Milestones Trust has more than 60 students registered as casual or ‘bank’ support workers and are proactively promoting care work at Bristol’s universities and colleges, reaching out to students via student unions and recruitment websites. The Trust is highlighting that contrary to many perceptions, care work pays well above the minimum wage, particularly for young people, and often far more than other part-time jobs such as bar work.

Support work roles currently being advertised are hugely varied and could involve, for example, helping someone to go for a walk in the park, accompanying someone on the bus or helping with basic needs such as mealtimes and shopping.

At Milestones Trust, shift patterns are pre-agreed and totally flexible making the work easy to fit around study and lectures. It is also hugely rewarding, with many student carers reporting that they love being able to help people to live more independent and fulfilling lives and that person-centred care work provides a great counterbalance to academic study.

Student Megan Weber, who is 19, is studying for an art therapy degree at City of Bristol College. She works part-time at a residential home for people with learning disabilities.

Megan says: “I find the work hugely rewarding, we go on lots of trips and activities such as the zoo or picnics and I’ve really got to know the people I’m caring for.  Recently I went swimming with a girl who uses a wheelchair and it was lovely to be able to support her in the pool and help her to move freely in a way she can’t normally do. That was a really special moment.

“The shifts are all agreed in advance with me and it’s simple to change shifts. I can work 4 days one week and then not any for a couple of weeks so easy it’s easy to tailor it around projects and study deadlines.”

Student Ubah Alden, 39, from Stoke Gifford, is doing her foundation degree in nursing after a career in care work. She is working with young adults with learning disabilities and other complex needs.

Ubah was working full time as a support worker for Milestones Trust then decided to pursue a nursing qualification and is now working part time as a ‘bank’ or casual care worker. She says that Milestones Trust has given her the opportunity to work and pursue her career at the same time.

Ubah says: “At Milestones I can work, earn, and pay the rent alongside my studies. Because I can pick the shifts that suit my study patterns it has given me the flexibility to get a qualification and develop my career in care by becoming a nurse.

“I find care work very fulfilling, helping people to develop and seeing their confidence and independence grow is a great feeling. It is lovely to be able to make a positive change to someone’s life. I feel like I am really making a difference.”

View our casual roles today by clicking here.