Young Carers
About Young Carers
Haileybury Turnford is committed to providing help and support for its young carers.
The staff leading on young carers are:
Young carers are children and young people under 19 years old who provide unpaid care, help or support to a family member, friend or neighbour who could not manage otherwise as they physically or mentally ill, disabled, elderly or misuses alcohol or drugs.
Quite often, young people do not recognise themselves as ‘carers’ and often see themselves as just relatives, friends or neighbours who find themselves in a caring situation, sometimes very suddenly, sometimes gradually, and they simply get on with what needs to be done.
A carer may not always live with the person they care for, but their help may be essential in enabling that person to go on living independently.
It can help to know that you are a carer as it is a way of recognising that what you are doing is a very important job. Caring can be demanding both physically and emotionally. It may help to know that your work is recognised by others, and that there are people and services to support you in your role.
Keep an eye on the Young Carers noticeboard near the main hall for any Young Carer group events / updates.
Feel free to pop any concerns, suggestions or requests for help on an email to: youngcarers@haileyburyturnford.com
What might a Young Carer do?
- Practical tasks, such as cooking, housework and shopping.
- Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed.
- Offer emotional support, such as talking to someone who is distressed.
- Personal care, such as helping someone dress.
- Managing the family budget and collecting prescriptions.
- Helping to give medicine.
- Helping someone communicate.
- Looking after siblings.
Young carers are receiving the support they need after being identified by Haileybury Turnford School Young Carers’ Team. Young carers also identified themselves through whole school questionnaires. If your child is a young carer that has not been identified please do not hesitate to contact:
Mrs Goodes, Vice Principal, Young Carers’ School Lead goodesm@haileyburyturnford.com
Mrs Elliott, Intervention Officer & Child Protection and Social Services Lead, Deputy Young Carers’ Lead
elliottv@haileyburyturnford.com
Mrs Carter, Assistant Year Achievement Coordinator – Year 7&9, Deputy Young Carers’ Lead
carterv@haileyburyturnford.com
A young carer is described as someone under the age of 18 who helps to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition or drug or alcohol problem, or younger sibling.
Haileybury Turnford has been able to identify children who are young carers – and whose families may not have previously realised they qualified as such. The average number of young carers is two or three young carers per class, nationally. But, with a lot of young carers, you would not even know they were carrying out the role. In a number of cases you would never know what young carers are dealing with as it is just part of their life and normalised routine and they do not know any different.
The school has put up a Young Carers’ Noticeboard in the dining hall outlining what a young carer is and now holds a weekly drop-in session for students to talk about their circumstances at home. The drop-in session is in room K108 every Wednesday break time and is an opportunity for young carers to talk in confidence or privately, or if they just need a chat. Young Carers’ meetings are also held every half term which enables our young carers to get together and feel supported about sharing their experiences and acknowledging there are other students who are in similar situations as themselves. Essentially, it is for them to be able to enjoy some time away from their caring role.
There is also a summer day trip being organised for them. We want to give them a really fun day out, away from their responsibilities, and to show them that we care about them and want to give them the rewards that they deserve, as they give so much to others.
For further support please contact: Carers in Hertfordshire, The Red House, 119 Fore Street, Hertford, Herts. SG14 1AX
Telephone: 01992 58 69 69.
Email: young.carers@carersinherts.org.uk
www.ycih.org or www.carersinherts.org.uk
Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCeODAXCnpQ
https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/group-chat
Mrs M. Goodes, Vice Principal, is responsible for managing the school’s provision.
