Flexible study options for Carers - The Waterloo Foundation

This leafl et is part of a project supporting carers to access education, supported by the Waterloo Foundation

INSPIRING LEARNING

CARERS UKthe voice of carers

Flexible study options for Carers

Contact The Open University in Wales

www.openuniversity.co.uk/carersproject

029 2047 1170 (Student Enquiry Line)[email protected]

18 Custom House Street,Cardiff CF10 1AP

SUP017659

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Research shows that many carers want to participate in learning and training opportunities, but there are often real diffi culties in doing so.

• The Open University in Wales offers fl exible part-time distance learning so you can study from home around your caring and other commitments and work towards recognised qualifi cations.

• Financial support is available for those on low incomes or benefi ts*

• Additional support is available for students with disabilities

• The Open University in Wales is open access: there are no entry requirements.

• There are courses to suit all levels and interests, from short taster courses to postgraduate study.

• The Open University in Wales has been consistently voted top in the National student satisfaction survey.

*eligibility criteria applies. For more details please call our Student Registration & Enquiry Service on 029 2047 1170 or email [email protected]. Please quote carers project.

What courses are on offer?There are over 500 courses available to study with The Open University.

If you are new to study, we’d recommend that you start with one of our Openings courses, these introductory-level courses have been specially designed to help you fi nd out what it’s like to study with The Open University, get a taste of a subject area, develop your learning skills and build your confi dence. The courses last for 20 weeks and start dates are in September, November, March and June each year.

Our Openings courses are:

Introducing environment (Y161)

Making sense of the arts (Y160)

Starting with Law (Y166)

Starting with Maths (Y162)

Starting with Psychology (Y163)

Understanding Children (Y156)

Understanding Health (Y178)

Understanding Management (Y159)

Understanding Society (Y157)

Exploring Sport Online (Y164)

Other short courses (10-20 weeks) include:

Digital photography (T189)

Start writing fi ction (A174)

Small country, big history: themes in the history of Wales (A182)

Contemporary Wales (D172)

Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting (B190)

Energy measurements at home (T152)

Introduction to fi nancial services (BD131)

Introduction to counselling (D171)

Understanding cancers (SK123)

Understanding the autism spectrum (SK124)

Understanding Cardiovascular Diseases (SK121)

Understanding human nutrition (SK183)

Longer courses (6-9 months) include:

You and your money (DB123)

An introduction to health and social care (K101)

An Introduction to Social Sciences (DD101)

The Arts Past and Present (AA100)

Discovering Maths (MU123)

Exploring Science (S104)

All our courses offer credits towards recognised qualifi cations including certifi cates, diplomas, foundation degrees, honours degrees and postgraduate qualifi cations.

For a full list and information about our courses please look on our website www.openuniversity.co.uk/carersproject

“When I wasn’t caring I would just slump in front of the television watching anything. I felt my life was going nowhere. But now I feel more alive. I have something else in my life and it’s mine. I’m just glad I discovered the OU”A carer studying with The Open University

Why is the Open University in Wales a good option for carers? From our experience in working with our existing students with caring responsibilities we have come to understand the pressures and diffi culties that you might have as a carer. We understand that fl exibility will be important to you, to allow for good days and bad days, hospital appointments, and so on. Open University study allows you to fi t your studies in around the demands of your life.

You decide how to divide up your study hours. You’ll need to set aside about 5 hours a week for an Openings or short course and 8 -16 hours a week for a longer course, but it’s up to you how you divide those hours into study sessions. You also have some fl exibility in studying ahead of time if necessary, or in catching up if something unexpected happens. Some courses offer some fl exibility in study patterns, so that you can do them quickly or more slowly. Many courses have more than one start date each year. You can also take a break if you need to between completing one course and starting another.

