A personal assistant for university life
Finding the right person to help you make the most of your time at university is crucial.
If you need help with personal care, mobility, and other tasks, one of our handpicked personal assistants will enable you to get the most out of the exciting experience ahead of you.
At Helping Hands, we believe that when it comes to care, one size never fits all – so our university support plans are built completely around the student experience you want to enjoy. From helping you prepare for and attend your lectures to giving you the independence to meet up with friends, your assistant will always be there to support your wishes and help you with all aspects of university life.
We can help you prepare for university by:
Liaising with social services
We can liaise with social services and your university about the facilities available so that you can make sure you’re fully prepared when you go
Advising on accommodation
If you’re struggling to find accommodation that suits your needs and matches your criteria, our experienced team can help find suitable options
Preparing mobility aids in advance
We can even ensure that the right mobility aids are in place before you arrive, both in your accommodation and in your places of study
How support for students works
A continuous and consistent service is vital in all forms of care, but especially at university. You’ll be assigned a dedicated manager who will work with you to give you the perfect support plan.
Matched with the right person
Your dedicated care manager will determine the type of support you need and the personal assistant you’re looking for so that your support plan can be fully tailored to your preferences and requirements.
A fully-managed care plan
We can liaise with social services and your university about the facilities available, advise on the best accommodation options and even ensure that the right mobility aids are in place before you arrive.
Support throughout the year
On finding your personal assistant, he or she will be there to support you throughout the academic year. They’ll take holidays when you do – so you can be assured of the same routines and the same familiar face.
How can an assistant help me at university?
A personal assistant provides valuable support that allows you to focus on your studies.
As a student, it’s important that you’re supported to be independent in your studies and in your lifestyle during your university years. Having a personal assistant to help you with all the daily chores and routines you’re struggling with can allow you to focus on the things that really matter to you, as well as giving you and your family peace of mind that you’re getting the support you need.
Here are some of the many things your carer can help out with:
Personal care
Your personal assistant can provide discreet and dignified personal care with routines such as bathing, toileting and getting dressed
Household tasks
Your carer can help around your home with housekeeping tasks such as cleaning and vacuuming, doing the laundry, and doing the bins
Mobility support at home
Every Helping Hands carer is trained in mobility support, so they can help with things like getting in and out of bed and moving around the home
Light medical support
Our fully trained carers can provide clinical intervention including catheterisation, convene, PEG feeding and suppositories, to name just a few
Friendly companionship
All of our carers have been handpicked for their kind, compassionate personalities, which means they also provide wonderful companionship
Shopping and running errands
From doing the weekly shop to helping you with the bills or collecting a prescription, your carer can provide dedicated errand support
Hear from some of the students we’re helping
We love hearing and sharing stories from our customers about how our support is helping them to live the way they want to. Here, we share Jon and Jordanne’s accounts of how having a personal assistant at university has enabled them to make the most of what should always be a memorable period of life.
Jordanne's Story
University student, Worcester
Jon's Story
University student, Cambridge
Student support referrals
Get ahead of the game when you’re arranging personal support and funding for university.
If you’re looking to arrange personal care support for university, we recommend doing so as soon as possible. Some universities even advise starting your search a year in advance to ensure that funding support is in place. Once you have your referral from a healthcare professional, contact us so we can help you with the assessment process to look at your support needs and find the perfect personal assistant for you.
We take care of your carer
It takes a special combination of patience, empathy and compassion to be a Helping Hands carer.
That’s why we’re extremely proud of our exceptional people and why we’re trusted by so many families to provide care and companionship to those who need support, across the country.
We make sure we continue to support our people after the join us, so they can deliver at their best for you, the customer. In 2024, we were recognised by the Financial Times as a Top 500 employer.
We directly employ all our carers
Every Helping Hands carer is directly employed by us, meaning everyone receives holiday pay, annual leave and pension contributions.
A supportive culture
We ensure our carers have access to dedicated managers and the help and support they need to carry out their role.
Comprehensive training and ongoing development
Our comprehensive training ensures our carers are fully ready to provide a wide range of support to customers from day one while our professional development programme ensure our carers can continue to develop their skills and access opportunities.
Reward and recognition
Our carer Reward and Recognition Programme – Moments of Kindness – celebrates the impact of small gestures and the actions of carers who go the extra mile to create joy, raise a smile, or offer reassurance or a sense of calm. Winners receive shopping vouchers and are featured in our magazine, Voices.
Disability support in higher education
Your university or college will have a dedicated learning support coordinator or disability advisor who is there to help you get the most out of your time there.
Disability and support services do vary between universities. It’s a good idea to contact your university’s disability advisor to find out more about the type of support they provide. This could involve:
Funding for disability support at university
If you’re living with a disability, you may be eligible for carer funding at university.
If you’re a UK student seeking funding support for a carer or personal assistant at university, you’ll need to contact your local social services department. This is normally social services for the place where you normally reside when you’re not at university.
Extra financial support up to £20,000 is available through the Disabled Students’ Allowance for disabled students to cover any disability-related expenses and a non-medical helper, although this does not cover any additional support required through a private carer or personal assistant. For extra funding, please contact your local authority for a referral.
A fully regulated home care provider
Here at Helping Hands, our service is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
This means we need to consistently meet high standards and are monitored by our regulators.
Why is being a regulated care provider important?
Independent inspections of our service, giving you peace of mind
Fully vetted, high-quality carers
Guaranteed training and development for our staff
3 simple steps…
How to organise care
Speak to our team
Our friendly, knowledgeable team can answer your questions and talk you through your options. We are available 7 days a week.
Book a free care assessment
Your local Helping Hands care manager will visit you to understand your needs and preferences and discuss how we can help. We can visit you at home, in hospital or even a care home to carry out the care assessment.
Confirm your care package
We create a tailored care plan for you to review. Once you’ve agreed the plan, we can organise care in as little as 24 hours.