A young carer is an individual under the age of 18 who provides care for a family member, relative, or friend. These young carers often assist someone with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug and alcohol problems. Their responsibilities may include tasks such as cooking, cleaning, helping with dressing, and providing emotional support.
Did you know that research by the University of Nottingham and the BBC suggests that around 10% of all pupils will be providing high or very high levels of care? Other data suggests that up to 1 in 5 secondary aged pupils could be a young carer. As it’s unknown exactly how many young carers there are in the UK, it’s important to identify them as early as possible and put the support in place to help them achieve their greatest potential.
The Young Carers in Schools Award is a free initiative set up to recognise the hard work of schools and allows schools to gain national recognition for raising outcomes for young carers, identify manageable steps to improve educational outcomes for this vulnerable pupil group and provides access to additional support including tools, templates and good practice examples, webinars and professional development events.
There is knowledge, support and resources to your school free of charge. This opportunity is available because of funding offered by Somerset Council in support of Young Carers and schools in our county.
While the end of this academic year is nearly in sight, most of you will have already started planning for next year, and so free staff development sessions will take place during the last week of August (27 – 30) and first week of September (2-4). You can book a morning (10-12), an afternoon (1-3) or a full day (10-3).
As 28 September 2024 is the final evidence submission date of 2024, this would be an ideal opportunity for schools not yet involved to get a jump start ahead of the pupils returning or for those that are, a chance to pull together all the evidence needed and refresh the school’s commitment to its Young Carers.
Part of the criteria for the award involves gaining understanding, reviewing current provision, securing commitment in SLT, introducing an operational lead in school, updating policy documents, setting up systems to monitor, raising awareness with school staff, and share good practice. A particular element of the new structure is around early identification and transitions from primary to secondary and from secondary onward.
Please contact Michelle Palmer, Project Coordinator, (michelle.palmer@youth-unlimited.co.uk) for more details and to register!