“The Open University has been a life saver: because everything is done at home, I can juggle my caring role and my time” A carer studying with The Open University

Support as you studyDuring most of your study time, you will be working independently with our comprehensive and high-quality course materials. But you won’t be alone because as an Open University student you will:

• Be part of an active community of students who can be reached through online forums, study groups and even via Facebook and Twitter!

• Be assigned a tutor who will provide academic and tutorial support, mark your assignments and provide helpful feedback. If you need help with your course, your tutor may be able to arrange additional study sessions for you, or provide some extra tuition. And he or she may also allow extra time for assignments where necessary.

• Have access to our friendly Learner Advisory Service staff in our national centre in Cardiff. We provide information and advice about Open University study, more detailed educational guidance on study issues, support and, if necessary, special arrangements for examinations.

• If you’re having a diffi cult time, and feel that your circumstances may have affected your performance in assignments or examinations, you can follow an established system to alert the University.

• The Open University offers additional support to students with disabilities or additional requirements, this may include the loaning of specialist equipment, course materials in alternative formats or extra time with your tutor. You may also be eligible to apply for a non means tested Disabled Students Allowance which is a grant to cover the costs of additional study costs you may have.

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“The Open University has been a godsend for me, allowing me to channel my thoughts and focus on what is good and interesting in the world and above all, however selfi sh this may sound, concentrate on something for me to give me hope for the future… I met my best friend whilst studying.”A carer studying with The Open University

Young carers

Some young carers may fi nd it diffi cult to go away to a traditional university. The Open University could be an alternative option for you. We also have a range of courses that are available to young people at schools and colleges to study along side their other studies. For more information please look at our website on: www.openuniversity.co.uk/carersproject

Careers advice If you’re thinking about preparing for employment, as a student, you’d have access to the award-winning Open University Careers Advisory Service website and one-to-one sessions with our Careers Adviser. This may help you to explore career opportunities and support your search for jobs or further training.

Costs and Financial supportOpen University courses are paid on a course by course basis, there is an Open University budget account to spread the costs and you can also use Tesco Clubcard points to pay towards your fi rst Open University course For exact costs for specifi c courses please check on our website. Costs will be considerably more if you are not a UK resident.

We currently offer fi nancial support to 42,000 students. If you are receiving benefi ts or are on a low income you are likely to qualify for help with your Open University study costs.

Useful contacts: Carers organisations in Wales –website and telephone numbers

Crossroads Care Wales www.crossroads.org.ukTel: 0845 4500350 e-mail: [email protected]

The Princess Royal Trust for Carerswww.carers.orgTel: 029 2022 1788 e-mail: [email protected]

Carers Waleswww.carerswales.orgTel: 029 2081 1370Carers advice line: 0808 808 7777e-mail: [email protected]

Contact The Open University in Wales


029 2047 1170 (Student Enquiry Line)[email protected]

18 Custom House Street,Cardiff CF10 1AP

“Mae’r Brifysgol Agored wedi bod yn gaffaeliad mawr i mi, mae wedi rhoi modd i mi sianelu fy meddyliau a chanolbwyntio ar yr hyn sy’n dda a diddorol yn y byd ac yn anad dim, faint bynnag mor hunanol mae hyn yn swnio, canolbwyntio ar rywbeth i mi fy hun i roi gobaith i mi ar gyfer y dyfodol... Cwrddais i â’m ffrind gorau wrth astudio.” Gofalwr yn astudio gyda’r Brifysgol Agored

Gofalwyr ifanc

Mae’n bosibl y bydd rhai gofalwyr ifanc yn ei chael yn anodd mynd i ffwrdd i brifysgol draddodiadol. Gallai’r Brifysgol Agored gynnig dewis arall i chi. Mae gennym hefyd amrywiaeth o gyrsiau sydd ar gael i bobl ifanc mewn ysgolion a cholegau eu hastudio ochr yn ochr â’u hastudiaethau eraill. I gael mwy o wybodaeth edrychwch ar ein gwefan sef: www.openuniversity.co.uk/carersproject

Cyngor ar yrfaoeddOs ydych chi’n ystyried ymbaratoi ar gyfer cyfl ogaeth, fel myfyriwr byddech yn gallu manteisio ar wefan arobryn Gwasanaeth Cyngor ar Yrfaoedd y Brifysgol Agored a sesiynau un i un gyda’n Cynghorydd Gyrfaoedd. Gall hyn eich helpu i ymchwilio i gyfl eoedd gyrfa a’ch cynorthwyo wrth i chi chwilio am swyddi neu ragor o hyfforddiant.

