LSBU’s commitment to student carers earns national recognition
London South Bank University (LSBU) has been recognised nationally for its commitment to understanding and supporting students with caring responsibilities.
The University has achieved the Carers Federation Quality Standard in Carer Support accreditation after participating in an 18‑month national project designed to improve services and awareness for young adult carers
During the project, LSBU strengthened its support for student carers by bringing key inclusive policies, such as a five‑day extension policy and the Personal Development Plan, into closer alignment with the carers framework, ensuring students with caring responsibilities are explicitly recognised.
The University also introduced a dedicated financial award and created earlier, more personal touchpoints during application and onboarding, helping teams understand students’ circumstances sooner and offer tailored guidance from the outset.
Combined with new staff training and awareness‑raising activity, these changes have helped build a compassionate, joined‑up approach across LSBU so that carers feel seen, understood and supported from the moment they join the University.
“Achieving this accreditation is a reflection of the many people across LSBU who have worked to better understand and support students with caring responsibilities,” said Nina Brawley, Student Advice Manager.
“We’ve always known that carers contribute enormous resilience to our community and this framework helped us bring together our policies, data, staff training and student support into a more visible and coherent offer. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and even more committed to ensuring carers feel recognised, valued and supported throughout their time at LSBU.”
“We’ve always known that carers contribute enormous resilience to our community...We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and even more committed to ensuring carers feel recognised, valued and supported throughout their time at LSBU.”
The Driving Change in Higher Education project was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by the Learning and Work Institute and the Carers Federation.
Naomi Sykes, QSCS Development Worker, Carers Federation added: “Carers Federation were thrilled to support LSBU to achieve the QSCS accreditation as part of the Driving Change in Higher Education project (delivered in partnership with the Learning and Work Institute).
“The University has a long-standing reputation for inclusivity and encouraging students from diverse and under-represented backgrounds to access and thrive in HE. This was evident in practice through the university-wide commitment in developing new initiatives to improve support for student carers. LSBU have shown a deep understanding of how the QSCS accreditation helps embed a more consistent approach to supporting students with caring roles, from improving early identification to implementing meaningful and timely support, consequently increasing academic attainment and life chances for student carers.”
“The University has a long-standing reputation for inclusivity and encouraging students from diverse and under-represented backgrounds to access and thrive in HE.”
Understanding the challenges faced by student carers
Students with caring responsibilities often face unpredictable pressures at home, financial constraints and heightened anxiety about loved ones while studying. The strengthened support developed through the project, and recognised through this accreditation, aims to help students navigate these barriers and thrive at university.
LSBU’s partnership with Southwark Young Carers was central to deepening this understanding. Their insights and training helped staff better appreciate the day‑to‑day realities facing young people who balance study with caregiving, ensuring LSBU’s support offer reflects authentic lived experience, rather than making assumptions about the needs of young people.
An LSBU student who contributed feedback during the project said: “Starting a university course, I was very anxious as to how I would manage with my caring responsibilities alongside my studies...following the first call I had with [the team] I felt nothing but reassured...Having someone to signpost me to relevant people and information has made me confident I can succeed with my course, while continuing to give the care I provide to my Dad.”
A commitment rooted in national need
Reflecting on the accreditation, Professor Tony Moss, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience at LSBU, emphasised that the achievement aligns with a wider national conversation about the barriers young adult carers face in accessing and succeeding in higher education.
He noted that national discussions, including those shaped directly by young carers, highlight the need for clearer institutional contact points, smoother transitions into higher education and more flexible systems that acknowledge students' non‑linear journeys. While progress is emerging across parts of the sector, achieving consistency remains essential.
“Young adult carers still face serious barriers to entering and succeeding in higher education,” he said. “We’re proud of the support we offer at LSBU, and this accreditation recognises that work, but meaningful change won’t come from universities acting alone. We need greater consistency nationally so carers can choose the course that inspires them, not just the course that can support them.”
“Young adult carers still face serious barriers to entering and succeeding in higher education...meaningful change won’t come from universities acting alone. We need greater consistency nationally so carers can choose the course that inspires them, not just the course that can support them.”
He added: “This accreditation is both a moment of recognition and a reminder of the work still ahead. LSBU is committed to contributing to those wider conversations and to collaborating with partners across London and nationally to raise the bar for the students who face the most significant barriers.”
As part of this commitment, LSBU will continue working with LSBU Group partners South Bank Colleges and South Bank Academies to widen awareness of the carers’ support offer and to embed joined‑up approaches that support carers at every stage of their educational journey. By strengthening links with schools, colleges and community partners, the University aims to ensure that younger carers, not only those already in higher education, benefit from a more coherent, compassionate and accessible system of support.
More information on support available to students with caring responsibilities.