcast, drawing upon examples like ‘Just One Thing’ hosted by Michael Mosely. It was great to listen to everyone’s topic ideas and engage in discussions about the specific social issue they chose to discuss.
After the informative podcast session, I began planning my own episode based on the experiences of young carers. As previously mentioned, my main motivation was to create something that was accessible to all, making it easier for young carers to find the support available – hopefully allowing them to feel less isolated in their experiences. I used a combination of approaches to gather my information; I considered my personal experiences, researched online and also conducted my own research to better understand the experiences and feelings of other young carers. To do so, I created an anonymous google form document and shared it via my social media (friends and family shared the link too). I received some very insightful responses, particularly concerning the support young carers receive and advice they would give to those wanting to support someone like themselves.
The Recording Process:
Myself and my ISJ supervisor decided that it would be beneficial to invite a guest onto the podcast, preferably a professional with a great understanding of the topic. After searching online, we found Ellie Rowley, a UCAS representative eager to get involved. After a teams call discussing the motives for the podcast episode, Ellie agreed that a collaboration would be great, particularly as UCAS supports all UK based university applications. Ellie travelled to the York St John Campus to record the podcast episode and provided listeners with valuable advice, pointing them in the direction to receive support for navigating their circumstances. Personally, I was quite nervous to record the podcast as I had never been in a recording studio or used the equipment before, but with the help of Jonathan and Ellie, it was a smooth and enjoyable process.
Ellie and I spoke about the importance of making support for young carers both accessible and easy to find. I shared the findings from my own research, which aligned closely with the data and insights she discussed. One particularly meaningful part of our conversation was discussing how identifying as a ‘young carer’ can itself be a barrier to receiving support. Shedding light on this challenge felt like an important step towards breaking down the stigma and encouraging more open conversations.
The Technicalities:
After recording the episode, Jonathan walked me through the editing process – something I’d never experienced before. It was interesting to see how the raw audio is shaped into a final product. I then transcribed the entire episode – a time-consuming but important step to ensure accessibility.
Since this episode is a collaboration with UCAS, the final content required approval from their PR team before it could be released on Spotify. Thankfully, the process was quick and straightforward, and UCAS were happy with the final result. They’ve also committed to promoting the episode across their social media channels throughout Carers Week. Knowing that such a respected organisation is backing this project fills me with pride, especially because of the potential it has to reach and support young carers who may be looking for guidance or simply reassurance that they’re not alone.
Continuing the Conversation: Support at York St. John.
Following the release of our recent podcast episode, Specialist Support Adviser Emma Coward-Gibbs reached out to continue the conversation about the experiences of young carers at York St. John University. During our conversation, Emma highlighted the extensive range of support offered to help young carers navigate their university journey. This includes assistance in securing additional funding and collaborating with academic staff to ensure these students receive tailored support throughout their studies.
Jess Dancer (Left) and Ellie Rowley (Right) in the Recording Studio.
One aspect I wasn’t aware of until our discussion was the Alumni-funded scholarships, which provide eligible students with £1,000 per academic year. This financial support is especially valuable for those facing significant barriers to education, such as the demands of additional caring responsibilities. Emma also emphasised the university’s proactive approach in identifying students who are carers. This includes educating students on what constitutes the role of a carer, helping to break down the barriers that often prevent individuals from seeking support. I found this particularly impactful, as acknowledging the identity of a carer can be a challenging step, especially when the topic remains somewhat taboo in British society.
I left the conversation feeling reassured by the vast amount of support available to young carers at York St. John. However, we both agreed that a key area for improvement lies in raising awareness about these services. Due to campus restrictions on putting up posters, we discussed the challenge of making students aware of the available support. From a student perspective, I suggested that using the university’s social media platforms would be effective to spread the word about available support. Additionally, I proposed a potential collaboration with student accommodation to distribute information leaflets, particularly for first-year students who may be unaware of where to turn for help when starting university.
Reflection:
As Carers Week draws to a close, it’s incredibly fulfilling to reflect on the potential impact this podcast episode may have on young carers – especially those balancing the demands of university life. Whether the influence is big or small, the goal has always been to spark meaningful conversation and help young carers feel seen, heard, and less alone in their experiences.
Having UCAS promote the episode to a wide audience of young people, along with university staff reaching out to continue the conversation and share valuable resources, change is already being made. Seeing the conversation continue and make a difference, is something I’m really proud of.
Listen to the episode here!