Costau a chymorth ariannolTelir am gyrsiau’r Brifysgol Agored fesul cwrs. Mae yna gyfrif cyllidebu gan y Brifysgol Agored i ledaenu’r costau a gallwch hefyd ddefnyddio pwyntiau Tesco Clubcard i dalu at eich cwrs cyntaf gyda’r Brifysgol Agored. I gael union gostau cyrsiau penodol edrychwch ar ein gwefan. Bydd y costau’n sylweddol fwy os nad ydych yn breswylydd yn y Deyrnas Unedig.

Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn cynnig cymorth ariannol i 42,000 o fyfyrwyr. Os ydych yn cael budd-daliadau neu ar incwm isel rydych yn debyg o fod yn gymwys i gael cymorth gyda’ch costau astudio gyda’r Brifysgol Agored.

Cysylltiadau defnyddiol: Sefydliadau gofalwyr yng Nghymru – gwefannau a rhifau ffôn

Gofal Croesffyrdd Cymru – www.crossroads.org.ukFfôn: 0845 4500350e-bost: [email protected]

Ymddiriedolaeth y Dywysoges Frenhinol i Ofalwyr –www.carers.orgFfôn: 029 2022 1788e-bost: [email protected]

Cynhalwyr Cymru – www.carerswales.orgFfôn: 029 2081 1370Llinell gyngor i ofalwyr: 0808 808 7777e-bost: [email protected]

Cysylltu â’r Brifysgol Agored:


029 2047 [email protected]

18 Heol y Tollty,Caerdydd CF10 1AP


Mae ymchwil yn dangos bod llawer o ofalwyr eisiau manteisio ar gyfl eoedd i ddysgu a hyfforddi, ond fod yna anawsterau gwirioneddol yn aml wrth wneud hynny.

• Mae’r Brifysgol Agored yng Nghymru’n cynnig dysgu o bell rhan-amser hyblyg, felly gallwch astudio o’ch cartref o gwmpas eich ymrwymiadau gofalu ac eraill a gweithio tuag at gymwysterau cydnabyddedig.

• Mae cymorth ariannol ar gael i bobl ar incwm isel neu fudd-daliadau*.

• Mae cymorth ychwanegol ar gael i fyfyrwyr ag anableddau.

• Sefydliad mynediad agored yw’r Brifysgol Agored yng Nghymru; nid oes unrhyw ofynion mynediad.

• Mae yna gyrsiau sy’n addas i bob lefel a diddordeb, o gyrsiau blasu byr i astudio ôl-radd.

• Mae’r Brifysgol Agored yng Nghymru wedi dod uchaf yn gyson yn yr arolwg cenedlaethol ar fodlonrwydd myfyrwyr.

*mae meini prawf cymhwysedd yn berthnasol. I gael mwy o fanylion ffoniwch ein Gwasanaeth Cofrestriadau ac Ymholiadau Myfyrwyr ar 029 2047 1170 neu anfonwch e-bost at [email protected]. Nodwch prosiect gofalwyr.

Pa gyrsiau a gynigir?Mae dros 500 o gyrsiau ar gael i astudio gyda’r Brifysgol Agored.

