GODDARD Park Community Primary School has been recognised for its work with young carers after being presented with a prestigious award.

The school, located on Welcombe Avenue, held a special assembly on Monday where it was presented with a Young Carer Ambassador Award.

Led by Swindon Carers Centre and supported by the Big Lottery Fund, the Young Carer Awards project has been running for the past five years in schools throughout Swindon and has received funding of £129,000 for the next three years.

The scheme aims to ensure the well-being of young carers, through staff training, providing dedicated staff members for carers to speak to and setting up a young carers’ group.

A mosaic tree artwork has also been placed in the school, with each fragment representing a young carer in the country.

Deputy headteacher Bev Mann, who has been at the school for 26 years, said: “The reason we became involved is we had quite a number of children we felt would benefit from it.

“Absolutely I’m proud to get this award, we make sure that all the staff know who their young carers are and that they are open to them.

“Personally I got involved because I believe it’s such a positive thing for these young children and anything we can do to support them can only be a good thing.

“This will help with transition into secondary school.”

Goddard Park Community Primary School currently has 17 young carers and has seen almost another 20 pass through its doors since it took part in the pilot scheme nearly six years ago.

A total of 49 schools out of 89 are involved in the scheme throughout Swindon, with four other schools receiving the Young Carer Ambassador Award.

Development and Communications director, Fiona Prinzi, from Swindon Carers Centre, said: “The scheme provides systems and procedures to support young carers and we work in partnerships with schools.

“A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 who is having to care for someone with a disability, parent or younger sibling.

“At the moment 75 percent of young carers go unrecognised across the board.

“If they [children] aren’t supported academically they will suffer because people don’t understand the type of things they are doing.

“Bev is brilliant, now that she has done the award she is going to share resources with other schools and is very passionate about supporting young carers.”