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staff Blogs10 April 2025

The University of Essex career development fund for carers

Dr Maria Hudson

Essex Business School

Given the gendered division of labour, carers, and working carers, are often (though not exclusively) women. Many people provide caring activities, such as providing informal care for family members or others, including due to long-term health problems, disability or needs related to older age. This can significantly impact on participation in work activities and events including those that may be important for career development. The impact of caring responsibilities can vary depending on the intensity and type of care provided.

The most recent UK population Census, conducted in 2021, found that there are 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK. The contribution of unpaid carers to the system of care in England and Wales is estimated to be worth £162 billion per year with the economic value of the contributions made reported as broadly equivalent to the budget for National Health Service spending (Petrillo and Bennett, 2023). Providing unpaid care is associated with negative employment and income outcomes (Watkins and Overton, 2024). Workplace policies and environments influence carers’ abilities to combine work and care (Watkins and Overton, 2024; Oldridge, 2019; Allard and Whitfield, 2024).

One way in which the University of Essex seeks to help with the potentially adverse impact of caring on careers is through having a career development fund for carers.

What is the University of Essex career development fund for carers? This is a fund intended to provide financial support for learning and promote staff engagement in maintaining and further developing knowledge, expertise and skills, irrespective of role and career stage. The fund arose through work for Athena Swan which recognised that it is often harder for working parents and carers to attend conferences and networking events, which fall outside of their normal working pattern, due to incurring additional costs. Caring costs are only one factor that could affect attendance at these events, but the fund aims to help relieve the pressure, in some part, for all staff to help with the additional caring costs incurred.

How often can you claim? Applicants can currently make one claim per year of up to £150 to help with additional caring costs incurred as a result of attending conferences, training or networking events. There is not an unlimited funding pot. Funds are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

How can you claim? The online application form is available at the following link: Career Development Fund application form (.pdf)

What happens after you have submitted the application form?

An initial decision will be made by the Head of Department/Line Manager.
Discussion will then take place between the Head of Department/Line Manager and the Executive Dean/Head of Section.
Approval will be given by the Executive Dean/Head of Section, or their nominee. Each case will be considered individually depending on the specific circumstances and the needs of the individual.
Approval will only be given where there is a clear benefit to the individual’s career development, and no other source of funding (e.g. grant funding) to cover the request is available. Where possible, a decision will be given within 3 weeks.

Hopefully, this initiative can be built on in due course, as part of a range of better practice in supporting staff who are unpaid carers.

Links to University of Essex support pertinent to staff with caring responsibilities:

Further reading:

Allard, C., and Whitfield, G. (2024). Guilt, Care, and the Ideal Worker: Comparing Guilt Among Working Carers and Care Workers. Gender, Work & Organization: 31(2): 666–682. https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/gwao.12956.

Bahn K, Cohen J, van der Meulen Rodgers Y. A (2020) Feminist perspective on COVID-19 and the value of care work globally. Gender Work and Organisation, 27: 695–699. https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/gwao.12459.

Oldridge, L. (2019). Hidden care (e) rs: supporting informal carers in the workplace. Inequality and Organizational Practice: Volume II: Employment Relations: 105-127.

Petrillo, M., and Bennett, M (2023) Valuing Carers 2021: England and Wales. Available at: https://centreforcare.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Valuing_Carers_WEB2.pdf

Toffoletti, K., and Starr, K. (2016) Women Academics and Work–Life Balance: Gendered Discourses of Work and Care. Gender, Work & Organization, 23: 489–504. doi: 10.1111/gwao.12133.

Watkins, M., and Overton, L. (2024) The cost of caring: a scoping review of qualitative evidence on the financial wellbeing implications of unpaid care to older adults. Ageing and Society. Published online 2024:1-28. doi:10.1017/S0144686X24000382.

About the Author:

Dr Maria Hudson

Senior Lecturer EBS, Organisation Studies and Human Resource Management, University of Essex

I joined Essex Business School on 1st March 2016 following several years working independently as an employment and social policy researcher and analyst. Prior to this I spent nearly ten years working as a social researcher at the Policy Studies Institute, University of Westminster. My research background has generated extensive experience of managing research projects from design through to completion. Over the years, my research interests have remained largely connected to the study of inequalities in work, labour markets and wider society. I have undertaken a wide-range of research projects for numerous sponsors; for example, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Department for Work and Pensions, Acas, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Low Pay Commission. I have also taught at several universities in the UK, most recently in the School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London and in the Faculty of Human, Social and Political Science, University of Cambridge. In my approach to teaching I have a particular interest in reflective practice and learning, and blended learning. I also enjoy sharing my research experience with students embarking on a research journey for the first time.

Essex Business School

Department at the University of Essex

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