Os nad ydych wedi astudio o’r blaen, argymhellwn i chi ddechrau gydag un o’n cyrsiau Openings. Mae’r cyrsiau rhagarweiniol hyn wedi’u cynllunio’n benodol i’ch helpu i gael gwybod sut beth yw astudio gyda’r Brifysgol Agored, cael blas ar bwnc, datblygu’ch sgiliau dysgu a meithrin eich hyder. Mae’r cyrsiau’n para 20 wythnos ac mae’r dyddiadau dechrau ym Medi, Tachwedd, Mawrth a Mehefi n bob blwyddyn.

Dyma’n cyrsiau Openings:

Cyfl wyno’r amgylchedd (Y161)

Gwneud synnwyr o’r celfyddydau (Y160)

Dechrau gyda’r gyfraith (Y166)

Dechrau gyda mathemateg (Y162)

Dechrau gyda seicoleg (Y163)

Deall plant (Y156)

Deall iechyd (Y178)

Deall rheoli (Y159)

Deall cymdeithas (Y157)

Ymchwilio i chwaraeon ar lein (Y164)

Mae’r cyrsiau byr (10-20 wythnos) eraill yn cynnwys:

Ffotograffi aeth ddigidol (T189)

Dechrau ysgrifennu ffuglen (A174)

Gwlad fach, hanes mawr: themâu yn hanes Cymru (A182)

Cymru gyfoes (D172)

Cyfl wyniad i gadw cyfrifon a chyfrifeg (B190)

Mesuriadau ynni yn y cartref (T152)

Cyfl wyniad i wasanaethau ariannol (BD131)

Cyfl wyniad i gwnsela (D171)

Deall canserau (SK123)

Deall y sbectrwm awtistiaeth (SK124)

Deall clefydau cardiofasgwlaidd (SK121)

Deall maethiad dynol (SK183)

Mae’r cyrsiau hirach (6-9 mis) yn cynnwys:

Chi a’ch arian (DB123)

Cyfl wyniad i iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol (K101)

Cyfl wyniad i’r gwyddorau cymdeithasol (DD101)

Y celfyddydau ddoe a heddiw (AA100)

Darganfod mathemateg (MU123)

Ymchwilio i wyddoniaeth (S104)

Mae ein holl gyrsiau’n cynnig credydau tuag at gymwysterau cydnabyddedig gan gynnwys tystysgrifau, diplomâu, graddau sylfaen, graddau anrhydedd a chymwysterau ôl-radd.

I gael rhestr lawn a gwybodaeth am ein cyrsiau, edrychwch ar ein gwefanwww.openuniversity.co.uk/carersproject

“Pan doeddwn i ddim yn gofalu roeddwn i’n arfer lolian o fl aen y teledu’n gwylio unrhyw beth o gwbl. Roeddwn i’n teimlo nad oedd fy mywyd yn mynd i unman. Ond nawr dwi’n teimlo’n fwy byw. Mae gen i rywbeth arall yn fy mywyd a fi sy biau fe. Dwi mor falch ’mod i wedi darganfod y Brifysgol Agored”Gofalwr yn astudio gyda’r Brifysgol Agored

Pam mae’r Brifysgol Agored yng Nghymru’n ddewis da i ofalwyr? O’n profi ad o weithio gyda’n myfyrwyr presennol sydd â chyfrifoldebau gofalu, rydym wedi dod i ddeall y pwysau a’r anawsterau a all fod gennych fel gofalwr. Rydym yn deall y bydd hyblygrwydd yn bwysig i chi, i ganiatáu ar gyfer dyddiau da a dyddiau drwg, apwyntiadau ysbyty, ac ati. Mae astudio gyda’r Brifysgol Agored yn caniatáu i chi ffi tio’ch astudiaethau o gwmpas y galwadau sydd arnoch yn eich bywyd.

