Young Carers
Young carers are children who help look after a member of the family who is sick, disabled or has mental health problems, or is misusing drugs or alcohol.
Their day to day responsibilities often include:
At Hathern CE, we support children who we perceive as Young Carers by putting them in touch with outside agencies such as Barnardo's who provide respite opportunities for children such as trips to the cinema, playing games or just meeting up and socialising. At school we seek out ways to support the pupil during their time with us. This could be the provision of breakfast when they have gone without, financial support allowing them to take part in out-of-school clubs/trips and most importantly, providing support for them in their day to day lives. We often speak up on their behalf and ensure that they have the chance to enjoy their childhood as much as any other child.
Young carer facts
Their day to day responsibilities often include:
- cooking
- cleaning
- shopping
- providing nursing and personal care
- giving emotional support.
At Hathern CE, we support children who we perceive as Young Carers by putting them in touch with outside agencies such as Barnardo's who provide respite opportunities for children such as trips to the cinema, playing games or just meeting up and socialising. At school we seek out ways to support the pupil during their time with us. This could be the provision of breakfast when they have gone without, financial support allowing them to take part in out-of-school clubs/trips and most importantly, providing support for them in their day to day lives. We often speak up on their behalf and ensure that they have the chance to enjoy their childhood as much as any other child.
Young carer facts
- The average age of a young carer is 12.
- Young carers are children and young people under 18 who provide regular and on-going care and emotional support to a family member who is physically or mentally ill, disabled or misuses substances.
- The 2001 census identified 175,000 young carers in the UK, with 13,000 caring for more than 50 hours per week. The 2011 census identified 178,000 young carers in England and Wales alone; an 83% increase in the number of young carers aged 5 to 7 years and a 55% increase in the number of children caring who are aged 8 to 9 years. When figures from the Northern Ireland and Scottish census are taken into account, the total number of young carers in the UK total at least 195,000.
If you think you are a young carer - we can help
Talk to someone at school who you like and trust. It could be a teacher or another member of staff. You can speak to them or give them a note.
Whoever you speak to will be able to make sure that the school knows about and understands your situation.
They can:
• arrange for you to use your mobile phone at school so that you can get calls if anything is wrong at home
• make sure teachers are understanding and flexible if you’re struggling to keep up with homework or you arrive late
• listen to you if you need someone to talk to
• make an appointment for you to see the school nurse
You can ask to see the school nurse when she next visits your school or the support staff based at your school or college.
The school nurse and the student support staff can:
• tell you about where you can get help outside school
• answer questions you may have about the illness or condition of the person you look after
• check that you’re okay and coping with the situation
• refer you for a carer’s assessment
Whoever you speak to will be able to make sure that the school knows about and understands your situation.
They can:
• arrange for you to use your mobile phone at school so that you can get calls if anything is wrong at home
• make sure teachers are understanding and flexible if you’re struggling to keep up with homework or you arrive late
• listen to you if you need someone to talk to
• make an appointment for you to see the school nurse
You can ask to see the school nurse when she next visits your school or the support staff based at your school or college.
The school nurse and the student support staff can:
• tell you about where you can get help outside school
• answer questions you may have about the illness or condition of the person you look after
• check that you’re okay and coping with the situation
• refer you for a carer’s assessment
Someone to talk to
There are people you can talk to, ask questions of or share your experience with including:
Get Connected - a free, confidential helpline service for young people who need someone to talk to, but don't know where to turn
Babble - an online community for young carers
Sibs – for brothers and sisters of disabled children
There are people you can talk to, ask questions of or share your experience with including:
Get Connected - a free, confidential helpline service for young people who need someone to talk to, but don't know where to turn
Babble - an online community for young carers
Sibs – for brothers and sisters of disabled children