This moving and thought-provoking exhibition shows a collection of images from the photo-diaries of student carers.
The photos were collected as part of the Centre for Excellence in Learning’s (CEL) ‘Students who bounce back’ research project, which is funded through BU’s Fair Access Agreement Management Group.
Aim of the research
‘Students who bounce back’ has the following aims:
- To explore the life experience of student carers at BU and the impact of caring in their learning experiences
- To determine, in co-production with students, the main motivations and expectations of their university experience, and their contact with the different support mechanisms in place at BU
- To contribute with empirical data to the development of the concept of psychosocial scaffoldings as enablers of resilience (or the ability to ‘bounce back’)
- To contribute to wider debates and developments about the learning experience of student carers in the Higher Education sector.
Research co-creation
'Students who bounce back' is a collaborative project involving BU researchers and students in co-production of data collection, analysis and dissemination.
Students were given a camera to take a picture each day for a month. Their goal was to capture a scene that would help the researchers to understand their experiences as students and carers at BU and how caring impacted on their learning experiences. They were given the freedom to portray anything they felt was relevant to the project.
In addition to this, the students met with the research team for one-to-one interviews, helped the team to better understand how caring and studying interplay in students' lives.
The final collaboration between students and researchers came through an exhibition. Images displayed were selected from a pool of over 300 images produced by the students and captions came from their interviews. The students were given final say over which images and words were used to reflect their experiences.
Would anyone fill these boots?
Grandma’s care alarm went off. I couldn’t get any sleep.
Each time I ticked one thing off, I then had to add on a couple more things.
It can be easy for carers to neglect themselves. Me being a carer, it’s given my children a bit more of a caring side.
A chaotic time working for exams. I was putting myself first, but my dad is still there in the background.
It’s a lot of hassle getting the medication.
The external help that my Grandma needs and gets.
Caring is about listening to people and spending time with them.
This says a lot about what we go through.
My Nan worked until she was 81 and paid off the mortgage on her bungalow but the government will force the sale in a few years to pay her care home bill. The paperwork is never ending!
My favourite place, where I can relax.
My Dad benefits from the company of this puppy.
I kind of forgot about politics, referendum…it’s a nice little occasion.
The beach was comforting…. I should be doing more things for myself.
When I see a wheelchair it reminds me of my Dad, even if he’s not in it.
My Nan enjoys having her nails done - it's important for her that she feels smart. It's nice girlie time we get to spend together.