Chi sy’n penderfynu sut i rannu’ch oriau astudio. Bydd angen i chi neilltuo tua 5 awr yr wythnos ar gyfer cwrs Openings neu gwrs byr ac 8 – 16 awr yr wythnos ar gyfer cwrs hirach, ond chi sy’n penderfynu sut rydych yn rhannu’r oriau hynny’n sesiynau astudio. Hefyd mae rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd i chi astudio ymlaen llaw os oes angen, neu ddal i fyny os bydd rhywbeth annisgwyl yn digwydd. Mae rhai cyrsiau’n cynnig rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd o ran patrymau astudio, fel y gallwch eu gwneud yn gyfl ym neu’n arafach. Mae gan lawer o gyrsiau fwy nag un dyddiad dechrau bob blwyddyn. Gallwch hefyd gymryd seibiant os oes angen rhwng cwblhau un cwrs a dechrau un arall.

“Mae’r Brifysgol Agored wedi bod yn fendith i mi: oherwydd bod popeth yn cael ei wneud gartref, gallaf ei drefnu o gwmpas fy ngwaith gofalu a’r amser sydd gen i” Gofalwr yn astudio gyda’r Brifysgol Agored

Cymorth wrth i chi astudioYn ystod y rhan fwyaf o’ch amser astudio, byddwch yn gweithio’n annibynnol gyda’n deunyddiau cwrs sy’n gynhwysfawr ac o ansawdd da. Ond ni fyddwch ar eich pen eich hun oherwydd fel myfyriwr gyda’r Brifysgol Agored:

• Byddwch yn rhan o gymuned weithgar a bywiog o fyfyrwyr, y gellir cysylltu â nhw trwy fforymau ar-lein, grwpiau astudio a hyd yn oed Facebook a Twitter!

• Caiff tiwtor ei neilltuo i chi, a fydd yn rhoi cymorth academaidd a thiwtoraidd, yn marcio’ch aseiniadau ac yn rhoi adborth defnyddiol. Os oes arnoch angen cymorth gyda’ch cwrs, mae’n bosibl y gall eich tiwtor drefnu sesiynau astudio ychwanegol i chi, neu roi rhywfaint o hyfforddiant ychwanegol. Hefyd mae’n bosibl y bydd yn caniatáu amser ychwanegol ar gyfer aseiniadau lle bo angen.

• Byddwch yn gallu cysylltu â staff cyfeillgar ein Gwasanaeth Cynghori Dysgwyr yn ein canolfan genedlaethol yng Nghaerdydd. Rydym yn darparu gwybodaeth a chyngor am astudio gyda’r Brifysgol

Agored, cyfarwyddyd addysgol manylach ar faterion sy’n ymwneud ag astudio, cymorth ac, os oes angen, trefniadau arbennig ar gyfer arholiadau.

• Os ydych chi’n cael amser anodd, ac yn teimlo bod eich amgylchiadau, o bosibl, wedi effeithio ar eich perfformiad mewn aseiniadau neu arholiadau, gallwch ddilyn system sefydledig i roi gwybod i’r Brifysgol.

• Mae’r Brifysgol Agored yn cynnig cymorth ychwanegol i fyfyrwyr ag anableddau neu ofynion ychwanegol; gall hyn gynnwys benthyca cyfarpar arbenigol, deunyddiau cwrs mewn fformatau eraill neu amser ychwanegol gyda’ch tiwtor. Mae’n bosibl hefyd y byddwch yn gymwys i wneud cais am Lwfans Myfyrwyr Anabl heb brawf modd, sef grant i dalu costau astudio ychwanegol a all fod gennych.


Mae’r dafl en yn rhan o brosiect sy’n cynorthwyo gofalwyr i gael addysg, gyda chymorth Sefydliad Waterloo

YSBRYDOLI DYSGU

CARERSUKthe voice of carers

Dewisiadau astudio hyblyg i ofalwyr

Cysylltu â’r Brifysgol Agored:


029 2047 [email protected]

18 Heol y Tollty,Caerdydd CF10 1AP

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Flexible study options for Carers - The Waterloo Foundation